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Volunteers at the Clean Water Festival provide an invaluable service by acting as Class Guides, Troubleshooters, Co-presenters, Co-exhibitors, Runners, and Overall helpers.

At the festival, classes rotate from one activity to another according to their schedule.  Each activity lasts 25 minutes, with 5 minutes of travel time between activities.  Classroom presentations, stage shows, and a hands-on Exhibit Hall provide plenty of opportunities for fun and learning.

Q.  Where is the Children’s Clean Water Festival, and how do I get there?

The festival is held at Portland Community College-Sylvania (12000 SW 49th Ave, Portland, OR  97219).

DIRECTIONS TO PCC SYLVANIA CAMPUS

Heading South on Interstate 5:

Take Exit 295 (Capitol Highway)
At end of exit, turn right onto Taylor's Ferry Rd.
Turn right onto Capitol Highway at four-way stop sign.
Take Capitol Highway (which becomes SW 49th) past five traffic lights to the Sylvania Campus on the right.
Note: there's a charge for parking at PCC campuses.

Heading North on Interstate 5:

Take Exit 294 (Barbur Blvd.)
At end of exit, turn right onto SW 60th.
Follow 60th around the bend to a stop sign.
Turn right onto Lesser Rd.
Campus entrance is approximately 1/2 mile on the left.
Note: there's a charge for parking at PCC campuses.

Bus Service:

Served by Tri-Met bus routes No.44 and No.78.

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Q.  Where should I park?

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Q.  What time should I arrive?

Give yourself extra time, as traffic is quite heavy during this time of the morning.  Please arrive no later than 7:45 a.m.* unless you’ve made special arrangements or been instructed otherwise.  Go check-in at the Registration Desk located in the College Center (CC) upper mall area.  At 8 a.m., you’ll attend a brief orientation in the College Center (CC) Cafeteria.

*A small number of volunteers who are helping with morning set-up will be asked to arrive at 7 a.m.  You will be advised of this if it applies to you.

Q.  When does the festival end?

The festival ends at 2 p.m.  A small number of volunteers will stay until 3 p.m. to assist with take-down.

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Q.  What should I wear?

A festival t-shirt will be provided when you check-in at the Registration Desk.  Please be ready to slip this t-shirt on over whatever you’re wearing – it helps identify you as a volunteer.  If you volunteered last year and still have your shirt, please wear it.

We also recommend wearing a watch (the festival schedule is tight, so it helps if everyone stays on track!) and comfortable clothes/shoes for walking around.  The Sylvania campus has many outdoor hallways (mostly covered), so you might be outside briefly as you walk from activity to activity.  You may want to dress appropriately for cool, wet weather.

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Q.  Who do I contact if I have questions about the festival or cannot attend?

Please contact Kerry Aden at 503-665-4179 or kaden@rwpud.org.

For day-of cancellations/questions, call 503-703-9261 (Registration Desk).

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Q.  What do volunteers do at the festival?

Volunteers are crucial to the festival’s success.  General Volunteers help exhibitors and presenters unload materials, set out signs, direct traffic, and assist with countless other tasks, allowing the festival to run smoothly.  Class Guides lead 4th- and 5th-grade classes around the PCC-Sylvania campus to all of their scheduled activities.

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Q.  I’ve never been to the Clean Water Festival.  What can I expect as a volunteer?

Lots of fun!  The kids’ energy is contagious, and you may even learn a thing or two about water that you didn’t know before the festival.

There are 54, 4th- and 5th-grade classes from 24 different schools at the festival, and each will be rotating between stage shows, the exhibit hall, and classroom presentations.  Presentations and booths at the exhibit hall are offered by local non-profit, governmental, and for-profit organizations.

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Q.  How can I lead a class around PCC-Sylvania when I don’t know my way around campus?

At 8 a.m. on the morning of the festival, we will hold a brief volunteer orientation in the College Center (CC) Cafeteria.  Following that, Class Guides will get some time to familiarize themselves with the campus.  We recommend doing a walk-through of the route you’ll take as you lead your class around.  Be sure the schedule posted on each classroom door matches YOUR schedule.

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Q.  Didn’t you say something about free food?

Yes!  A continental breakfast for volunteers is available in the College Center (CC) Cafeteria starting at 7:30 a.m. at the east side of the cafeteria.  A complimentary lunch is also provided to volunteers and can be picked up in the CC Cafeteria (at the same location as the continental breakfast).  Don’t miss the cookies!

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Q.  Where should I take my class to eat lunch?

For Class Guides, your lunch break is the same as your class’s lunch break (25 minutes).  If the weather is nice, please eat outside.  Anywhere on the school grounds is OK.  If the weather isn’t nice, refer to the lunch location noted on your Schedule of Activities.

Please note:  We had some last-minute changes on lunch locations.  Follow YOUR schedule, even if it’s different than your teacher’s.  YOUR schedule is correct.

A few other reminders:

• Students must be respectful – quiet voices, no trash left behind, etc.  We don’t want to disrupt PCC staff.  This is especially imperative in the Health Tech (HT) Building.

• When kids are done eating, take them to the nearest Recycling Station (in CC Cafeteria or outside HT Building).

• While Class Guides are encouraged to eat with their class, you may take a short break, as needed.  Just make sure you’re back in time to lead your class to their next scheduled activity.

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Q.  Are there bathroom breaks?

There are no scheduled bathroom breaks, so you’ll have to fit them in as needed.  The Festival Program has maps of the buildings – look at where the bathrooms are located.  Restrooms are also located in the CC Building at the north and south ends and in the Performing Arts Center.  Any time you walk your class by a bathroom, be sure to call it out.  Encourage chaperones to take kids to the bathroom in small groups.

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Q.  What if someone has a nose bleed or gets injured?

Come to the Registration Desk in the CC for first aid assistance.  Of course, if it’s a true emergency, you should call 9-1-1.

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Q.  If I am a Class Guide, am I responsible for controlling my class’s behavior?

No, your responsibility is getting the class to each of its assigned activities on time and together.  Student behavioral issues are very rarely an issue and are the responsibility of the teacher bringing the class to the event.  Teachers are required to bring one chaperone per 10 students.  Those adults should also take responsibility for the behavior of the students.  Class Guides should never be left alone with a class without a parent chaperone or teacher.

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Q.  What if I bring my class to a presentation and there is already a class there, or what if there is no presenter?

We try our hardest to avoid any scheduling conflicts, but there have been times when a presenter hasn’t shown up.  If this happens, just bring your class to the Exhibit Hall, even if they’ve already been there or will be going there.  There’s plenty for the students to see and do in the Exhibit Hall.

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Q.  As a Class Guide, do I need to stay with my assigned class throughout the day?

In short, yes.  Staying with your class helps the students recognize you as their guide and feel confident following you around campus.  However, after you have dropped off your assigned class at an activity or presentation, you can leave the class to find a restroom or to locate the next classroom if you’re not sure where it is.  The important thing is that you are back to your class 10 minutes prior to the end of their activity and stay with them the majority of the time they are at the festival.

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Q.  If I need help during the day, where do I go?

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