The Virginia Museum of Natural History was bustling with activity on Wednesday ...

April 22, 2009

The Virginia Museum of Natural History was bustling with activity on Wednesday, April 22, as nearly 400 area school students visited the museum to celebrate Earth Day, a day designed to inspire awareness and appreciation for the Earth's environment.

Students ranging from kindergarten through 7th grade came to the museum to take part in many fun, "green" activities. Students participated in story telling and acting, viewed the Dr. Seuss movie "The Lorax", played educational games, and even hung individual pledges describing what each student could do to help make the environment better on the "Pledge Tree". Students also toured the exhibits and visited the Museum Store. Participating schools included Meadows of Dan Elementary, Patrick Henry Elementary, and Stanley Town Elementary.

The Earth Day event at the museum was one of many activities taking place during the "Earth Week Celebration", hosted by VMNH and the Martinsville-Henry County Children & Nature Network. The celebration began Saturday, April 18 and will continue through Sunday, April 26. Organizations across the area have helped plan dozens of entertaining and educational community events throughout the week to promote a greener community and fun, outdoor activities.

Over 90 people participated in the first-ever Earth Day 5K, which helped kick-off the week-long celebration on Saturday, April 18. Since then, dozens of activities have taken place and many more are yet to come.

Earth Week Planning Committee Organizations are Carlisle School, Chamber of Commerce Litter Committee, Dan River Basin Association, Friends of Philpott, Henry County Park and Recreation, Henry County Schools, Martinsville City Schools, MHC Children & Nature Network, Martinsville Leisure Services, Martinsville YMCA, New College Institute, Patrick Henry Community College, Philpott Dam Army Corps of Engineers, Piedmont Arts Association, Rives Theater, and the Virginia Museum of Natural History.