The L.E.A.F. Initiative is a Commonwell program to support capacity, resiliency and growth in the communities we call home.

Children’s Water Hero Community Education Initiative

c/o FEEL,P.O. Box 1292 HaliburtonK0M 1S0

Target Completion Date: December 31, 2026

What is this project about?

The Children’s Water Hero Community Education Initiative is dedicated to fostering environmental stewardship and ecosystem awareness among children and families across the Haliburton, Muskoka, and Kawartha Lakes regions. By expanding upon our highly successful annual Haliburton-Muskoka-Kawartha Children’s Water Festival, this initiative will deliver year-round, hands-on educational experiences focused on water conservation, protection and stewardship within our local ecosystems and communities.

Our approach includes a set of mobile education centres equipped with interactive activities that bring water stewardship programming directly to schools, remote community gatherings,, and local cottage associations. In partnership with libraries and municipalities, we’ll also create engaging displays to share the story of our local water cycles in a variety of public spaces. Additionally, our expanded ‘Water Hero Big Splash Contest’ will empower young people to make pledges and act as water stewards, recognizing their efforts as environmental champions.

Through this project, we aim to create a community-wide culture of environmental responsibility that inspires the next generation of water protectors across diverse communities.

Why is this project important to the community?

Water is the lifeblood of our community in the Haliburton, Muskoka, and Kawartha Lakes regions, supporting our health, local ecosystems, recreation, economy, and ways of life. With increasing pressures on natural resources, it’s more crucial than ever to foster a deep sense of environmental stewardship in young people and families. The Children’s Water Hero Community Education Initiative addresses this need by providing accessible, hands-on learning experiences that empower our community to understand and protect local water systems and biodiversity. Through this initiative, we’re not only teaching children about conservation but also cultivating a shared commitment to learning about and taking care of the ecosystems that give them life and health. By involving children, families, schools, and community partners, we’re building a generation of informed citizens who are inspired to help take care of the ecosystems we share and are equipped to make sustainable choices. This project strengthens our community’s resilience, ensures our collective well-being, and safeguards the health of regional watersheds for future generations.