Nearly 60 Families, with children eager to learn more about the environment, participated in Fort Drum Mountain Community Homes' 2010 Earth Day celebration April 15 at Rhicard Hills Community Center.
Families were invited to join in an afternoon of fun and learning with Mountain Community Homes' staff and representatives from local organizations.
As they entered the festivities, children and parents alike planted their choice of cucumber or bean seeds and received instructions on how to care for them once they got home. All attendees were given reusable shopping bags to take home and to help keep track of informational brochures provided by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation.
By far the favorite activities of the day, though, were a tie between the worm farm and amazing animal demonstrations provided by the staff of Thompson Park Zoo, Watertown. Zoo and their education staff were on hand with an Eastern ribbon snake, bearded dragon, millipedes, three-toed box turtle and an American kestrel.
The turtle was the fan favorite of Shannon Poe's children.
"The kids had a great time," she said. "We're new to Fort Drum and Crescent Woods, and this was our first event. They really loved getting to touch the turtle and learn more about it."
For Aubrey Bowers and Bobby Udani of Rhicard Hills, though, the worms took the cake.
"They had so much fun digging around looking for the worms, and then getting to hold them and see them up close," said Brandy Bowers.
Face painting, music, food and an environmental trivia game rounded out an afternoon of festivities for residents to enjoy. Mountain Community Homes staff is already looking forward to planning another successful event for Earth Day 2011.
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