April 9, 2007 — With the 27th anniversary of Earth Day fast approaching on April 22, organizations and agencies on St. Croix, St. Thomas and St. John have programs planned to celebrate.
Earth Day dates to 1970, when 20 million people marched, rallied and held other events in a grassroots effort to make politicians understand that the earth needed attention.
In that same year, the U.S. government created the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to safeguard the environment and public health. In the ensuing years, other significant legislation helped foster environmental improvements.
This year, the St. Croix Environmental Association kicks off Earth Day events on April 19 and 20 with its annual Earth Day EcoFair at St. George Village Botanical Gardens. It runs from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., and is targeted at students in grades 3 through 6.
The event gives students a chance to learn about environmental issues the local ecosystem through hands-on activities, said Anna Parrotta, who serves as SEA's EcoFair coordinator. "It encourages students to be active participants in environmental protection," she said.
The Nature Conservancy will hold a celebration from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on April 21 at Cramer's Park on St. Croix.
"It's for the general community, from kids up to adults," said Lisa Fisk, marine-conservation associate at the Nature Conservancy.
The event will focus on development of a community mural. Participants will paint nature themes that include land, water and people enjoying nature, Fisk said. Those individual paintings will become part of a mural to be exhibited around St. Croix.
There will also be games, activities, food, and music to round out the day, while booths will provide information about the environment, Fisk said.
The Friends of V.I. National Park on St. John will hold an environmental fair on April 20. It runs from 9 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. in the ball field adjacent to the park's Visitor's Center. "It's a very fun event," said Program Manager Kristin Maize.
Schoolchildren are invited to see the environmental and recycling demonstrations and science exhibits, Maize said. They will also participate in eco-activities and educational games. They'll have a chance to participate in a simulated archaeological dig, participate in a gardening workshop and learn about coral reefs and renewable energy.
The St. John event also includes live music and snacks. The public is invited.
A St. John beach-and-trail cleanup follows on April 22. The Friends request that participants in the Adopt-A-Beach/Trail program remove debris from their adopted area as part of an island-wide cleanup.
The St. Thomas office of the EPA will hold a ProEnviro Fair at the University of the Virgin Island's Sports and Fitness Center on April 20. It runs from 8:30 to 4 p.m.
"We have booths and different demonstrations," said Keshema Webbe of the EPA. So far, she said, 29 government agencies, non-profit groups and others have signed up to participate. All public and private schoolchildren in grades 3 through 12 are invited to participate, she said.
Call SEA at 773-1989, the Nature Conservancy at 773-5575, the Friends of the Park at 779-4940 and the EPA at 774-2398.
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