Celebrating Earth Day
Students and community members alike came to work during the Community Day of Action Saturday at the Center for Sustainability and Entrepreneurship adjacent to Whitefish High School. (Daniel McKay photos/Whitefish Pilot)
Whitefish High School student Matthew Perez tends to a planter at the Center for Sustainability and Entrepreneurship on Saturday.
Shawn Watts smiles as he and other community members work with students on the Community Day of Action at the Center for Sustainability and Entrepreneurship on Saturday.p
Student Matthew Perez and district curriculum director Ryder Delaloye fill planters at the Center for Sustainability and Entrepreneurship on Saturday.
The fourth annual Flathead Earth Day Festival on Saturday will celebrate the completion of two projects in the city.
The grand opening of the Whitefish Schools Center for Sustainability and Entrepreneurship and the launch of the Whitefish Climate Action Plan highlight the family-friendly festival from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Whitefish High School.
The Earth Day event features a variety of activities, but will also showcase the opening of the Center for Sustainability and Entrepreneurship. The $2.65 million educational center is funded by community philanthropy and grants, and is set to provide applied learning experiences for K-12 students in sustainable energy, agriculture, forestry, natural resources and entrepreneurship. The ribbon cutting ceremony for the center will occur at noon, and students will lead tours of the new facility on the half hour.
The event will also celebrate the official launch of the Whitefish Climate Action Plan, a partnership of the Whitefish School District and the city of Whitefish. Recognition to individuals and businesses will be given with a presentation of the Climate Smart Champion Awards by Climate Smart Glacier Country.
The Earth Day festival will feature more than 40 booths hosted by local nonprofit organizations, conservation groups, government agencies, and green businesses. Each booth will have a hands-on activity, craft or demonstration that families can participate in to learn about a wide range of Earth Day themed topics, from planting seeds to recycling and reducing waste.
There will be a bike rodeo for kids to practice safe bicycle skills, and a bike maintenance station for tune-ups and safety checks.
Between booth activities, participants can grab lunch from one of the local food trucks and picnic on the grass while enjoying live music on the Earth Day stage. A wild bird show by Wild Wings Recovery Center will be on-stage at 11:30 a.m. Get-a-Grip’s 25-foot rock climbing wall and air jumper will be free for the day.
New this year are two hands-on workshops offered inside of the Center for Sustainability and Entrepreneurship — Grow Local with Native Plants and The Dirt on Compost. Registration in advance is required for workshops at www.flatheadcitizens.org/flathead-earth-day/.
Attendees will receive a punch card as they arrive to be stamped as they visit the booths. Anyone who completes activities at 10 different booths can redeem the card at Fleur Bake Shop for a free cookie.
The festival is made possible by Citizens for a Better Flathead, Whitefish School District, Glacier National Park Lodges, Valley Recycling, Whitefish Credit Union, Fleur Bake Shop, and Farm Hands-Nourish the Flathead.
The full schedule:
11 a.m.-3 p.m.: Earth Day Festival at Whitefish High School, booths open to the public
10 a.m.-noon: Grow Local with Native Plants Workshop
11 a.m.- 11:30 a.m.: Live music by The Uken-do-ers
11:30 a.m.-noon: Wild Bird Show by Wild Wings Recovery Center
Noon-12:30 p.m.: Center for Sustainability and Entrepreneurship ribbon cutting ceremony
12:30 p.m.-1 p.m.: Community Presentation of the Whitefish Climate Action Plan launch and presentation of the Climate Smart Champion Awards
12:30 p.m.-1:30 p.m.: Live music by Myah Stauser
1:30 p.m.-3:30 p.m.: The Dirt on Compost Workshop
2 p.m.-3 p.m.: Live music by Gimmic