My festive mood started before Halloween this year, which is weird for me because Halloween has always been my favorite. I usually go all out with the spooky decor in my front yard and the well-planned costumes. But this year I was ready for that cozy, glittery, festive time in which I could eat comfort foods, decorate cookies, and snooze by the blazing fireplace. Needless to say, when the jack-o-lanterns came down I was setting up my Christmas village and buying fire logs.
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Last year was our first Earth Day event here in Jefferson City. Since it was our first, it was cold, and it was on a school night, it wasn’t as big of an event and ended earlier than it meant to.
But this year I’m proud to say my city came through! Our Parks and Rec department put together the framework of the event and gathered all of the participants. Volunteers from the Conservation Center, local flower nurseries, the local gallery, and more came out to make this event a truly memorable experience.
Where:
Same as last year, we had the Earth Day event in Memorial Park after school. Luckily it was a warm day, and a Friday, and so the crowd was a lot larger and filled with happy kids ready for the weekend.
Crafts:
We had several tables set up to create various Earth-related crafts. Families were able to create bird feeders, chia pets, paint flower pots and rocks, press flowers and leaves into clay, and create their very own nature journal. Goo came home with a variety of things that she could then put to use in order to make our backyard–and our Earth–a better place.
Education:
While many of the craft tables had an educational foundation, there were a few tables that were set up solely to teach. One of my favorites were the insect shadow boxes that showed insects and other bugs found here in Missouri. The gentleman who ran this table was very knowledgeable about bugs and my husband even had a chat with him about a bug we’d found recently, and learned that bug had been a rare sight.
Let’s Go Fly a Kite:
Along with the crafts and education, we had a TON of wind, which was perfect for kite-building and a kite-flying contest. Goo got to keep her kite, a jellyfish she calls “Jelly.” By the time we’d gotten to the kite-flying table most of the kites were gone, which meant tons of kiddos are now out there flying kites and enjoying these springtime windy days we’ve had lately.
Volunteer Trash Clean-Up:
Dozens of heavy duty gloves and bags were donated for those who wanted to do a bit of trash clean up in the park. These items could then be taken home so the clean-up could continue.
Food & Refreshments:
Yes! We even had food! We had Italian ice and a food truck and the smells wafted all over as we flew our kites and painted flower pots.
This event was so much fun and I heard lots of praise from parents and grandparents (and aunts and uncles and guardians) about how much the event meant to them and their children. I’m hoping everyone took something home with them, even if it was just a bit of knowledge on what they can do to help our planet Earth stay green and healthy.
But don’t wait until next year to come to the event for some tips and crafts. Earth Day should be an every day thing, as we all must work together, year-round, to do our part.
Until next time, may your gardens be in bloom and your parks be clean.
Scribble Chai 