Lake Eola hosts
an Earth Day celebration that brings kids into the effort of preserving the environment.
Channing Stone has been an environmentalist since before she could even say the word.
At 4 years old, she went to the zoo to see her favorite animal: the white tiger.
But seeing the animal caged ignited a visceral reaction.
“I saw them there and realized they bred them to make money,” said Stone, 28, a Vegetarians of Central Florida board member. “They were in small enclosures. I started crying.”
The experience planted a seed that blossomed into a life of environmentalism. The Vegetarians group hosted its 13th annual Earth Day festival at Lake Eola, bringing together dozens of eco-friendly organizations for a daylong celebration of the planet.
Stone led several workshops for children at the event, including one that taught them how to make cleaning supplies at their home from green materials.
She said she wanted to help young people connect with environmentalism early.
“A lot of children in modern times are struggling to find a sense of vitality and purpose,” she said. “I believe that is because there is a disconnect with the natural world.”
Throughout the park, young people could be seen walking alongside parents, learning lessons on recycling, environmentalism and green living.
Lindsey Hochreiter brought her 5-year-old daughter Blaklie Mathis to the event because it provided an efficient way to teach her how she can help the planet.
“I want her to see what this is about, what the earth is about and to get a grasp on the reality about our environment,” she said. “This is going to be her world when we are no longer here so she’ll need to take a lead on what is around her.”
Among the yoga tents and holistic medicine booths, Andy Waldo of the animal protection group Imagine Our Florida was showing off fake bear poop, a rubber paw print and a bear skull.
The novelties received more than one look from parents walking by.