The students at Grant Community School in Salem, Oregon have spent the last two years learning and teaching others about the plight of the Willamette River. Their first step was to learn about the river, including the public and private policies that affect it. Next, the students became teachers as they shared their knowledge with 1st through 4th graders during the Salem Clean Water Festival. The festival was designed to educate the young citizens of the Salem/Keizer District about the importance of the Willamette River watershed. Through the use of interactive demonstrations and hands-on activities, the goal was to reach approximately 350 students in just one day.

The response from the community was so great that the event was expanded from one day to three, and was attended by a total of 675 students representing 26 individual classes. In order to include a larger segment of the community, presentations and materials were prepared in both English and Spanish. Students and program visitors learned about the interconnectivity of nature, including how their actions impact the environment. Visitors were introduced to concepts such as non-point source contamination, or how pollution in one area may affect an entire ecosystem. Other lessons included methods of reducing pollution and conserving the valuable resources of the Willamette Watershed.

Public and private organizations, including Portland State University and the city of Salem, Oregon contributed their resources in order to make the event a reality. Future plans include the development of a new project website scheduled to go on-line in March of 2003.

According to the Izaak Walton League of America (IWLA), "The Salem Clean Water Festival resembles the mission of the IWLA Watershed Programs: to educate citizens about watershed ecology, function and value. The project also provides students with practical steps to protect and enhance watershed health. The Salem Clean Water Festival is a creative and fun model program that provides meaningful, hands-on experiences for students to learn about natural resources. The success of this student-designed event has enhanced student learning and community awareness of the connections between land use and water systems. The League looks forward to watching and supporting these student teachers advance the campaign in the future."