4 • The Beacon May 20 , 2021
Earth Day event continues on in new location
Students and teachers appreciated the opportunity to do some learning outside of the classroom at the revamped Earth Day celebration .
“ I ’ m very excited we get to do this ,” said Sarah Fornara , a sixth-grade teacher at Warsaw Elementary School . “ They didn ’ t get to do it last year , and it ’ s been several years since I ’ ve been able to come . The kids are seeing different things and asking good questions .”
Earth Day , an ongoing event hosted by the former AEP plant in Conesville , was taken over this year by the Coshocton County Farm Bureau and the Army Corps of Engineers . It was held May 12 at Wills Creek Dam .
Mane Attraction
Warsaw Elementary School sixth-graders had the chance to pet a miniature horse during Earth Day on May 12 at Wills Creek Dam .
“ The Army Corps of Engineers came to us with this opportunity when we knew AEP wasn ’ t going to be able to continue with this ,” said Kayla Jones , farm bureau organization director . “ They were our fiscal partner , and we provided volunteers . We felt this was important and needed to continue .”
The event was attended by 250 sixth-graders from River View , Ridgewood and Sacred Heart . Coshocton students , unfortunately , were unable to participate in field trips this year .
“ We had 14 different stations where they learned about everything environmental ,” Jones said .
All were manned by volunteers from the community . River
Josie Sellers David Marrison from the Coshocton County OSU Extension was one of several presenters at the May 12 Earth Day .
View and Ridgewood FFA members assisted , the sheriff ’ s office and EMS did presentations and equipment , and farm machinery was provided by William Albert Excavating and Porteus Farms .
“ It always makes you feel grateful that when you need people , they volunteer ,” Jones said . “ Coshocton County loves education and its kids . I ’ m grateful that people were willing to give up the day to do something like this .”
The event is typically for fifth- and sixth-graders , but organizers decided to keep it smaller to help with COVID restrictions .
“ The sixth-graders didn ’ t get to do it last year as fifth-graders , so we wanted to make sure they didn ’ t miss it entirely ,” Jones said . “ We plan to make this an annual event . We like that it ’ s all in one spot and love having it here .”
Many of the volunteers also enjoyed the new setting .
“ This is such a valuable experience , and they get to see things they ’ ve never seen before ,” said Deb Bigelow , district administrator for the Coshocton Soil and Water Conservation District . “ AEP did this for years , and this is something different but just as well organized . How special too for these kids to get to do this in a year that has not been normal .”
Ridgewood Middle School sixth-graders Kyle Johnson and Brady Howell really enjoyed looking at the equipment display and the truck from the Coshocton County Sheriff ’ s Office Special Response Team .
“ It ’ s been a lot of fun ,” Johnson said about the day .
Warsaw Elementary School sixth-graders Layla Olinger and Maguire Werntz enjoyed the animals brought by Ridgewood FFA members Johnathan Woodward and Lane Huff .
“ It ’ s really cool to see all the animals ,” Olinger said .
Werntz liked the turkey . “ It ’ s funny how it talks to you ,” he said .
The turkey and other birds on display , along with a miniature horse named Tucker , belonged to Woodward and his family .
“ It ’ s great to see they were still able to have Earth Day even with
“ Coshocton
County loves education and its kids . I ’ m grateful that people were willing to give up the day to do something like this .
” Kayla Jones
COVID ,” Woodward said . “ The kids get to get out and experience agriculture and people who help the environment .”
Huff , who brought a calf from his family ’ s farm , agreed with Woodward . “ The kids are getting to learn outside of the classroom ,” he said .