This year Earth Day takes place on Tuesday, April 22 and is shaping up to be an incredible event with fun eco-activities for all ages. While the ‘Trashy but Flashy’ Fashion Show is not part of the Earth Day 2014 celebrations, this year there are even more ways to celebrate and it all takes place under one roof – at The Arts Station.
The Arts Station will be transformed into an environmental ‘feast’ with displays from Bear Aware, Elk River Alliance, CarShare and more. The EcoGarden will also be hosting a Seed Swap, and encourages the community to bring locally grown seeds to swap or money to purchase locally grown seeds.
Also on display will be the Flathead Wild Art Exhibit, the result of bringing local artists into the Flathead River Valley for a week. It features works from Laura Nelson (Fernie), Tara Higgins (Fernie), Joseph Cross (Cranbrook), Denise Lemaster (Invermere), and Simon Haiduk (Kimberley). It also features works from Jackson Hole based artist Dwayne Harty, Banff National Park’s inaugural artist in residence.
Free, kid-friendly, after school Earth Day activities will happen from 3 to 5 pm and everyone is welcome to join in the fun. Activities include a mini eco-film festival, free popcorn and a great selection of interactive age appropriate, eco-friendly activities and games.
The Arts Station doors open again at 6:30 pm with the celebrated ‘Green Drinks’, environmental displays, and the opportunity to mix and mingle. Think Tank Cinema will be showing the film The Wisdom to Survive by donation. The screening of this thought provoking environmental film starts at 7 pm followed by scintillating discussion.
New this year is a call to action to participate in the ‘Trash Bash Challenge’ and ‘Get Wild Challenge’. Prizes will be given out for each challenge.
To participate: Find an outdoor area that you love and take the initiative to clean up your neighbourhood with the Trash Bash Challenge. Grab your friends and family and get outside to make a difference. Take a photo and post it to the Earth Day Fernie Facebook page, along with how many bags, how many people, and how much time you spent cleaning up your neighbourhood. Tell us what was the most common and most interesting garbage you found. Need supplies? Swing by to pick up garbage bags and gloves, available at the Wildsight office from 10 am to 1 pm and at the Arts Station from 3 to 7 pm.
Get outside into nature and play in the great outdoors to take part in the Get Wild Challenge. Take a photo and share it on the Earth Day Fernie Facebook page. When posting your photo, include what is the best thing about playing outside, how much time you spent outside and what you did.
The evening will wrap up with the Wildsight Annual General Meeting and election of directors. Open to the public, all are encouraged to attend to enjoy free appetizers and hear about the work of the organization.
To learn more about the eco-friendly fun coming your way, watch for The Free Press Go Green insert or visit www.facebook.com/earthdayfernie.