Family Earth Day Event This Saturday

The Earth is what we all have in common."- Wendell Berry

 By Sally Wagoner, Newaygo County Environmental Coalition

The public is welcome to a free, family friendly Earth Day Celebration on Saturday, April 26 at Brooks Park., 28 N State Road, Newaygo, 49337. “Naturally Newaygo” is a drop-in event from 2pm – 5pm, with no registration needed.

“We will have hands-on activities for all ages,” states Jen Burfield of the Newaygo Conservation District. “One game is a bird migration obstacle course, where kids become birds and learn about how birds fly between their winter and summer homes in spring and fall.”

 “Earth Day is one of my favorite times of year,” states Amanda Paige of the Muskegon River Watershed Assembly. It comes in Spring which is the start of stream monitoring season. This is where regular community members become important citizen scientists. At the Naturally Newaygo event, families will get to pick and sort a bunch of stream bugs, known as macroinvertebrates, and look at them through microscopes.”

Amanda adds, “These little critters can tell us a lot about how healthy a stream is, or is not. It is a great way to have fun with science, and help our environment too.” 
Naturally Newaygo is a collaborative event between the Muskegon River Watershed Assembly (MRWA), the Newaygo Conservation District (NCD), and the Newaygo County Environmental Coalition (NCEC). 

“The idea came about pretty organically – pun intended – as our three organizations were talking about Spring plans,” states Amanda.

Added Jen, ”We do a lot of these kinds of family and youth friendly programs at Kropscott Farm Environmental Center. We are excited that our three organizations could come together to bring fun and environmental awareness and education to the community at Brooks Park.”

NCEC will add to the activities with a Recycling Game. Kids will win prizes as they learn if various common household items and toys can be recycled, or if they must be thrown in the trash. “This fun activity will help families learn how to recycle the right way, and keep unnecessary trash out of our landfills,” states Sally Wagoner of NCEC.
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“Just show up at Brooks Park on Saturday, April 26, anytime between 2pm – 5pm”, states Ms. Burfield. It will be a great way for families to celebrate Earth Day, to learn some new things, take home some prizes, and have a good time too!”
Questions may be directed to Amanda Paige: [email protected].