Plunkett Celebrates Earth Day
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| Meghan Schrade, here with her aunt, was just one of many kids who read Earth Day books at the reading corner. View Slide Show |
"Chuck's just a kid favorite," said Curtis Asch, the education program manager at the Berkshire Museum and Chuck's companion on the journey from Pittsfield. "And he's no stranger to schools. He comes to classes of kindergartners through seventh-graders."
Chuck, 65, a red-footed tortoise, was just one of the attractions at the Tuesday night celebration of Earth Day's 38th anniversary, held in the elementary school's gymnasium.
Exhibitors from the Hoosic River Watershed Association used a scale model to explain the dangers of pollutants in the community's water, the Solid Waste Management District showed off worms in a small compost pile and volunteers helped with face-painting and take-home art projects.
<L2>"We wanted to make the community aware of some of the Earth Day issues and we wanted it to be for both adults and children," said Mara Wooley, a Plunkett kindergarten teacher, a member of the Topia board of directors and organizer of the event.
Along with family-friendly activities and special presentations, the Earth Day fair also gave attendees a chance to help clean up "Wacky World," the school's playground.
"Cleaning up Wacky World was my favorite part of today because it was a nice thing to do," said Dean Covert, 12, who also added that he now plans to lead an effort to clean up the Ashuwillticook Rail Trail.
"I walk it four times a week with my school and it's just gross. There's food wrappers and trash everywhere," he said.
Mom Adrienne Covert, a paraprofessional at Plunkett, said she brought her three children to the fair so they could understand the importance of environmentalism.
"We came to support the school and support Earth Day," Covert said.
An organic snack sale, a recycled clothing area, a book sale and a Chinese raffle also attracted dozens of local residents to the school.
According to Principal Kristen Gordon, teachers had been incorporating lessons on environmentalism and recycling into their curriculum over the weeks leading up to Earth Day.
"This isn't just a one-day event. We've been sending the message about the Earth for weeks and we've really embraced it," Gordon said.
At the fair, science projects that highlighted the importance of protecting endangered species lined one wall and art projects made from recycled egg cartons and compact discs lined another.
"We tried to raise awareness," said Gordon. "I love community events, especially when there's an important lesson for the kids. We're here trying to show what Earth Day is and all that it stands for."
A performance by Marmalade Productions, titled "The Watershed Waltz," took the audience on a journey to the watershed, complete with song and dance routines, a puppet show and audience participation.
"I was just trying to visit my watershed," exclaimed Meredyth Babcock, the play's main character as she tags along on a trip with Alvin the trout, learns how to evaporate and realizes her everyday actions can affect her watershed.<R3>
For Michelle Johnson, whose daughter Emily, 2, joined the troupe onstage for their final song, "The Watershed Waltz" capped off a trip that was fun for the whole family.
"Well, it's Earth Day. We have to celebrate it," Johnson said.
As for Chuck and his pal, Curtis, the Earth Day fair hopefully taught visitors the importance of taking care of their environment.
"Kids in general get the idea that we are running out of resources. The real key is showing them they have the ability to solve this themselves," said Asch.
