DEEP Green and the Des Plaines Park District Celebrate Earth Day
In celebration of Earth Day 2013, the Des Plaines Park District and the Des Plaines Environmental and Energy Program, (DEEP Green), sponsored the 6th Annual Earth Day Youth Fair on Saturday, April 20, at the Cumberland Terrace Fieldhouse. Hundreds of eco-friendly citizens stopped in to plant blue lake bush beans in peat pots; build a city from recycled egg cartons; and add a leaf with personal green promises to the Dream Tree. Children also visited with the US Coast Guard Auxiliary to learn about how to keep our waterways pollution-free by reducing marine debris. Outside in the park, ROAR, Roll Over Animal Rescue, set up a tent to talk about fostering rescued dogs. They were joined by Girl Scout Troup 303 who volunteered at the fair.
New at the fair this year was Rexam, a global aluminum can manufacturer. Nancy Mose, Senior Supply Chain Analyst, handed out literature and talked about the value and benefits to the environment of recycling cans. “Recycling one aluminum can saves enough energy to run a television for three hours,” she said. In September, Rexam will participate in the 2013 America Recycles Day Aluminum Can Challenge. “This is a great fund raising event for all organizations, so start saving your cans now,” she said.
All visitors at the Earth Day Fair received their choice of a native red, black, or pin oak sapling to take home and plant, courtesy of Living Lands and Waters. Living Lands is an Illinois group aimed at improving the environment. They will give away 150,00 trees this spring.
"We are so pleased that so many came out to show their support for a greener environment," said Linda Traina, Superintendent of Recreation for the Des Plaines Park District. "You are never too young to learn to reduce, reuse, and recycle."
For more information about DEEP Green, visit www.deepgreenusa.org. For information about the Rexam recycling drive, contact Nancy Mose at nancy.mose@rexam.com. For information on programs, classes, and events at the Des Plaines Park District visit www.DPParks.org.