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The University of Maine at Fort Kent will host its annual “Earth Day - Every Day,” on Thursday, April 13 at the Sports Center from 12:15 to 2:10 p.m. 

Approximately 40 first graders from the Fort Kent Elementary School will attend sessions geared to teaching topics in ecology, environmental science, forestry, and biology.

The school children will hear a half-an-hour presentation about forest fire prevention by Richard Martin of the Maine Forest Services and have the opportunity to meet Smokey the Bear.

Leslie Kelly, Associate Dean of Information Services, and Dr. Doris Metz, Associate Professor of Curriculum and Instruction, work together to organize and plan the event. UMFK students enrolled in EDU 401 Educational Psychology and student club members of Educate ME will lead the activity centers.

Organizers will set up activity stations to explore worms; learn the basic concepts of recycling; discover the impact of water pollution; learn how to create a bird feeder and each student will receive a bound birder’s notebook to encourage bird watching; identify trees; observe animal tracks; learn about different sources of energy and make a paper pinwheel to demonstrate how wind energy works; and explore Earth's composition by making art using sponges and finger paint.

“Each spring Education students at UMFK are happy to lead discussions and Earth Day activities with the first grade students from Fort Kent Elementary School. This year, 40 elementary students will be joining approximately 20 university students, to learn about worms, recycling, water pollution and alternative energy sources. Not only does this event allow our college students to develop their teaching skills, the young students enjoy the time spent learning how to care for the planet,” said Dr. Metz.

“Earth Day – Every Day” originated in 2006 by the UMFK Greening Committee.