By Emma Coulson
The Fernie Academy
The Fernie Academy celebrated Earth Day on Friday April 27 with a whole day of scheduled environmental awareness activities for all grades K-12.
The day kicked off with a surprise announcement for the 'Planet Protectors' - an enthusiastic group of seven Fernie Academy students (Rosaele Tremblay, Madalon Burnett, Sindella Sugden, Sascha Van Zyl, Maelle Webber, Kaida Wannamaker and Aurora Wannamaker) who were recent winners in the secondary category for the BC Green Games run by Science World.
Over the course of February, these students worked on a paper recycling program in which school paper waste was reused and turned into recycled paper, paper bricks were made to be burnt in fire places as an alternative to burning wood logs and also campfire pucks were used as fire starters. These products will be available for sale and the funds raised will be used to complete further environmental initiatives at The Fernie Academy.
The students enjoyed a wide range of activities including special guest presentations by Wildsight’s Casey Brennan and Ktunaxa storyteller, Joe Pierre, sponsored by Teck.
Created by students throughout the day were solar pizza box ovens, reusable recycled fabric snack bags, recycled paper and recycled native art projects. Students also participated in a 'Community Clean Up' removing garbage from public spaces around town. A special thanks to fantastic guest presenters and local businesses Giver Shirt Works, Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory, Bear Necessities and Teck for their generous donations of prizes for the day.