EARTH DAY

Evelyn Jimenez –Editor 

Fayetteville State University’s, the Green Team, partnered with Cumberland County Schools and local organizations to host a successful Earth Day Event at T.C Berrien Elementary School.

This community outreach initiative promoted environmental conservation and energy, as well as local foods sustainability, through several fun filled activities for K-5th grades students.

Elementary students engaged in different activities based on their grade level.

Kindergarten: Bee Education and Sustainable Projects 

Cumberland County School’s Environmental Educator, Gloria Lengel, showcased an encased beehive to the students. Ms. Lengel explained the nature of bees and even shared a variety of honey with the students.

Hanah Enriech, from Sustainable Sandhills, showed students how to make bird feeders out of plastic bottles and wooden spoons; where the spoons were designed to be the perches for the birds. Delta Sigma Theta Sorority assisted students on building the bird feeders with much enthusiasm!

Students even got to get their hands dirty by learning how to plant sunflower seeds by Fayetteville State’s own horticulturist, Billie Harrel.

Each student placed sunflower seeds and soil in biodegradable cups. Harrel taught students about flowers and how they play a big role in green horticulture.

First-Third Grade: Energy and Environmental Conservation 

First through third graders had the opportunity to work with instructor Frank Guzman from Fayetteville Tech Community College, along with Douglas Byrd High School, on solar energy.

An enthusing demonstration on how solar power works was given by Mr. Guzman who explained how solar panels have the ability to capture great amounts of solar energy and how it can be converted to A/C Power to then be used inside his trailer.

Douglas Byrd High School used a “hands-on” method providing students with a motor-powered fan that used a solar cell as a means of energy.

Students were truly amazed at the site of their fan twirling when placed under the sunlight and how the fan would stop twirling immediately when they blocked the sunlight by placing their hand over the solar cell.

Coca Cola Company’s Representative, Nanette Sanchez, educated students about general recycling. Students not only took home the importance of recycling, but had a chance to receive water bottles made out of plant based materials.

PWC’s Storm Water educator, Shauna Haslem, provided students with cool bracelet activities, where each color represented parts of the rain cycle.

Fourth-Fifth: Local Foods and Agriculture 

Chef Sarah Bogan, from Whisking Apprentice, demonstrated her cooking skills for students. She made an easy-to-do delicious veggie stir-fry, out of fresh and local produce.

Ms. Ann Newell’s, from Soul Harvest Church, creatively educated students about healthy living. Ms. Newell’s juiced up fresh produce for smoothies and whipped up tasty salsas.

NC 10% Campaign’s Abbey Piner, introduced students to agricultural based games geared towards students learning about agriculture and crop seasons.

Earth Day at T.C. Berrien Elementary was a great success and just the beginning of many of the programs that the Green Team, along with Fayetteville State University, has planned for the community.

A great thanks would like to be given to everyone who helped make this day a great success, including: Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Douglas Byrd High School’s Science and Technology Academy, Zeta Phi Beta sorority, 3.D.E.G.R.E.E.S (Girls Really Do Enjoy Engineering and Science), Sustainable Sandhills, NC 10% Local Foods Campaign, Whisking Apprentice, and all of the other local partnerships and volunteers!

Stay tuned for Earth Day events for 2015!

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