Preparations Underway at UM-Flint for Earth Day 2012

"Earth Matters" is the theme for the 2012 Earth Day & Garden Celebration to be held at the University of Michigan-Flint on Sat., April 14.  The event, co-sponsored by Mott Community College, is free and open to the public.

More than 50 exhibitors and presenters will offer a variety of Earth Day displays and information sessions. New this year are free make-and-take workshops for all ages during the Green Craft Show. Local artisans will be selling their original work made from up-cycled, recycled, all-natural, or green materials. Items include hemp jewelry, up-cycled mosaics, pine needle baskets, organic soaps, and more.

Many local organizations will provide information and presentations on food, gardening, alternative energy, recycling, energy efficient transportation, green entrepreneurship, ecological awareness, native plants and much more. Keep Genesee County Beautiful, The Flint River Watershed Coalition, and Friends of the Flint River Trail will have something of interest for all ages. Free guided bike tours of the UM-Flint campus and the surrounding area will also be available. Free chef demos will feature how to cook a healthy, low-fat, easy-to-prepare meal with free sample tasting.

Activities for children include environmental learning games throughout the exhibits. The Earth Egg Hunt for young children is organized by the UM-Flint Early Childhood Development Center. The Recycled Art Show and Competition for students ages 4 and up will be judged by faculty from the UM-Flint Department of Communication and Visual Arts. The winners of the third annual Flint College Recycling Challenge will be announced.

The 2012 Earth Day & Garden Celebration opens at 10 a.m. and continues until 3 p.m. on all three levels of the UM-Flint University Center building.

If you are interested in exhibiting, helping as a volunteer, or need more information call (810) 766-6763, or visit the website www.earthday.mcc.edu.