Liberty County children will have an opportunity to celebrate Earth Day April 17 at Bradwell Park in downtown Hinesville.
Several organizations are sponsoring “Earth Day in the Park,” an event that promises to be fun and educational.
“We put this event together to give children and their parents a chance to celebrate Earth Day and learn more about the fantastic natural resources we have in Liberty County. We want to increase awareness about ways we can all protect our environment, particularly our waterways,” Sara Ann Swida, Keep Liberty County Beautiful director, said.
Earth Day in the Park is scheduled to begin at 3:30 p.m. with a sidewalk chalk art contest. The contest is open to all ages and has an environmental theme. Leah Poole, local United Way director and one of the program organizers, said, “We want to invite all aspiring artists to come out between 3:30 and 5 p.m. and share their art with us. We are looking for art that expresses the need for caring for our environment — our wildlife, our land and our waterways.”
Prizes will be awarded later during the program. Liberty County Chamber of Commerce, United Way of the Coastal Empire, Liberty and the Adolescent Health and Youth Development Program of the Liberty County Health Department are sponsors of the contest.
At 5 p.m., Earth Day programs will get under way with an array of environmental exhibits. The park will be filled with a number of wildlife displays, information on air and water pollution, interactive 3D displays on coastal wetlands and non-point source pollution, as well as information on local natural resources that may not be familiar to many area families.
“One goal in planning this event was to increase awareness about local opportunities that families can visit to experience our natural coastal treasures here. We will have displays and information on local historic and recreational sites in the county,” Sandy White, county director of tourism and Hinesville Downtown Manager, said.
“We have many free and nearly free opportunities that our local families can enjoy right here in Liberty County,” she said.
Each exhibit will also feature a variety of fun and educational items for children to take home, including face painting, bookmarks, coloring sheets, temporary tattoos and game pages.
“We also have some additional rewards for many of the children who attend. The first 100 children, 12 and under, will receive free knapsacks. Also the church, civic or school youth group bringing the most children will receive a gift certificate for $50 for a pizza party,” Swida said.
The fun does not stop there. McDonalds, one of the sponsors, will provide hamburgers and drinks for the first 250 participants at the event.
A drawing will be held at the end of the program for a Gameboy Advance and Six Flags tickets provided by DPW Environmental Division.
The main attraction is at 6 p.m. when Jack Golden, an award-winning environmental educator, will share his humorous and informative program, “Water, Water Everywhere.”
Golden uses his unique blend of slapstick, hip-hop and vaudeville to help children think about ways to prevent water pollution.
“We want everyone to leave this event appreciating local resources like our waterways and understand that it is up to us to take care of them,” Kenny Smiley, director for the Liberty County Chamber of Commerce, said.
Earth Day in the Park is sponsored by Keep Liberty County Beautiful, the Downtown Development Authority, the Coastal Courier, the Liberty County Chamber of Commerce, DPW Environmental Services, the U. S. Army MWR, United Way of the Coastal Empire, Liberty, the Liberty County Health Department, and McDonalds’ Restaurants.
Call 368-4888 or email klcb@coastalnow.net
Several organizations are sponsoring “Earth Day in the Park,” an event that promises to be fun and educational.
“We put this event together to give children and their parents a chance to celebrate Earth Day and learn more about the fantastic natural resources we have in Liberty County. We want to increase awareness about ways we can all protect our environment, particularly our waterways,” Sara Ann Swida, Keep Liberty County Beautiful director, said.
Earth Day in the Park is scheduled to begin at 3:30 p.m. with a sidewalk chalk art contest. The contest is open to all ages and has an environmental theme. Leah Poole, local United Way director and one of the program organizers, said, “We want to invite all aspiring artists to come out between 3:30 and 5 p.m. and share their art with us. We are looking for art that expresses the need for caring for our environment — our wildlife, our land and our waterways.”
Prizes will be awarded later during the program. Liberty County Chamber of Commerce, United Way of the Coastal Empire, Liberty and the Adolescent Health and Youth Development Program of the Liberty County Health Department are sponsors of the contest.
At 5 p.m., Earth Day programs will get under way with an array of environmental exhibits. The park will be filled with a number of wildlife displays, information on air and water pollution, interactive 3D displays on coastal wetlands and non-point source pollution, as well as information on local natural resources that may not be familiar to many area families.
“One goal in planning this event was to increase awareness about local opportunities that families can visit to experience our natural coastal treasures here. We will have displays and information on local historic and recreational sites in the county,” Sandy White, county director of tourism and Hinesville Downtown Manager, said.
“We have many free and nearly free opportunities that our local families can enjoy right here in Liberty County,” she said.
Each exhibit will also feature a variety of fun and educational items for children to take home, including face painting, bookmarks, coloring sheets, temporary tattoos and game pages.
“We also have some additional rewards for many of the children who attend. The first 100 children, 12 and under, will receive free knapsacks. Also the church, civic or school youth group bringing the most children will receive a gift certificate for $50 for a pizza party,” Swida said.
The fun does not stop there. McDonalds, one of the sponsors, will provide hamburgers and drinks for the first 250 participants at the event.
A drawing will be held at the end of the program for a Gameboy Advance and Six Flags tickets provided by DPW Environmental Division.
The main attraction is at 6 p.m. when Jack Golden, an award-winning environmental educator, will share his humorous and informative program, “Water, Water Everywhere.”
Golden uses his unique blend of slapstick, hip-hop and vaudeville to help children think about ways to prevent water pollution.
“We want everyone to leave this event appreciating local resources like our waterways and understand that it is up to us to take care of them,” Kenny Smiley, director for the Liberty County Chamber of Commerce, said.
Earth Day in the Park is sponsored by Keep Liberty County Beautiful, the Downtown Development Authority, the Coastal Courier, the Liberty County Chamber of Commerce, DPW Environmental Services, the U. S. Army MWR, United Way of the Coastal Empire, Liberty, the Liberty County Health Department, and McDonalds’ Restaurants.
Call 368-4888 or email klcb@coastalnow.net