Environmental Management to host Earth Day events

  • Published
  • By Heidi Gesiriech
  • Environmental Management
EDWARDS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. --  Team Edwards will celebrate Earth Day with environmental exhibits, activities and information stations set up at the Center of Excellence April 21, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. 

The basewide event is hosted by Environmental Management, with the theme "Living a Sustainable Life." 

Each station will feature specialists with information and educational activities about their area of expertise. In addition, Blues Tribe will perform live music throughout the festival with their blend of blues and rock. 

Col. Jerry Gandy, 95th Air Base Wing commander, and Col Nancy Reeves-Flores, 95th ABW vice commander, will participate in a tree planting at 10:30 a.m. in celebration of Arbor Day. 

Two free tours are being offered this year, one to Piute Ponds and the other will be a wildflower tour. The buses or vans will leave the event area at 11 a.m. and return around 1 p.m. Everyone is invited to attend the tours, but advance registration is recommended. 

Several food booths will sell hamburgers, hot dogs, nachos, popcorn, baked goods and drinks. Starbucks will have coffee, hot chocolate and sandwiches for sale. 

The Earth Day displays and activities include the following: 

· Sustainability workshops and interactive Web sites that calculate an individual's carbon footprint based on lifestyle. 

· Children's Corner featuring sing-along music, a short play and a book reading session. 

· NASA Dryden Flight Research Center will feature an Earth Science exhibit and informational workshops on how to protect Earth. 

· The 412th Test Engineering Group will have several robots and gadgets to learn about the field of engineering. 

· Geographic Information Systems will feature computer-generated maps that support a variety of environmental efforts on base. At this booth, visitors can participate in geocaching, which is treasure hunting using Global Positioning System technology. 

· Natural Resources will feature live snakes and desert tortoises. People can learn why the desert tortoise is a threatened species and more about many animals found on base. 

· Archaeology will display artifacts representing 12,000 years of human presence in the region. This exhibit will include demonstrations and a walk-in cave where visitors can make their own simulated petroglyphs. 

· The base Environmental Analytical Laboratory will show visitors a variety of environmental samples. Chemists will mix and serve ice cream that is frozen using liquid nitrogen. 

· The Flight Test Historical Foundation will display several historical aircraft models and discuss the use of alternative fuels in flight test. 

· Created Treasures representatives will be making crafts with the children. 

· The Explosive Ordnance Disposal team will have its response truck and robot at the event. 

· Specialists who work to support environmental quality and pollution prevention programs on base will demonstrate their expertise. The exhibits will provide visitors information on how to recycle household waste and how air quality can be improved using alternative fuels. 

The list of exhibits also includes A-PET, whose volunteers will present a selection of pets that need homes. Up-to-the-minute information on environmentally-friendly vehicles and carpooling can also be found at the event. Southern California Edison will display a mobile education unit that teaches people how make their homes more energy efficient. 

Children will be given trading cards at each exhibit to collect. Once they collect them all, they will receive a prize. The environmental buzz game will give anyone a chance to test their knowledge on environmental and safety issues and win prizes. McGruff, the crime-fighting dog, and Eddie, the Edwards Tortoise, will return to entertain children. 

Admission is free. If mission requirements allow, and with approval from their supervisors, civilian employees are approved to attend this event without charging leave time. Civilian employees who choose not to attend this function must remain at work or take appropriate leave. 

In order to ensure that units have adequate coverage, attendance should be staggered. This authorization is not intended for individuals to be excused for the entire duration of the event; excusals should be for a 1.5 to 2-hour time period. 

To register for either the Piute Ponds or wildflower tour, or for more information about Earth Day events, call 277-7049 or 277-1401. Tour registration is first-come, first-served.