Earth Day event promotes conservation, education

On April 22, over 70 Girl Scouts, Cub Scouts, Scouts BSA, and adults from the Orono and Westonka areas came together for education and conservation work at the ninth annual Unite for Earth Day held at the Orono Nature Center.

The global theme for Earth Day 2024 was “Planet vs. Plastics.” Stations with activities were offered to earn a free Cabot Creamery’s Sustainability patch. This patch program encourages making small changes toward a more sustainable home and community.

The activities taught participants how to reduce energy and food waste, to reuse food scraps with composting, and to recycle and up-cycle common items to make our community (and planet) healthier.

Daisy Girl Scouts (K-1st Grade), also had an opportunity to complete their Rose “Make the World a Better Place” Petal which focuses on how you can make a difference in the world around you and beyond. For conservation, participants did an annual clean-up at the Orono Nature Center including the popular activity of pulling Buckthorn using wood weed wrenches. Boy Scout troop members earned conservation hours credit.

The event had some super supporters for Unite for Earth Day 2024 and free goodies for participants. Cabot Creamery provided patches, pencils, stickers, temporary tattoos, coupons, and samples of their sharp cheddar cheese. All Seasons Wildbird Store provided refurbished birdfeeders and seed. The Friends of the Wayzata Library provided used children’s books. The City of Orono loaned organizers Wood Weed Wrenches. And the event had an enthusiastic electrical engineer from Excel Energy lead an education station. A super arborist from Rainbow Treecare led the conservation cleanup.

For more information, email uniteforearthday@gmail.com .