The Voice

Issue date: 4/23/07 Section: Inside WCC

Media Credit: Heidi Kinnison Jessie Spalding from the Leslie Science Center holds a horned owl, an annual Earth Day visitor.

Media Credit: Heidi Kinnison Sarah Archer shows WCC students the joys of composting with worms, also called vermicomposting.

On Thursday, April 19, the Washtenaw Community College student center building was over run with environmentalists of all types in recognition of WCC's annual Earth Day Festival.

The film An Inconvenient Truth played throughout the afternoon as environmentalists displayed several ways to improve our environment.

This year's festival marks the seventh for the school and was another huge success.

Environmental awareness has become a national phenomenon, but on this day, it was brought to a more local level.

Michelle Crowder of the Natural Area Preservation, Ann Arbor Division brought it to a local level.

"Protecting and restoring Ann Arbor's natural area is important," Crowder stated. "A big part of that is getting the public involved. It could be just increasing their environmental education, but people need to be connected to their land and ecosystem."

In all, there were 25 groups represented at the fair. The groups ranged from research labs, to non-profit environmental groups, to car dealerships.

Of the 25 groups, there were some first timers as well as groups that have been a part of the daylong event in years passed.

One of the groups that has visited in previous years was the Great Lakes Natural Resource Center, which is directly affiliated with the National Wildlife Federation based out of Washington D.C.

"We just want students and people alike to protect the wildlife and the habitats that they live in," said Nielson who is in her first year with the group.

"It's not just for wildlife," she continued, "but it's also for humans. The healthier the environment the better it is for humans and for the wildlife."

Dave Thomas is the head of the geology department at WCC and the person in charge of organizing the event.

"I got the inspiration to put on this festival by attending other Earth Day celebrations and nature festivals like the Blue Bird Festival," Thomas stated.

"I just want the students to learn the facts," Thomas stated. "I would like them to learn all the factual changes that are taking place and use that information in ways to benefit our planet in the future."

There were four car dealerships with their most fuel-efficient cars on display for those who attended.

Dunning Toyota, Howard Cooper Honda, Varsity Ford, and Suburban Chevrolet were the dealers represented and all of the cars were on display just outside of the student center.

The Leslie Science Center provided a great horned owl for kids and students to get up and close with.

The numerous stands and specialists provided information on various environmental topics that are becoming major issues today.

Ann Arbor Transportation Authority, Wheels in Motion and the Washtenaw Bicycling and Walking coalition were in attendance to bring about awareness in safety and alternative transportation.

As a huge advocate of the environment and the protection of our planet, Thomas knows the importance of this day and hopes that students get the message.

"I just want people to leave the earth as they found it or better," Thomas stated.

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