CORNWALL, ON  –  The St. Lawrence River Institute of Environmental Sciences and Ontario Power Generation (OPG) are once again partnering with the community to kick off another summer series of family friendly Science and Nature Workshops at Cornwall’s OPG Visitor Centre.  Six free sessions, suitable for all ages, four of them brand new, are being planned for 2016.  The Water and Power Family Workshop will take place on Saturday, April 30 between the hours of noon and 4 pm.  River Institute educators and special guests will serve as River guides, demonstrating how water actually changes the world, one drop at a time.

Download the event brochure here.

OPG’s St. Lawrence Power Development Visitor Centre is appropriately located on the banks of the St. Lawrence River, east of the Robert H. Saunders Generating Station.  This environmentally friendly building offers 13,000 square feet of fun and provides a great programme venue for guests of all ages.  Visitors are invited to chase a virtual eel up a ladder to get over the power dam; spin a turbine and discover how much force is needed to make electricity; or become an operator for a day learning how to balance power production against the needs of other river users.

On April 30^th interactive science stations will be on site for visitors to see how scientific equipment is used to test water samples; participate in water tasting sessions, investigate how water makes power, and learn more about water levels in the Great Lakes / St. Lawrence River basin.  Special guest speaker, Matt Mulvihill from OPG will be on hand at 1:30 pm to speak on how water creates electricity.  Normand Genier from Raisin Region Conservation Authority will follow with a presentation on how shorelines that have been eroded by water activity along the River can be repaired using native plants and bio-engineering.  Just what is bio-engineering? Join Norm and find out.

Family workshops are free of charge and more information on The OPG St. Lawrence Power Development Visitor Centre can be found at: www.opg.com/stlawrencevisitorcentre.  For details call 613 932-4563 (ext. 323).  The Visitor Centre is located at 2500 B Second Street West, Cornwall.

For more details and information about St. Lawrence River Institute of Environmental Sciences summer programs like the Eco-Friends Day Camp at Cooper Marsh, visit www.riverinstitute.ca or follow us on Facebook and Twitter.