Hug the Watershed jacob.guilez Wed, 09/23/2026 – 2:08 pm
The Hug the Watershed event is an hour-long experience designed to enrich 3rd graders in Science, Technology, Engineering, ARTS, and Math (STEAM) while introducing them to future career possibilities. Classrooms will adopt one of the watershed songs as their class song to practice, learn fun choreography, do an art project (costumes, masks, puppets, etc.) that coordinates with their song’s science focus.  Then, they will perform with the nationally acclaimed Banana Slug String Band their selected watershed song while wearing the watershed costumes they have created. These activities are meant to introduce the complex water issues facing our community and foster an appreciation for the value of water.For this 2026 Colorado Springs demonstration project, activity sets, song choreography, and costume designs are being contributed by Cinda Hanbuch-Pinkerton, Environmental Education Director, of The Miami County Park District in Ohio. Ms. Hanbuch-Pinkerton and the entire Miami County Park District staff have spent decades combining the songs of the Banana Slug String Band with natural science lesson plans, classroom models, outdoor field trips, and nature-based community festivals.Why Hug the Watershed?Integrating water education with the arts supports State Academic Standards and enhances instructional…