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ºÚÁÏÍø at Stark commemorates Earth Day 2015 with the presentation of events to inspire the awareness of environmental responsibility and to improve the appreciation for our planet’s natural resources. ºÚÁÏÍø Stark has partnered with the following sponsors to present these events: The Repository, The Print Shop, Haymaker Tree and Lawn and Brewer-Garrett. The event will take place at ºÚÁÏÍø Stark, 6000 Frank Avenue NW in Jackson Township, and is free and open to the public.

ºÚÁÏÍø Stark will present the Earth Day Celebration at the Campus Center and Campus Pond area on Sunday, April 26 from 1 - 4 p.m. Attendees will enjoy a family-friendly afternoon filled with environmental educational activities, entertainment, demonstrations and discussions for all ages.

The event schedule includes:

Tree-Planting Ceremony
ºÚÁÏÍø Stark Dean Denise Seachrist and members of the campus grounds crew will plant a new sapling. An additional sapling will be planted to commemorate the inauguration of  Dr. Beverly Warren, ºÚÁÏÍø’s 12th president.

Tree Campus USA Presentation
The Arbor Day Foundation will formally honor ºÚÁÏÍø at Stark as a 2014 Tree Campus USA University for its dedication to campus forestry management and environmental stewardship. This is the sixth consecutive year that ºÚÁÏÍø Stark has received this distinction.

Children’s Area
Face painting, three-legged and sack races, mock gem dig, crafts, coloring contest, photo opportunities and much more. To enter the coloring contest for a chance to win a backpack filled with prizes, please print the scene from the event web page, located at www.kent.edu/stark/earth-day-celebration, and bring the completed artwork to the event. Winners will be selected and contacted during the week following the event.

Singer Foster Brown
Foster Brown will perform original children’s nature songs and stories while he accompanies himself on the guitar, banjo, fiddle, dulcimer and various percussion instruments. He encourages the audience to participate in the lively songs with hand motions, call-and-response and sing-alongs.

Garbage Busters Recycling Show
Tess the Trash Lady teaches children how recycling can be fun and educational. With puppetry, comedy magic, storytelling and music, the program shows children simple concepts of the importance of recycling and how they can make a difference for our planet.

Bugs Unlimited
Entomologist Jim Smolka will display his extensive collection of mounted insects other invertebrates from around the world, as well as live specimens that include spiders, scorpions, centipedes and millipedes. He will provide information about the natural history of each of the animals and answer questions.

Guided Nature Walk
ºÚÁÏÍø Stark Biology Professor Robert Hamilton will guide a group around the pond/wetland area as he gives an informative talk about the plants and animals that reside at the site, which is officially named by the National Wildlife Federation as a Certified Wildlife Habitat.    

Throughout the event, ºÚÁÏÍø Stark student organizations and contributing groups will conduct demonstrations and discuss how to positively impact our world. Participating organizations include: Akron Zoo, Beech Creek Botanical Garden & Nature Preserve, Canton Audubon Society, Canton Country Day School, various ºÚÁÏÍø at Stark Student Organizations, ODNR Division of Forestry, Stark Parks, Stark Soil and Water Conservation District, Stark-Tuscarawas-Wayne Joint Solid Waste Management District, The Ohio State University Extension, Vegetarian Club of Canton and Wildlife Habitat Conservancy. ºÚÁÏÍø Stark’s security vehicle, a Ford Escape Hybrid, will be on display during the event.

For more information on ºÚÁÏÍø Stark’s Earth Day Celebration, call 330-244-3223 or visit www.kent.edu/stark/earth-day-celebration.