Each March, Drink Local Drink Tap invites Northeast Ohio students to engage with World Water Day, a global call to learn about water equity, sustainability, and collective responsibility.
Like many education-focused programs, World Water Day spent several years in a virtual format. While the mission remained strong, Drink Local Drink Tap recognized an opportunity: bringing students back together in a shared, hands-on environment where learning could be experienced – not just discussed.
Choosing a Space Designed for Learning
When the event returned to an in-person format, the decision was intentional. Rather than treating the venue as a backdrop, the team committed to hosting World Water Day in a space purpose-built for curiosity, discovery, and youth engagement: Great Lakes Science Center.
This choice allowed the event to fully embrace what in-person learning does best – movement, interaction, experimentation, and connection. From large-scale programming in the dome to hands-on breakout sessions and an exhibitor village led by community partners, the venue became an extension of the educational experience itself.
Rebuilding with Purpose
Returning to in-person programming wasn’t about picking up where the event left off – it was about rebuilding with intention. Each new year at the Science Center allows the team to refine student flow, improve transitions between sessions, and deepen engagement with both presenters and partners.
With the support of Palmer Event Solutions, Drink Local Drink Tap approached the return to in-person programming with a long-term lens – focusing not just on logistics, but on how the event could grow stronger each year. Together, our teams evaluated what worked in a virtual format, what students needed most in a shared space, and how the physical environment could actively support learning.
By anchoring the event in a consistent educational environment, the planning team could focus on evolving the program rather than re-solving for space. Lessons learned one year informed enhancements the next, creating a stronger, more confident experience for students, educators, and collaborators alike.
An Event That Continues to Grow
Today, World Water Day at Great Lakes Science Center reflects the power of aligning mission, message, and place. What began as a return to in-person programming continues to grow into a thoughtfully designed educational experience – one that meets students where they are, invites them to ask questions, and empowers them to see themselves as part of the solution.
What makes World Water Day’s return successful isn’t simply that it’s in person – it’s that the program now has a structure that supports intentional growth. With strategic guidance from Palmer Event Solutions and a consistent venue at Great Lakes Science Center, the planning team can spend less time re-solving logistics and more time strengthening the educational experience at the heart of the event.
