This program has a trickle-down effect

Everyone has the power to protect the environment, says Gina Hungerford, conservation coordinator for the City of Kent — even kids.

  • BY Wire Service
  • Thursday, May 1, 2008 6:08pm
  • News

Everyone has the power to protect the environment, says Gina Hungerford, conservation coordinator for the City of Kent — even kids.

That’s why the city and other area organizations sponsor “H2O: The Water Festival” every year, hoping to teach youngsters the importance of protecting water and the rest of the environment. This year’s event took place March 26-27 at Highline Community College in Des Moines, hosting around 1,500 fourth- and fifth-graders from schools in Kent, Auburn, Covington, Federal Way, Renton, SeaTac and Des Moines.

“The main idea is to awaken in kids a stewardship ethic, give them ideas about how they can protect the environment and empower them so they realize that they, too, can make a difference,” Hungerford said.

Sponsored by the City of Kent, City of Auburn, Covington Water District, Lakehaven Utility District, Highline Water District and Soos Creek Water & Sewer, the event has been running since 2000. It includes a number of educational presentations and hands-on science activities for students.

Hungerford said the focus of the festival is water, but includes other aspects of environmental conservation.

“Everything we do eventually ends up in the water, so that’s why we call it the water festival,” she said. “But it’s really a wide array of topics that get kids to realize they have a part in protecting the environment.”

The event was broken up into 35 sessions, with the students rotating through so they could experience all of them. The presenters are experts from the sponsoring organizations as well as hired professionals from other conservation organizations.

In the one session, a representative form Spanaway-based nonprofit environmental education organization Wildlife Encounters brought three special friends to show the students.

“This is Hope,” said presenter Marianne Wilson-Gum with a large, raccoon-like animal perched on her shoulders. “She’s an animal called a coatimundi, but you can call her a coati for short.”

The students in the room were enchanted as Wilson-Gum talked about the animal’s traits and behaviors, including its pointy, flexible nose, keen sense of smell and long, sharp teeth. She told them how the amazing animal is one of the few who have actually extended their habitat from the rain forests of Central and South America up into arid New Mexico and Arizona without human influence.

Wilson-Gum also brought a European legless lizard, which looked just like a snake, and a hedgehog for the presentation. Her main emphasis was how every species plays an important part in maintaining a healthy environment.

“All of it is interconnected,” she said. “Without all of the species, it just doesn’t work.”

Contact Daniel Mooney at 253-437-6012 or dmooney@reporternewspapers.com.

Everyone has the power to protect the environment, says Gina Hungerford, conservation coordinator for the City of Kent — even kids.

That’s why the city and other area organizations sponsor “H2O: The Water Festival” every year, hoping to teach youngsters the importance of protecting water and the rest of the environment. This year’s event took place March 26-27 at Highline Community College in Des Moines, hosting around 1,500 fourth- and fifth-graders from schools in Kent, Auburn, Covington, Federal Way, Renton, SeaTac and Des Moines.

“The main idea is to awaken in kids a stewardship ethic, give them ideas about how they can protect the environment and empower them so they realize that they, too, can make a difference,” Hungerford said.

Sponsored by the City of Kent, City of Auburn, Covington Water District, Lakehaven Utility District, Highline Water District and Soos Creek Water & Sewer, the event has been running since 2000. It includes a number of educational presentations and hands-on science activities for students.

Hungerford said the focus of the festival is water, but includes other aspects of environmental conservation.

“Everything we do eventually ends up in the water, so that’s why we call it the water festival,” she said. “But it’s really a wide array of topics that get kids to realize they have a part in protecting the environment.”

The event was broken up into 35 sessions, with the students rotating through so they could experience all of them. The presenters are experts from the sponsoring organizations as well as hired professionals from other conservation organizations.

In the one session, a representative form Spanaway-based nonprofit environmental education organization Wildlife Encounters brought three special friends to show the students.

“This is Hope,” said presenter Marianne Wilson-Gum with a large, raccoon-like animal perched on her shoulders. “She’s an animal called a coatimundi, but you can call her a coati for short.”

The students in the room were enchanted as Wilson-Gum talked about the animal’s traits and behaviors, including its pointy, flexible nose, keen sense of smell and long, sharp teeth. She told them how the amazing animal is one of the few who have actually extended their habitat from the rain forests of Central and South America up into arid New Mexico and Arizona without human influence.

Wilson-Gum also brought a European legless lizard, which looked just like a snake, and a hedgehog for the presentation. Her main emphasis was how every species plays an important part in maintaining a healthy environment.

“All of it is interconnected,” she said. “Without all of the species, it just doesn’t work.”

Contact Daniel Mooney at 253-437-6012 or dmooney@reporternewspapers.com.


Talk to us

Please share your story tips by emailing editor@kentreporter.com.

To share your opinion for publication, submit a letter through our website https://www.kentreporter.com/submit-letter/. Include your name, address and daytime phone number. (We’ll only publish your name and hometown.) Please keep letters to 300 words or less.

More in News

t
Kent-based UTOPIA Washington partners with Seattle nonprofit

HealthierHere announces 4 new partnerships to help residents get essential health and social services

t
King County buys building for new Kent animal shelter

Plans to close current site in Kent and move 2 miles north in 2027 at cost of $19.5 million

Courtesy Photo, Kent Cornucopia Days
Street list closure for Kent Cornucopia Days

Downtown streets to close Thursday evening, July 10 through Sunday night, July 13

COURTESY PHOTO, ShoWare Center
The city-owned accesso ShoWare Center in Kent continues to lose money, including about $2.5 million over the last three years.
City of Kent-owned ShoWare Center loses $1 million in 2024

Record-high operating loss since arena opened in 2009; city covers losses from its general fund

Kent Police officers examine a black 2013 Chevrolet Camaro after it crashed July 7 into a day care facility along East Smith Street. COURTESY PHOTO, Puget Sound Fire
Man, 42, could face vehicular assault charge in Kent crash

Federal Way man driving westbound down Smith hill when Chevy Camaro crashed into building

File Photo, Kent Reporter
Kent Police Blotter: June 23 to July 5

Incidents include construction site burglary, cable wire theft, rock thrower

t
City of Kent receives two state grants for park projects

Awards of $939,600 and $500,000 from Washington Wildlife and Recreation Program

t
Two people in car injured in Kent after crash into building

Incident at about 1:38 a.m. Monday, July 7 at day care facility along East Smith Street

t
Kent once again a Sister City with El Grullo, Mexico

Both cities reaffirm their commitment to strengthening partnership at Kent City Hall gathering

(File photo)
Fourth of July weekend weather in King County

Expect mostly sunny and warm weather for the Fourth of July weekend… Continue reading

t
Kent man, 22, charged in May 27 Auburn shooting

Documents allege that the suspect, along with others, ambushed Keivon Bias, 21.

Washington State Patrol Trooper Christopher Gadd’s mother Gillian Gadd, left, comforts his wife Cammryn Gadd during the sentencing hearing at the Snohomish County Courthouse for Raul Benitez Santana on Wednesday, July 2, 2025 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Man sentenced for death of Washington State Patrol trooper

Will serve more than 10 years for vehicular homicide for death of Christopher Gadd, a Kentlake High graduate