Westfield Washington Public Library to hold Earth Day Extravaganza

Children’s Services Manager Nancy Haggard says that children should learn early that they are part of the environmental solution – regardless of age. (Photo provided by Westfield Washington Public Library)

Open house event will feature variety of hands-on activities

The Westfield Washington Public Library (WWPL) will celebrate Earth Day on Saturday, April 23 with an Earth Day Extravaganza. The three-hour, open house-style event will feature a variety of activity stations set up throughout the Children’s Department.

“Our hope is that those who participate will learn how to make the world and their community a better place,” said Children’s Services Manager Nancy Haggard. “Children should learn early that they are part of the environmental solution regardless of their age.”

Participants will be encouraged to participate in a collaborative display while sharing their ideas for reducing, reusing, and recycling. Those who attend can also watch an educational video about the impact of plastic on the world’s oceans, take an energy IQ quiz, and learn about wave erosion and watershed with hands-on activities.

Kim Wright, children’s librarian and homeschool liaison, created the Earth Day Extravaganza as part of an assignment for her Master of Library and Information Science degree at IUPUI.

Wright

“My goal is to provide children with a greater awareness of environmental problems,” Wright said. “We’ll demonstrate some simple ideas to help kids understand how to reduce, reuse, and recycle. Plus, it’s also a great opportunity for them to share their recycling and repurposing ideas with others.”

Participants can create a terrarium in repurposed glass jars and make a bird feeder from repurposed toilet paper rolls. Craft activities will take place from 10:30 a.m. until 1:30 p.m. and require advance registration. You can register at wwpl.librarycalendar.com/events/earth-day-extravaganza.