FORT CARSON, Colo. -- For more than 40 years, Earth Day has been a day to bring awareness to the environment and environmental concerns.
"We've only got one planet … and we need to be good stewards," said Mary Barber, installation sustainability resource officer, Plans, Analysis and Integration Office.
For three days, April 21-23, children from schools on Fort Carson had the opportunity to learn more about what they can do to be good stewards of the earth. The activities included decorating paper bags with Earth Day slogans, readings of "The Lorax" by Dr. Seuss and ecology fairs.
"The Lorax" was read by 25 mostly military and Family member volunteers to students at on-post elementary schools, April 22.
Patriot Elementary School students attended the ecology fair at Elkhorn Conference Center, April 23.
"I think this is great," said third-grade teacher Ryan Hilby during the event. "(The kids) were all answering questions, very eager to respond."
At the fair, students had a chance to participate in a Name the Creek contest.
"The kids are all eager to give names for it," he said. "They're starting to think of names … it's pretty exciting."
Dan Gray, DPW Environmental Division forestry technician, gave a presentation about the benefits of trees.
"I want them to be aware. They already know about all the wonderful things trees provide us," he said. "They may not be in the loop as far as connecting that with our weather, and that's the thing that's really changing."
Students learned more about recycling, different types of energy and wildlife found in Colorado.
The message of protecting the planet is one that extends beyond Earth Day.
"There's three things you can do -- reduce waste, reuse and recycle. You can save energy by turning those lights off and other energy-using devices that are not needed. And saving water when you're brushing your teeth, when you're taking a shower, when you're irrigating the lawn," Barber said. "And that supports our net zero goals."
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