Ecology Center AmeriCorps VISTA Matt Walker navigated participants through the program with activities aimed at increasing environmental appreciation.
Participants stated one thing they liked about the Earth, which ranged from bees to clouds, water and the sun. Then they went on a hike to the top of "the Knob" and participated in a spring scavenger hunt to learn about and identify local species. Some shared their favorite find, which included items such as mayapple leaves "because it looks like an umbrella" and one morel (known locally as a molly moocher) because "It's different from all the others," said two participants.
ABLE Families VISTA Tracie Blummer led participants in making natural paintings about things they would miss about nature. The students made mud paint and smeared dandelions, grass and flowers to create non toxic art.
When asked what he would miss about nature, one young man said "I'll tell you one thing I won't miss. I won't miss them taking all the trees off the mountains and strip mining them." He painted a bleak flattened mountain landscape with mud.
The group then brainstormed ways to help the environment and made a "Pledge Poster" to show one thing they would do to protect the Earth. Some pledges included "I promise to recycle" "I will save electricity" and "I will save water" with a picture of someone brushing their teeth. Many students promised to stop littering and to "help people in the community pick up trash." Nine year old Lindsay Hall wrote "I promise to help clean up in our community and talk to the mayor about having an earth day to pitch in and clean up." The poster will serve as a reminder to participants about their personal commitments.
Earth Day is an annual event at the Ecology Center as a way to celebrate, raise awareness and teach about the environment. The Ecology Center, started in 1999, is a non-profit project of Big Laurel Learning Center. Big Laurel's mission is to inspire celebration, education and volunteerism as tools to promote healing and social change, and to empower those who are most in need. The Ecology Center focuses on programs that connect youth directly to nature and environmental issues through summer camps and weekend programs. They provide service opportunities along with environmental education programs throughout the year including: themed summer camps, outdoor classrooms, Project FLOW watershed education, alternative spring and fall breaks and Ridge Kids.
For more information about camp registration call 304
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