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Earth Day Sunday filled with kids' fun

If you enjoy having fun and learning more about saving the earth's resources, St. Louis Earth Day is for you. The event will be in Forest Park on Sunday, April 25.

This will be the 15th annual Earth Day celebration. This year's theme is "Explore the Earth's Treasures."

There's serious stuff like participating in an Urban Bird Study or in wildflower planting in the Deer Lake area. The University of Missouri-Rolla's solar energy car will be on display.

There's also fun stuff like helping to paint a bus or making puppet and mural artwork. There will be plenty of musical performances as well as storytelling on the various stages in the Park.

There'll even by special appearances Buddhist monks from the Drepung Gomang monastery in Tibet. They're going to sing, dance and play drums. They also will give an Earth Blessing in a newly created Peace Garden.

One thing that makes all this even more fun is that most events are free.

Another reminder: there's a lot more to the Earth Day celebration than the Sunday activities. There's the "Earth Day Around Town" program. Events on other days in April are at such places as the Missouri Department of Conservation's Powder Valley center, in St. Charles County and in the City of Chesterfield.

The City Museum has five different areas for recycling crafts. There's an educational day at the Columbia Bottoms Conservation Area at the confluence of the Missouri and Mississippi rivers.

For complete schedules for Sunday as well as other days and locations, go to the Earth Day website at www.stlouisearthday.org.

Parking should be easier this year because Earth Day is the only festival going on in Forest Park on April 25. Last year, a couple of other festivals competed for parking spaces.

As many as 25-30,000 persons attended last year's Earth Day Sunday.

Earth Day organizers urge families to car pool, ride bikes or take MetroLink.

Cheri Hutchings is events manager for St. Louis Earth Day. She said, "We encourage bike riding, both from an environmental standpoint and to reduce traffic congestion."

People riding bikes get special valet parking for bikes at the lower lot at The Muny.

On Sunday, the grounds around The Muny will be divided into six different "villages." Here's a brief rundown of featured activities at each:

Living Wonders Village:

• There will be chances to make Total Turtle crafts and play turtle games.
• Pick up free tree seedlings for planting at home.
• Make a wolf mask or create a native grassland egg carton planter.

Recycled Treasures Village:

• See how old athletic shoes can be recycled into fun surfaces, such as tennis courts.
• Learn how to recycle computer products.
• Participate in a homemade glider competition.

River Riches Village:

• Learn about water quality on a model stream table.

Art in Nature Village:

• Participate in unique "worm hole" weaving.
• Make art with puppetry, murals and stencils.
• Create art related to color and nature.

Eco-Explorers Village:

• Lewis and Clark reenactors will have a dugout canoe on display.
• Have a pioneer and Native American experience.
• Create Lewis and Clark-era hats from recycled materials.

Inner Discovery Village:

• Learn how to make personal changes to create healthier lifestyles.

One final note: Bring your own drum or other percussion instrument for an Earth Day finale. After the Tibetan monks give the Earth Blessing at the newly-created Peace Garden, everyone can join drummer Adam Rugo in a celebration wind-up.