ECC to Celebrate Earth Day April 21

Many hands-on activities for children will highlight the Earth Day celebration Saturday, April 21, at East Central College.

The free event will be held from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. in and around the Health and Science Building at the college campus in Union.

Exhibitors include the Donald Danforth Plant Science Center, Sweet Harvest Honey, Engineers Without Borders, Hillermann Nursery & Florist, SCOPE (Science and Citizens Organized for Purpose and Exploration), Missouri Master Naturalists, St. Clair High School science projects, an ornithologist and several other organizations.

The St. Louis Science Center will offer five-minute Segway rides for $5. In addition, several student organizations will have demonstrations and activities promoting environmental awareness.

Throughout the event there will be drawings for Segway rides and eco-friendly attendance prizes including a home energy audit.

Dr. Parvadha Govindaswamy, ECC biology instructor and event coordinator, noted that the college hopes families can visit the campus April 21 to learn what they can do to conserve and protect the environment, and also be exposed to the educational and career opportunities in environment- and science-related careers.

“We want children to have the opportunity to have fun with science,” said Govindaswamy.

The college is receiving financial support from Kohl’s and is partnering with SCOPE, to present Earth Day.

SCOPE is a nonprofit, grassroots organization that connects communities to resources and opportunities in all areas of science and technology from education to the work force. SCOPE will be bringing its resources to the event as well.

In addition to the free activities April 21, ECC’s speaker series will host a presentation by the World Bird Sanctuary on birds of prey Friday, April 27. Representatives of the sanctuary will bring a variety of raptors to campus.

That free event will begin at 6 p.m. on the lawn west of the Multipurpose Building.

For more information, people may call 636-584-6507 or email collrela@eastcentral.edu.