Students from St. John schools were all eyes and ears on Friday as they made their way around the V.I. National Park ballfield to see how various groups were observing Earth Day at an environmental fair.
“The mommies lay their eggs in the sand,” park education specialist Laurel Brannick said as she dressed up 6-year-old Dajaia Hill in a sea turtle costume.
Dajaia and her fellow St. John Christian Academy students listened closely as Brannick continued her message, asking them to name the three kinds of sea turtles that frequent local waters.
Further around the field, Valerie Peters of the territory’s Blue Flag program was on hand to get students to sign various environmental pledges. In one, they agreed to become junior rangers at the national park.
Some groups had crafts for the students to do. At the Unitarian Universalist Church table, students were making bookmarks and necklaces by stamping them with various environmental designs.
“The kids love to make them,” Unitarian member Gerry Londergan said.
The Island Green Living Association set up a table to raise awareness about its organization. “Live a little more simply and recycle to protect the natural resources,” IGLA Director Barry Devine said, showing the students a map of St. John that clearly indicated resources such as plants and coral.
V.I. Environmental Resource Station folks were busy promoting the upcoming summer eco-camps. “This year they’re going to study birds of the Virgin Islands,” volunteer Nancy Meekins said, reminding people that they should go to www.viers.org or more information.
Staff from Gifft Hill School was busy promoting its Education and Resiliency Through Horticulture, better known as E.A.R.T.H., program. “Our goal is to talk about reducing, reusing and recycling,” program coordinator Sarah Haynes said.
The V.I. Energy Office was on hand with a small wind generator. Energy Office spokesman Don Buchanan said the goal was to educate youths about energy, and how its use and abuse affects their life.
The students clearly got the conservation message.
“Keep everything clean and keep it green,” said Julius E. Sprauve student Ahmar Belizaire.
The Earth Day Environmental Fair is sponsored by the Friends of the Park group. President Joe Kessler said one of the organization’s goals is to nurture the next generation of conservation citizens.
“It’s a great way of getting all the students together,” Kessler said.
For many students, the day started with a V.I. Waste Management Authority-sponsored Litter Stomp from Sprauve School to park ballfield.
“People need to realize they can’t just throw trash around,” said Gifft Hill School student Siena Wilkes, 13.
Another Gifft Hill student, 12-year-old Andy Mattio, said that Earth Day was a time to learn about recycling.
“And it’s where we care about the earth and stuff,” he said.
Jada Jarvis, 13 and a Gifft Hill student, summed it up. “It’s fun,” she said.