After several years of cancellations, rainy day alternatives and incessant checks of the weather radar, 342 second-graders filed into the Mount Gilead State Park to celebrate Earth Day on May 7th, 2024!
Elementary students from Cardington-Lincoln, Northmor, Highland and Park Avenue began their day by bus as the sun started to break through the clouds. After pulling into the standing pines of the Mount Gilead State Park entrance classes were unloaded and registered at Shelter House 1. Little faces stared out into the green canvas that made up the Park that day and smiled.
Like geese with their gooselings, the teacher and student groups wound their way through the park to their first stop, an education session with a local organization focused on a topic related to Earth Day. After 20 minutes the students would have to wave goodbye and continue to their next session, six sessions in total, with a new presenter. Programs offered during this event ranged from animal encounters to sustainability and everything in between.
After the morning block of 20-minute programs students, and volunteers, enjoyed their
lunches under the roofs of one on the three shelter houses at the Park and were treated to a 30 minute program from our special guest, Mike Fry. Mr. Fry talked turkey with the students, his time evenly split between the Wild Turkey's incredible conservation story in Morrow County and the many questions the students had.
This event is only possible through the support of our local school districts, their teachers and parents, as well as, our incredible roster of volunteer organizations.
Thank you to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources, the Morrow Soil and Water Conservation District, OSU Ext.-Morrow County Master Gardeners, OSU Ext.-Morrow County Teen Volunteers, Natives in Harmony, The Tomorrow Center, The Ohio Farm Bureaus, Morrow County Park District, The Headwaters Outdoor Education Center, Morrow County Recycling, Selover and Perry Cook Libraries and the Morrow County Chapter of Ducks Unlimited.
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