They say when one door closes another opens.. Well in this case, one door closed and two opened! It is with appreciative hearts that the HMK Children’s Water Festival says goodbye and many thanks to former Coordinator Irene Heaven, who was the river, the ocean and the driving rain powering this festival since its’ inception in 2005. Irene really made this festival what it is and that is no small feat! The amount of organizing that goes into a program of this stature is monumental. Those involved with the festival, recognize that and thank Irene for her many years of service and work in water stewardship education and building our supportive community. With that said, the Children’s Water Festival welcomes new festival coordinator, Kara Mitchell, and assistant coordinator, Lauren Phillips. Kara brings a career of environmental, outdoor education and non-profit organizational experience, with a dedicated commitment to sharing in learning to live sustainably. Lauren offers organizational experience from a range of volunteer positions within grassroots environmental organizations, a background in forestry education, and a love of everything outdoors and the natural world. Together they will building on the network and programs inspiring water stewardship Irene coordinated the establishment of. They will work with our communities, partners, and supporters towards transitioning the festival into a series of modules that are safe and effective in light of the current pandemic, while still delivering top notch, high quality, hands-on, water stewardship education to the youth of Haliburton, Muskoka and Kawartha’s.
