The News Herald (Willoughby, OH)
IT’S ALL ABOUT THE AIR
Lake Metroparks welcomes families to celebrate Earth Day
It’s all about the air at Lake Metropark’s 2017 Earth Day celebration at Penitentiary Glen Reservation, 8668 Kirtland-Chardon Rd.
Earth Day, which has been celebrated on Apr. 22 every year since it’s origination in 1970, is a day set aside for people to focus on the environment and the need to keep it healthy.
“Earth Day had reached into its current status as the largest secular observance in the world, celebrated by more than a billion people every year, and a day of action that changes human behavior and provokes policy changes,” according to www.earthday.org.
Lake Metroparks is putting that focus on the air and how
“It’s nice to have a tree to plant and teach them (the kids) something other than games and how important it all is.” — Jennifer Joy, of Chesterland
important it is this year on Earth Day.
The Glen Meadow Loop Trail, called the Air-it’s Everywhere Trail during Earth Day, allowed kids to walk the trail stopping at seven different stations where they learned about air, the importance of clean air, and why we need it. Upon stopping at each station and participating in the activity presented, children received a paper strip which, when all seven strips were connected, formed an Earth Day fan. The kids who stopped at all the stations along the trail and completed their fan could get a free tree seedling to take home and plant.
Some of the stations included activities such as making music with water glasses. Kids like Annelise Malatesta,
5, of Highland Heights, were able to understand how music travels through air through vibrations. While Lucas Erickson, 6, of Perry, learned a little about the aerodynamics that allow birds to fly and could touch the wings of a turkey vulture at the Winds Beneath Your Wings station.
Jadyn Yaich, 9, of Mentoron-the-Lake, and Jane Wirsing, 2, of Wickliffe, helped with the painting of a canoe that will be an installation in the new Nature Play area opening up Memorial Day weekend.
For the gardeners, members of the Olmsted Falls Garden
Club had plenty of plants on hand for visitors to select from. For a donation of any amount, one could select a couple of plants or a whole flat.
The Farm Park had a plant activity set up which Girl Scouts troops 80101 and 80097 of Bloomfield used to earn their Earth Day Badge while learning how plants such as spider plants and aloe help keep the air clean. Visitors who stopped at this station were given the start of a spider plant to take home and plant.
Not all exhibits were air related. In the Nature Center, visitors could attend the Ecofair to learn about all things affecting the environment from animals to water pollution. Many different conservation organizations were on hand to talk to attendees.
An Earth Day marketplace allowed local venders to sell locally made and eco-friendly
items such as essential oils and reusable water bottles.
Lake Metroparks offered their Birds or Prey exhibition in the outdoor classroom where visitors learned about barn owls and red tail hawks. Mother Nature shared Mother Earth stories and Erie Heights Brass Ensemble provided entertainment.
Jennifer Joy, of Chesterland, attended for the first time with her two sons, Sheldon, 3, and John, 1.
“I think this is fantastic. He (Sheldon) loves doing anything outdoors, and it’s great for the kids to come and see the animals,” Joy said. “It’s nice to have a tree to plant and teach them (the kids) something other than games and how important it all is.”
Wildlife was on display for guests to learn about with a live animal exhibit.
Train rides through the park seemed to be one of the most popular events with
more then 100 people standing in line at a time.
Ladies and Gentlemen Salon and Spa was on site with stylists volunteering their time to give haircuts for a $10 donation. All proceeds went directly to Lake Metroparks.
Marianne Sinkko, of Willoughby, attend with her family and liked the idea that it was a free, fun family activity.
From the Ground up: Art from Trees, an art exhibit featuring the work of local artists demonstrating the ways tree grace our lives, was open for viewing as well.
“We are all responsible for caring for our natural environment. This has been the concept of Earth Day since it’s beginning in 1970,” according to www.lakemetroparks.com. “Lake Metroparks continues that focus to celebrate the Earth and make a commitment to learn and use new ways to make our planet a healthier place.”