Kids across the MidCoast will turn their minds to water conservation this month as Whizzy the Waterdrop visits dozens of locations as part of MidCoast Council's National Water Week activities.
The much-loved local water mascot will entertain children with songs, stories and other fun activities as he teaches them about the importance of saving water and looking after the environment.
Council's Director of Infrastructure and Engineering Services, Rob Scott, said the Whizzy program was one of Council's longest-running and most successful educational initiatives.
"Every year we receive fantastic feedback about our Whizzy program, not only from the schools and preschools he visits but from parents who tell us how their kids are sharing what they've learned," said Mr Scott.
"Those conversations between the children and their families are really important for promoting sustainability across the community and we encourage parents and carers to show their curiosity after their kids have had a visit from Whizzy."
In addition to visiting early learning centres and primary schools, Whizzy will also appear at a number of MidCoast Council Libraries for Preschool Storytime, including:
- Wingham Library - Monday 14 October, 10:30-11:30am
- Forster Library - Wednesday 16 October, 10:30-11:30am
- Taree Library - Thursday 17 October, 10:30-11:30am
This year every child who sees Whizzy will receive a free copy of Whizzy's Water Wiser Kids Activity Book, which is full of fun educational activities to help reinforce what they've learned. They can also go into the running to win an eight-piece kids gardening set once they finish the book.
For older kids, sustainability education provider Enviromentors will be visiting senior primary school students across the region to talk about saving water and keeping our waterways clean.
Mr Scott said educating younger generations was crucial for achieving positive environmental outcomes.
"We're really invested in educating kids about the role they can play in looking after the environment because they're the future stewards of this region and if we can help them adopt positive habits now, it's going to make a big difference down the track," he said.
"Having a highly water-efficient community also means we can reduce the amount of ratepayer money we need to spend on infrastructure upgrades in the future – so it's a win-win."
Council isn't just putting on activities for kids this National Water Week, with free tours planned at water and sewage treatment facilities in Forster, Gloucester and Bootawa. These are a great opportunity for community members to learn more about what goes on behind the scenes to keep their taps flowing and toilets flushing.
