Greenhill Students Learn from the Experts on Earth Day

On Monday, April 22, 2013, more than 20 different environmental organizations will visit Greenhill School both to educate our students and join in the world-wide celebration of Earth Day. Cathleen Garcia, Lower School science teacher and department coordinator, organizes the entire event and she is thrilled about some new developments in the program this year. “We have six new groups coming this year,” said Garcia. “A representative from the Perot Museum of Nature and Science will be coming to do a demonstration, as well as The Greater Dallas Organic Club, the Dallas Zoo, the Brookhaven College of Geosciences, Gardens for Texas and the University of North Texas (UNT) Environmental Education Program who will be bringing 11 educational modules on water conservation and materials recycling to campus for the entire week.” Greenhill’s Earth Day program, which has traditionally focused on the Lower School, is expanding this year to include Middle School and Upper School as well. The Middle School students will be seeing presentations of some of the organizations that will be on campus, and Upper School students will have the opportunity to see and interact with the modules from UNT because they will be on display in the Agnich Science Building for the week. While Earth Day celebrations started more than 40 years ago, Greenhill’s own Earth Day events began in 2002 as a means to bring environmental education into the classroom. “Our first few years, Earth Day involved having students from the Upper School Eco Club come talk to Lower School students for a few hours in the afternoon,” said Garcia. As interest in Earth Day grew from both inside and outside of Greenhill, the program grew into an entire day of events educating students about environmental health. “We have such a variety of groups come to campus now that not every class sees every group,” said Garcia. “But as a student moves through Lower School, they will have the opportunity to see many interesting and varied groups, which provides a holistic view of the ways we influence and can help the environment.” “All of the presenters that attend Earth Day volunteer their time to educate our students,” said Garcia. “We are incredibly grateful. Without their generosity, none of this would be possible.” Organizations Participating in Greenhill School’s Earth Day this year include: The Blackland Prairie Raptor Center bringing some raptors and speaking on raptor life and care
The Texas Master Naturalists, Blackland Prairie division speaking on bats, orienteering and water conservation
Brookhaven College speaking on geosciences and the Earth
The Dallas Zoo presenting on differences in animals
The Environmental Protection Agency presenting on protecting the environment
The Greater Dallas Organic Club speaking on organic gardening
Operation Kindness presenting on unwanted animals, animal adoptions and pet care
The Perot Museum of Nature and Science
The Southwest Dairy Farmers Mobile Dairy Farm demonstrating how dairy cow milk is collected
The Texas Farm Bureau will be bringing their mobile trailer with presentations on different kinds of farming
Our Texas Honey Queen bringing bees and talking about the importance of bees for feeding the world
The Texas Nature Center will speak on local nature and science
The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department will be out here with their Poaching trailer
The Trinity River Audubon Center will be presenting on birds native to the Dallas area
The University of North Texas Environmental Education Program will bring educational modules on water conservation and materials recycling