I’ve struggled for years to come up with an answer for this question: What do you do? Or…from the especially confused: So what exactly is it that you do?
I still don’t know how to put it into words. I do all kinds of things. Lots and lots of random things for lots of people, and lots of causes. And that’s fine. I like it that way. Even as the photography season slows down a bit, I’ve been plenty busy with the million and one other fun opportunities that Practically Canada is throwing my way.
One such awesome, fun, random activity was the Wild About Water Festival that happened a few weeks ago. Before Thanksgiving even. I know, shame on me for not getting this post up sooner. What is the Wild About Water Festival? In short, it’s a program for elementary school students that teaches them about all things water. Water in our bodies, how it effects health, ecosystem stuff, the water cycle, water shed, flooding, river history…you get the picture.
The next thing you are probably wondering, is how I fit into this equation. If you’ve spent time with me you know I’m not especially sciency. I’m a lot of things…but I’m no Bill Nye. So, you can probably imagine my surprise when the kind folks from Ackerman Estvold, a local engineering firm, contacted me about doing a short, art-centered presentation for the even. I was a little nervous, but I love kiddos and a kind word from the Minot Area Council of the Arts seemed to have given them confidence in my abilities, even if I’m not a rocket scientist. So I agreed. And…Just like that, I can now add “5th Grade Science-Art-Speaker Thing” to my list of skills. I think it should go between Nesquick mascot guide and Christmas tree shearer. {Both real, paying jobs that I’ve held at one time or another.}
I spent the weeks between our meeting and the festival preparing a short spiel about the basic natural water cycle…and pairing that spiel with a talk-and-draw mural that progressed with my words. I’d go through the steps of the water cycle, drawing a landscape and coloring it in with water color crayons {which are totally awesome BTW}.
Then, when the cycle was ready to start over, I swapped crayons and marker for water and a sponge. This time I asked the 5th graders {a multi-hundred crowd that although young and adorable also wielded the ability to make me a little nervous} to shout out the steps as I used the water to bring our drawing to life…because water brings things to life. Get it?
I had two major prayers going in. One, that the other adults there–history teachers, water treatment employees, and others who seemed much more legit than me–wouldn’t tell me afterwards that I’d gotten the cycle totally wrong and ruined hundreds of children’s water education. And two–that the kids wouldn’t think I was horribly lame.
I think we can all remember an elementary school presentation that was awful and the topic of recess mockery after it was over. I didn’t want to be that girl.
I must have practiced my water cycle talk a hundred times in the days leading up to the festival. I’d make Derek listen to it before bed. I’d say it in the shower. I’d recite it while I drove. On the big day, my palms were a little sweaty when I started. And I’m sure I messed up a couple times. But things went fine. The kids were impressed when the crayon turned to water color paint. Some even stopped me afterward to tell me that 1) “That was awesome. and 2) I talk like Princess Anna from Frozen. {I get that a lot–it’s an odd compliment.} And the grown ups seemed to think it was pretty okay too.
I had an amazing time. All of it was fun–from getting to know the folks at Ackerman Estvold, learning up on water, making new friends, and having the opportunity to draw, talk and joke with a crowd of kids…to learning the water cycle in a new way. I love art, and I’m very glad the Minot community strives to make it a part of the education experience. I’m so happy to have been a part of the Wild About Water Festival. Sharing my very varied skill set to do as much as I can, for as many as I can, for as long as I can is my heart’s greatest desire. And I thank all involved for letting me share in this amazing and important event.
**PS–a big thanks to Ackerman Estvold for giving me photos from the day!
