Kali Katerberg/Daily Mining Gazette Houghton Middle School students from Adria Laplander’s class examine water flow and sediment interaction.

HOUGHTON — You can lead the kids to water education but you can’t keep them dry.

With water, mud, native plants and a few presentations, the seventh annual Lake Superior Water Festival had a little bit of everything. Around 700 students descended on the Great Lakes Research Center Wednesday to learn more about the lake they know and love.

“This will be an experience that they remember and build on for many years to come,” said Joan Chadde, Water Festival co-coordinator with the Lake Superior Stewardship Initiative and the Michigan Tech Center for Science and Environmental Outreach, both sponsoring organizations for the event.

Topics included habitat, water sample observation, bioaccumulation, boat safety and underwater robotics.

“If it allows them to get dirty they’re happy. They’re sixth graders so they like to play and be interactive,” said Houghton Middle School teacher Adria Laplander. Her class was experimenting with sediment and water flow.

“They’re trying and they’re playing and they’re creating,” she said of the muddy pupils.

In the GLRC boathouse, another class of Houghton middle schoolers were trying their hands at underwater robotics.

“The kids are obviously very engaged, I think anytime you can get the kids in hands-on activities and they can see what goes on at our local university I think there’s a lot of value in that,” said teacher Mark Nolan.

Dollar Bay’s Student Organization of Aquatic Robotics (SOAR) were the ones instructing the younger students. Lake Superior Water Festival events are beneficial to both the younger students and the high schoolers, explained teacher Matt Zimmer.

“I think it’s a great opportunity for students attending and honestly it’s great for my students to work these details out,” said Zimmer, pointing to his students developing their public speaking and teaching skills. All important but difficult skills to teach in a classroom.