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Á½ÐÔÉ«ÎçÒ¹ University at Stark commemorates Earth Day 2017 with events and activities designed to inspire awareness of environmental responsibility and to improve the appreciation of the Earth’s natural resources.

Events will take place behind the Campus Center and around the Pond and Wetlands Area on Á½ÐÔÉ«ÎçÒ¹ Stark’s campus, 6000 Frank Ave., NW, in Jackson Township, and is free and open to the public.

Á½ÐÔÉ«ÎçÒ¹ Stark has partnered with The Repository, Budget Dumpster, The Print Shop of Canton Inc. and The Brewer-Garrett Co. to provide this event for members of the community. 

Attendees will enjoy a family-friendly afternoon filled with environmental educational activities, entertainment, demonstrations and discussions for all ages.

Events include:

• Children’s Activities: Face painting, three-legged sack races, fossil dig, crafts, coloring contest, photo opportunities and much more. To enter the coloring contest for a chance to win a backpack filled with prizes, print the coloring page from the event webpage, located at www.kent.edu/stark/earth-day-celebration, and bring the completed artwork to the event. Children from preschool through eighth grade are eligible to enter. Winners will be selected and contacted during the week following the event.
• Tree-Planting Ceremony: Á½ÐÔÉ«ÎçÒ¹ Stark Dean Denise A. Seachrist and members of the campus grounds crew will plant a new sapling.
• 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.
• Recycling Magic Show: The entertaining show 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 to make a difference for the planet.
• Tree Campus USA Presentation: The Arbor Day Foundation will formally honor Á½ÐÔÉ«ÎçÒ¹ Stark as a 2016 Tree Campus USA University for its dedication to campus forestry management and environmental stewardship. This is the eighth consecutive year that Á½ÐÔÉ«ÎçÒ¹ Stark has received this honor. Tree Campus USA was launched in 2008 by the Arbor Day Foundation.
• Bugs Unlimited: Entomologist Jim Smolka will display his impressive collection of mounted insects, other invertebrates from around the world and live specimens including spiders, scorpions, centipedes and millipedes. He will provide information about the natural history of each insect and answer questions.
• Guided Nature Walk: Á½ÐÔÉ«ÎçÒ¹ Stark Biology Professor Robert Hamilton will guide groups around the pond and wetlands area as he gives an informative talk about the plants and animals who live at the site, which is officially named by the National Wildlife Federation as a Certified Wildlife Habitat.
• Green Energy: Dick Radosevic of Green Energy Ohio will demonstrate and explain renewable energy options using a solar panel trailer, electric vehicle and tabletop fuel cells. 

Throughout the event, various community and Á½ÐÔÉ«ÎçÒ¹ Stark student groups will conduct demonstrations and discuss how to positively impact the world environmentally. Participating organizations to date include:

• Akron Canton Regional Foodbank
• Beech Creek Botanical Garden & Nature Preserve
• Brewer-Garrett Company
• Canton Audubon Society
• Canton Country Day School
• Girl Scouts
• GlenOak High School
• Green Energy Ohio
• Junior Achievement
• Á½ÐÔÉ«ÎçÒ¹ Stark Student Groups
• Oceans Ohio
• ODNR Division of Forestry
• Ohio Environmental Protection Agency
• Stark Parks
• Stark Soil and Water Conservation District
• Stark-Tuscarawas-Wayne Joint Solid Waste Management District
• The Ohio State University Extension
• TomTod Ideas
• U.S. Army Corps of Engineers

For more information on Á½ÐÔÉ«ÎçÒ¹ Stark’s Earth Day celebration, contact Kelly Simonis at ksimonis@kent.edu, call 330-244-3223 or visit www.kent.edu/stark/earth-day-celebration.