SCHOFIELD BARRACKS, Hawaii -- Building on the annual Earth Day Festival that has grown to attract nearly a thousand Soldiers and family members at Schofield Barracks, U.S. Army Garrison-Hawaii and Island Palm Communities are now taking Earth Day to the next level with the garrison's first-ever Earth Month celebration.
Families can look forward to an exciting variety of activities and programs throughout April that will promote green, healthy living and showcase sustainability initiatives taking place inside and outside the gate.
"It's clear our families have a great interest in green initiatives and have a desire to be part of the effort to preserve the environment," said Mark Frey, project director, Island Palm Communities. "Watching families interact at past events and seeing the effort parents make to help instill good habits in their children have helped us identify meaningful programs.
"We're excited about expanding our Earth Month programs and making them accessible to families living in both the Schofield and Fort Shafter areas," Frey added.
Earth Month festivities kick-off at the Fun Fest and Earth Day Festival, April 7, at Weyand Field, Schofield Barracks. The monthlong celebration will culminate with another Earth Day Festival April 28 at Fort Shafter Flats.
Nearly a dozen exhibitors will be in attendance with educational activities and games. Attendees can learn about Hawaii's coral reefs and the state's iconic humpback whales, and can bring along an old tank top to make a cool tank top tote.
Also taking place at both events is the annual Trash-formation Recycled Art Contest. This year's theme is "Reduce, Reuse, Recycle," and awards will be presented to four different age categories. Entries must be brought to the Recycled Art tent by 10 a.m. during the festival days, and winners will be announced at noon.
Event highlights include the following:
I Got the Power!
The first-ever "I Got the Power" live game show will take place, 3 p.m., April 18 at Aliamanu Community Center. The first 40 residents who sign-up on the day of the event will compete in a physical challenge elimination round, the first step toward winning $100.
Residents making it to the second and final rounds will be tested on how much they know about energy conservation and USAG-HI's resident utility program. The entire family is invited to join the fun and cheer on their favorite contestant.
Planet Earth Movie Night
Don't miss a free showing of "Planet Earth," a movie showcasing the awe and wonder of the natural world. Before the main event, kids can help "build" a forest with DPW's Natural Resources presentation "Who is Caring for Our Hawaiian forests?" The movie and program will be offered, 3 p.m., April 4 and 18 at the Kalakaua Community Center and April 11 and 25 at Aliamanu Community Center .
Fun Fest and Earth Day 2012 is April 7
Celebrate Earth Day with exhibits, activities and live entertainment, plus enjoy the annual Funfest with games, rides and inflatables from 8:30 a.m.-2 p.m., April 7, at Weyand Field, Schofield Barracks. Activities follow:
•8:30-9:30 a.m., Enchanted Breakfast; purchase tickets at the Leisure Travel Office, Schofield Barracks, or call 655-9971.
•9 a.m.-2 p.m., Fun Fest; features games, rides, inflatables and entertainment by School of Knowledge, Inspiration, Exploration, and Skills Unlimited, or SKIES, and Travel Fair.
•9 a.m.-2 p.m., Earth Day 2012; features exhibits from the Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources, Hawaii Coral Reef Initiative, Blue Planet Foundation, Solar City, Tetra Tech, Aqua Engineering and the Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary.
•10 a.m.-1 p.m., Fun Fest photos with the Easter Bunny.
Earth Month happenings
•April 4, 10:30 a.m-1:30 p.m., Building 494, Schofield Barracks; Cultural Resources Open House. Visit the restored 1924 Schofield Barracks Fire Station, home to the Army Cultural Resources Program. Meet the archaeologists and hear about the Army's cultural preservation efforts. Also, rarely-seen artifacts will be on display. Call 655-9734.
•April 4, 18, 3-4:30 p.m., Disney's "Planet Earth", Kalakaua Community Center, 2535 Waianae Uka Ave., Schofield Barracks; and April 11, 25; 3-4:30 p.m., Aliamanu Community Center, 182 Kauhini Rd. Participate in the interactive "Who is caring for our Hawaiian Forests?" prior to the movie. Call 687-8313.
•April 5, 12, 19, 26, 8-11 a.m., Schofield Barracks, Wheeler Army Airfield, Fort Shafter; Greening Your Workspace. Environmental teams will visit offices and motor pools to help make the workspaces "greener," including setting up recycling containers, adjusting printer settings, recommending sustainable products and finding ways to conserve energy. Call to schedule at 656-3085/3094.
•April 7, 8:30 a.m.-2 p.m., Sills and Weyand fields, Schofield Barracks; Fun Fest and Earth Day Festival. Learn about environmental sustainability through interactive exhibits. Also, enjoy an enchanted character breakfast, live entertainment, travel fair, food, rides, games and Easter activities as part of Fun Fest. Call 656-3103 or 687-8313.
•April 7, 9-10 a.m., Weyand Field, Schofield Barracks; and April 28, 9-10 a.m., Fort Shafter Flats. Trash-Formation Art contest with entries submitted at the Earth Day Festivals. Find entry forms at Island Palm Communities' centers, Sgt. Yano and Fort Shafter libraries, and online at www.IslandPalmCommunities.com. Art pieces must convey the message, "Reduce, Reuse, Recycle" and be assembled from repurposed materials. Call 687-8313 or Sgt. Yano Library 655-8001.
•April 11, 10-11 a.m., Palm Circle gazebo, Fort Shafter; Historic Tour of Palm Circle. Take a walking tour of this historic landmark with an architect who specializes in historic architecture. Call 655-9734 or 656-6790.
•April 18, 3-4 p.m., Aliamanu Community Center. I Got the Power Game Show, sponsored by Island Palm Communities. The first 40 residents who sign-up for this live game show on the day of the event will compete in a physical challenge elimination round, then test their knowledge of energy conservation and U.S. Army utility program. All contestants will receive a complimentary "mahalo" gift; the winner will receive $100. Call 687-8313.
•April 18 and 25, 10:30-11 a.m., Schofield Barracks. Tour Hale Kula Elementary School. Learn about the school's Sustainable Outdoor Classroom through student-led tours of the working garden, rainwater harvesting system and native plant gardens. Call 656-3086.
•April 20, various times/locations; the Amazing Tree Race. Celebration of the national observance of Arbor Day tree-planting will take place on four installations; 10 a.m. Fort Shafter; noon, Aliamanu; 2 p.m., Helemano; and 4 p.m., Wheeler Army Airfield. Tree-planting ceremonies are the first step in attaining Tree City USA recognition for each installation. Call 687-8313.
•April 22, 8 a.m.-5 p.m., Kahanahaiki, Makua Military Reservation. Volunteer service trip to clean out invasive weeds for two hours along a moderately challenging trail. Hike will include a detour to view Makua Valley and leeward coast. Volunteer application must be received at Oahu Army Natural Resource Program at least two weeks prior to the event. Minimum age 14. Call 656-7741.
•April 19, 11 a.m.-1 p.m., Bioretention/Rain Garden Clean-up, Building 766 parking lot, Schofield Barracks. Bio-retention and rain garden clean-up; 70th Engineer Battalion, 130th Eng. Brigade, 8th Theater Sustainment Command. Soldier-supported cleanup to maintain water quality improvement bioretention feature that treats storm water runoff from the parking lot. Call 656-3086.
•April 21, 7:30 a.m.-noon; Mauka to Makai Bike Path Cleanup. Meet at Blaisdell Park in Honolulu to assist in the clean-up of the Bike Path that stretches from Pearl Harbor to Waipahu. Call 438-1600, ext. 3307.
•April 24, time/specific motor pool to be determined. Live demonstration of bio-based "green" products. Call 656-3103.
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