A Splash of Success: Celebrating the 2026 London-Middlesex Children’s Water Festival
The 2026 London-Middlesex Children’s Water Festival was a tremendous success, bringing together students, educators, community partners, sponsors, and volunteers for an inspiring week of hands-on environmental learning. Held at Fanshawe Conservation Area, from May 12 to 15, this year’s festival welcomed 3,500 students from across London to explore the importance of water through interactive activities.
Event Highlights
This year’s festival featured a wide range of exciting experiences designed to deepen students’ connection to water and the environment. Some of the highlights included:
- Interactive water science and conservation stations where students investigated water quality, watersheds, aquatic ecosystems, and conservation practices.
- Indigenous teachings and cultural learning experiences that helped students understand the deep connections between water, community, and stewardship.
- Live raptor presentations from the Canadian Raptor Society that gave students an up-close look at local species and the ecosystems they depend on.
- Families had the opportunity to participate in hands-on activities, meet local environmental organizations, and experience many of the engaging educational opportunities that students enjoy during the school festival at the Family Night event on May 14, which welcomed over 1,400 people!
Thank You to Our Sponsors
Events like the Children’s Water Festival are only possible because of the generous support of our sponsors. We extend our heartfelt thanks to all of our sponsors for their commitment to education, conservation, and community engagement. Their support helped make this year’s festival accessible, impactful, and memorable for every participant. Great Lake Sponsors included: City of London, City of London Fire Department, London District Catholic School Board, TD Friends of the Environment, Thames Talbot Land Trust, and the Thames Valley District School Board.
A Special Thank You to Our Partners and Volunteers
Our volunteers are the heart of the festival. From helping with set-up, logistics, running stations, and greeting buses, their enthusiasm and dedication created a welcoming and positive experience for everyone involved. We are deeply grateful for the time, energy, and care shared throughout the week. These efforts helped the festival run smoothly and ensured that students left inspired and excited about protecting water and the environment. Thank you to all of the community partners who have been working together since the fall of 2025 to make this event a success!
Looking Ahead
As we reflect on another successful festival, we are reminded of the power of community partnerships and environmental education. Together, we are helping to inspire the next generation of water stewards and community leaders. Thank you to everyone who participated, supported, and celebrated with us! We look forward to working with Kettle Creek Conservation Authority to welcome students, volunteers, and partners back for another Children’s Water Festival in St Thomas next year!
View our Flickr album.