UNT to celebrate Earth Day

In continuing the tradition of promoting public awareness about the environment, UNT will sponsor a number of community-wide activities commemorating Earth Day between 1 and 7 p.m. April 20.

"Every day is Earth Day," says Ken Dickson, Regents Professor of biological sciences and director of UNT's Elm Fork Education Center. "But once a year, UNT offers a fun family day to recognize the importance of caring for our planet."

Most activities take place at the Environmental Education, Science and Technology Building.

"A week of activities, including a film series, will lead up to the celebration," says Tom LaPoint, professor of biological sciences and director of the Institute of Applied Sciences. A number of major events will occur on Earth Day that will offer fun activities, promoting environmental awareness."

The events planned include free planetarium shows and tours of the Outdoor Environmental Learning Area. Children's activities will include a tricycle race and a race in which recycled materials are constructed to resemble bugs. An obstacle course, puppet shows, face painting, a Moon Walk and a baseball bat run-around are also planned.

An environmental art exhibit will include work by kindergarten through eighth-grade students from the Denton Independent School District. Also on display will be alternative fuel vehicles, including the Winston School Solar Car, UNT's own liquid-nitrogen powered CoolN2Car and an environmental education bus called the Mean Green Machine, which runs on compressed natural gas.

Exhibitors will offer booths with environmentally friendly products and educational displays. Live entertainment is planned and speakers will focus on various environmental issues.

For more information, contact Tami Deaton at 369-8936, or visit www.cas.unt.edu/earthday for up-to-date information on all events.

BY CATHERINE CASHIO ccashio@unt.edu

Other web resources

• www.cas.unt.edu/earthday

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