Lower Merion Conservancy

Children's Earth Day Forest

Grades Pre-School-12th grade

18th Annual Children’s Earth Day Forest
2010 Theme: Water Water Everywhere
April 24-25, 2010

Participate in the Conservancy’s unique celebration of Earth Day, one of the Delaware Valley's largest, longest-running Earth Day events. Each year, some 1,000 students collaborate to create a hand-made rendition of a local forest filled with colorful interpretations of the creatures that inhabit the Pennsylvania landscape. It’s an exciting interdisciplinary project that introduces students to the beauty, science and wonder in their own backyard: a Pennsylvania forest. And it’s a wonderful opportunity to combine science, art and creative writing in one large package.

For a PDF of the 2010 Children's Earth Day Forest brochure and registration form click Here.

What’s involved?

Any classroom, school group, organization, or family with kids grades Pre-school through 12th can enter. Each participating group of students submits one tree (or trees) accompanied by hand-made representations of plants and animals found in Pennsylvania forests.

The Conservancy will bring you a long carpet tube to serve as your tree’s trunk, a stand that keeps your tree upright, a free classroom visit, and resource materials, including a list of Pennsylvania plants and animals and guidelines for building an Earth Day Forest entry.

Using whatever art materials you and your students deem appropriate (recycled and reused materials are highly encouraged), your class turns the carpet tube into a life-like rendition of a native Pennsylvania tree, surrounded by the plants and animals that inhabit the Pennsylvania forest. Papier-mâché, fabric, painted craft paper, modeling clay, recycled objects, and even real tree limbs found in the school yard are just some of the materials that have been used in past years.

The tree(s) and surrounding plants and animals are combined with the work of hundreds of other students to create the Children's Earth Day Forest at a retirement community (Waverly Heights, Gladwyne) in Lower Merion Township.

Participating schools/group recieve a free field trip to the Forest on Thursday or Friday, April 22 and 23, and the Children's Earth Day Forest is open for the public to enjoy during the weekend of April 24-25, from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Participants will find a forest filled with games, crafts, science stations, live animals, music and learning experiences for people of all ages.

Sign-up today!

To sign up for Children's Earth Day Forest please contact Lindsay at (610) 645-9030 or email lindsay@dragonfly.org

Updated: 4/20/2010 © 2010Lower Merion Conservancy. All rights reserved.

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