BREMERTON, Wash. –
Puget Sound Naval Shipyard & Intermediate Maintenance Facility employees joined forces at the Kitsap County Fairgrounds, May 13, in support of the 2025 Kitsap Water Festival.
The educational event was open to third and fourth graders from 15 Kitsap County elementary schools, teaching them how their everyday actions impact water quality in Kitsap County. Topics like groundwater, drinking water and storm water conservation were explained throughout a variety of booths staffed by representative from local businesses and organizations.
Rick Wikle, docking zone manager, Code 340, Docking Office, was on hand, representing PSNS & IMF with a working mock-up of a dry dock to demonstrate how vessels enter and leave the shipyard.
Wikle was one of three PSNS & IMF employees at the booth helping inquisitive students operate tiny pumps to flood and empty the miniature dry dock. As groups of eager young students waited their turn to work the pumps, Wikle and his colleagues answered their questions.
“I think it’s really cool we’re out here helping kids learn,” Wikle said. “The kids all know someone who works at the shipyard. It’s usually a family member, but they really don’t get to see what we actually do. This is fun way to show them.”
The three shipyard employees weren't the only Navy presence during the event. Divers from the PSNS & IMF Bangor Dive Locker; as well as representative from the Naval Undersea Warfare Center, Division Keyport; the Exceptional Family Members Program, Naval Base Kitsap, and both Puget Sound Naval Museum and the U.S. Naval Undersea Museum were also on hand to help educate the young audience members.
For local educators, the event was a way to offer their students a unique learning experience outside of the classroom.
“This is our third year participating,” said Chelsea Gardner, teacher, All Saints Academy. “The kids love it, and it gets them out of the classroom and helps expose them to what's going on out in the real world. They really enjoy seeing everything.”
The first Kitsap Water Festival took place 27 years ago. Since 1995, it has been an annual education event that focuses on Puget Sound’s most important resource — water. Approximately 1,000 children were able to attend this year’s festival.
“I think it’s great we’re here,” Wikle said. “It’s a good way for us to give back to our community and help show what we do [at the shipyard].”