Earth Day events

SRU’s Macoskey Center celebrates Earth Festival

Every day is Earth Day at the Macoskey Center at Slippery Rock University.

The center will celebrate Earth Day with its 18th annual Earth Festival at the center, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. April 19.

A number of activities are planned:

ä Adult workshops on backyard birding; organic cooking; wind and solar power; climate change; biodiesel demonstration; composting; and apple tree grafting;

ä Children’s education and craft activities, including the Harmony Quilt Project with natural fabric dyeing; nature weaving; recycled art; building a sustainable village; and kite-making workshop;

ä The “Know Your Earth” kids’ challenge;

ä Farm animal exhibition, including sheep, goats, llamas, pigs, a milk cow and horses;

ä Wool-spinning demonstration;

ä Tours of the latest sustainable features of the Macoskey Center;

ä Sustainable marketplace, featuring local businesses with environmentally friendly products;

ä Sustainable Bag Charity Auction with prizes;

ä An eco-friendly transport exhibit on bike safety, transport alternatives and eco-friendly vehicles;

ä Musical performances by local bluegrass band, Well Strung, and “the masters of metamorphic rock,” McLaws Drive;

ä Pittsburgh’s Zany Umbrella Circus, on the subject of “human power”;

ä Sustainable food vendors, and more.

The Macoskey Center is still seeking more teams for their newest event at Earth Festival this year: The Sustainability Challenge. Part obstacle course, part puzzle, part teambuilding exercise and part lesson in human ecology, the Sustainability Challenge will bring teams of adventurous people together to compete for the chance to win a variety of prizes. The challenge’s grand prize will be a whitewater rafting trip.

McKeever Environmental center plans clean-up day

As the snow melted, it revealed that some work needed to be done to McKeever Environmental Learning Center, 55 McKeever Lane, Sandy Lake.

April 19, the center’s staff will invite volunteers to help clean up around the center, from 9 a.m. to noon, in celebration of Earth Day.

Participants will assist with maintaining trails and perennial beds, and picking up litter.

Meet in front of the McKeever dining hall. Most needed equipment and materials will be provided; however, if you wish you may bring your own work gloves and outdoor tools like rakes and pruning shears.

All are welcome to lend a hand.

For information, call the center at 724-376-1000, e-mail info@mckeever.org or visit online at www.mckeever.org.

Organics store celebrates Earth Day with activities

Organics and You, 3273 S. Main St., Sandy Lake, will offer a variety of activities to celebrate Earth Day from 9 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. April 22.

At 4 p.m. the store will host Tony Piccolin, local expert on osprey and eagles; and Sonja from Restoration Herbs with a presentation on “Healthy Plants, Healthy People.”

Throughout the day, Organics and You will offer information tables hosting McKeever Environmental Learning Center, Friends of Goddard State Park and the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources.

The store will offer an opportunity for visitors to meet its suppliers, NuWay, Silver Wheel and Three Sisters Farm, and try product samples. There will be a massage room open house, Heather’s sustainable living bulletin board, ionic spa foot detox, and more.

For information, call Organics and You at 724-376-5076 or e-mail o_and_you@yahoo.com.