Photo by Jared Acosta
By Nick Sergi
Earth Day may have slipped our minds (in case you didn’t know or were preoccupied with day-to-day concerns, it was last April 22), but if you or your family think you missed it . In fact, you didn’t miss it at all: the Pocono Environmental Education Center hosts its annual Earth Day festival on April 30. The fun will take place from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at 538 Emery Road in Dingman’s Ferry, PA.
According to PEEC’s Special Events Coordinator, Justin Murray, the dates and times of major events hosted by the center are not chosen based on a fixed calendar date of the holidays, but are “usually chosen with consideration of the availability of the program and staff. The 30 worked well in this case!”
Families in attendance can expect a wide variety of activities that everyone can participate in. Murray said those activities include outdoor games, tie-dyeing, crafts, guided hikes, animal presentations, kayaking and canoeing. Educational information will be provided and vendors will be on hand to help support local businesses.
This year’s annual Earth Day festival also coincides with the organization’s 50th anniversary. “Our 50th anniversary celebration is a year-long commitment to us, celebrating that PEEC has gone through 50 years of environmental education and continues to strive to provide the best hands-on experience for the public,” Murray said. He added that there will be an event this fall specifically to celebrate the 50th anniversary. It will take place on the same day as the PEEC harvest festival, Saturday 5 October.
If you are interested in attending the Earth Day Festival, the cost is only $5 per car. PEEC will be doing other activities throughout the summer. “We offer programs for school groups, have a summer camp program from July through August, and rent out our cabins to the public when available,” Murray said. For more information about the organization, please visit peec.org.