WNY Schools Are Celebrating Earth Day!
1. Enter the Project Earth Contest!
Western New York K-12 classes and clubs are invited to join
ProjectEarth.NET, a free Web site where participants can share their environmental projects with schools around
the world.
Ecology and Environment, Inc. is hosting two contests on ProjectEarth.NET, a national Earth Day contest and an international
World Environment Day contest. The winner of each contest will receive $500!
We want to know about the projects you've been doing, and we want to show you some of the cool projects going on around
the planet.
Go to ProjectEarth.NET Current Contests to
check it out!
2. Paint a rain barrel in Riverkeeper's "PAINT THE RAIN GREEN" CONTEST
Paint the Rain Green is a rain barrel competition for schools in the Buffalo-Niagara region to showcase
their creativity and knowledge of environmentally friendly practices. Once each school is entered in the contest, you will
be given one rain barrel to paint and given the chance to win prize. For more information about paint the rain green contest
go to www.bnriverkeeper.org
Also, schools can be involved with the Spring Shoreline
Sweep cleanup, Saturday April 16th, from 9am - 12pm. Show up and spend a few hours picking up trash along
a stream, river, or in a park and feel good about helping your environment. You can choose from over 35 sites in Erie and
Niagara Counties. Some perks include a free water bottle and a free volunteer picnic immediately following the clean-up.
Volunteer registration is now open. Visit www.bnriverkeeper.org
3. GO Greener on Earth Day—carpool, bike, walk or take Metro Bus or Rail on Friday
4/22
Demonstrate your school's commitment to going green by encouraging staff and students to take alternative transportation
on a day leading to Earth Day (April 22) in order to reduce fuel use and resulting emissions.
Register your school's participation and encourage everyone to pledge
their individual participation.
Teachers and staff: check out www.goodgoingwny. to find carpool
partners, bus options, and bike routes.
4. Participate in Tifft Nature Preserve's 2011 Earth Day Programs
It's Easy Being Green Workshop (Grades 3-8)
Celebrate National Environmental Education Week and Earth Day at Tifft! Students explore ways everyone can reduce their
ecological footprint. We will explore possible solutions to current environmental challenges while examining consumer products,
energy use, technologies, and conservation practices. This program is available during the entire month of April. For more
information or to register your class, please call 716-825-6397.
Nature's Circle: Earth Day Birthday
Tuesday, April 11
10:30-11:15AM
Ages 2-3
Celebrate National Environmental Education Week! Read a story and have some fun during an outdoor circle time at Tifft.
Silly songs, games and lots of fun help little ones comfortably engage in a natural setting. Let's learn to enjoy nature
together! Non-Members: $4 per child and adult, $2 additional children with same adult. Buffalo Museum of Science Members
save 10%.
More info for Tifft Nature Preserve at: http://www.sciencebuff.org/tifft-nature-preserve/
5. Join Reinstein Woods Nature Preserve's 2011 Earth Day Programs
Reinstein Woods In-School Programs
Reinstein Woods offers several programs to help schools celebrate Earth Day. An environmental educator will come to your
classroom to present a standards-based, interactive program. Each program lasts 45 minutes to an hour. For more information,
contact Reinstein Woods at 716-683-5959.
Trash Talk: Reduce, Reuse, Recycle (Grades K - 8)
Students will learn about the three "R's," explore the impact of garbage on the environment, and find ways to reduce, reuse
and recycle at home and school. Activities may include using math to study trash or playing "Recycling Jeopardy!"
Nature's Recyclers: Wonderful Worms (Grades 2- 8) Students explore red wiggler worms and other compost
bin creatures to learn how the worms convert food scraps into compost that can be used on vegetable and flower gardens.
A starter kit for a classroom worm bin will be provided upon request.
What's Flowing in Your Watershed? (Grades 3-8) Using a tabletop 3-D watershed model, students learn what
a watershed is and how water can become polluted. The program examines ways students can help protect our water resources.
Alien Invaders (Gr. 3 -12) Through this interactive, hands-on program, students learn what makes a plant
or animal an "invasive" species, how invasives spread and harm ecosystems, and what citizens can do to combat this problem.
This program is supported by a grant from the Community Foundation for Greater Buffalo
After School Escape
Thursday, April 21
4:30 PM at Reinstein Woods Nature Preserve, 93 Honorine Drive, Depew.
Enjoy a one-hour program for kids featuring a different, fun, outdoor activity each week.
For kids in grades K-5. No registration required.
For more information on Reinstein Nature Preserve events visit:
http://www.dec.ny.gov/education/1977.html
