Scout thinks green with project

The Churchill Park Environmental Fair's got a diverse lineup -- thanks to a Girl Scout Gold Award project.

From 10 a.m. to 3 a.m. today residents can take part in a variety of indoor and outdoor earth-friendly activities, including a workout with NBC5's Fitness Team, bird-watching, guided hikes, a raptor show, learning trail and bird-feeding. The event is at the park at 240 Geneva Road.

There also will be stations inside Churchill School's gym with booths featuring an energy bike, painting and sketching, storytelling, flower and plant identification, bugs, the Soil Mobile from the Field Museum and planting.

"I think it's important because it shows the community all the different aspects of the environment to be aware of, and it helps bring them closer to those areas," Girl Scout Leader Janet Williams of Glen Ellyn said.

For more than a year, Betsy Williams and Caitlin Hinchey of Wheaton have been planning the fair. The two have organized the entire event's stations, volunteers, promotions and created the learning trail. Upon completion, they'll receive their Girl Scout Gold Award.

"It's been a lot of fun," Hinchey said. "Now it's kind of nerve-wracking because it's gotten so much bigger than what we were originally expecting," she joked.

Janet Williams said she also hopes the event will showcase the underused park.

"I think it can benefit the community tremendously because it'll bring the people in and show them how Churchill Park can be utilized for a community," she said. "People don't really realize the park is there to use."

Admission is $1 or a donation for the Willowbrook Wildlife Center such as dog/cat food, towels, bird food or paper towels. For information, call Betsy Williams at (630) 858-3245 or Caitlin Hinchey at (630) 668-2702.