Oceans may seem far from Campbell County, but their health is tied to the water flowing through local rivers.
Campbell County is celebrating World Ocean Day on June 8 by proclaiming it WAVE Water Warrior Day in recognition of the WAVE Foundation, a partner of Newport Aquarium. The WAVE Foundation is a non-profit organization that hopes to inspire environmental stewards of aquatic life through education, conservation and volunteerism.
The Campbell County Fiscal Court presented the proclamation to Executive Director of the WAVE Foundation Tricia Watts at its June 4 meeting.
World Ocean Day is a global initiative to raise awareness about the ocean.
According to the county’s proclamation, oceans cover 72% of the Earth’s surface and supply half of its oxygen. In addition, the Ohio River provides drinking water for more than 5 million people. It is the largest water feeder into the Mississippi River, which empties into the Gulf of Mexico.
“WAVE knows that education is the key to environmental sustainability and invites everyone to learn how to be a water warrior,” Campbell County Judge Executive Steve Pendery read from the proclamation. “Now, therefore, be it resolved that the Campbell County Fiscal Court urges all citizens to learn how to be a water warrior.”
Watts said on June 7 and 8, Paycor Stadium, Newport Aquarium and Newport on the Levee will be lit up blue to support ocean conservation and water. In addition, participating Newport on The Levee businesses will donate 5% of their profits on June 8 to the WAVE Foundation.
Additionally, visitors to Newport on the Levee on June 8 and visitors to Newport Aquarium from June 7-14 who sign the WAVE Water Warrior Pledge, a commitment to adopt water-friendly practices at home, work and in the community, will receive a free WAVE Water Warrior starter kit with reusable utensil kit, guidelines for simple conservation actions and information on volunteer opportunities.
“Environmental stewardship of aquatic life starts with clean water,” Watts said. “We can’t have anything really if we don’t have clean water.”
Part of the WAVE Foundation’s ongoing education is its summer kids camps, which are currently taking place. The camps offer exploration with “animal ambassadors” and programming about the aquatic world. Watts said they are still available for this summer’s camps. Kids from kindergarten through eighth grade can sign up.
Another on-site program that WAVE offers for kids is its Gills Club. It is a nine-month free program for kids to learn about science related to sharks. The programming is geared toward girls, but WAVE allows anyone to join.
For new readers aged two to five, the foundation also offers AxoLittles and Tadpole Tots, which offer a story and a live aquatic animal to accompany them.
The foundation hosts an annual river sweep to support its conservation efforts. This year marked the 14th annual sweep, during which 113 volunteers collected 444 pounds of trash from nearly one and a half miles along the Ohio and Licking Rivers.
“The fact that this is our 14th year of doing this, and we still picked up 400 pounds of trash in a little less than two hours, really shows the need for these kinds of programming,” Watts said.
Those interested in volunteer opportunities through the WAVE Foundation can find them here.
