Learn how to help the Earth

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In celebration of the 40th anniversary of Earth Day, April 22, School District 206 is sponsoring a Community Eco Fair.

The entire community is invited to come out and learn about opportunities to incorporate sustainable products and practices into daily work and life.

The first-ever fair will take place Thursday, April 22, from 4 to 8 p.m. at Woodland Elementary School, 1410 South McKay Ave, Alexandria.

The event is free to the public.

Through business and student exhibits, workshops, and interactive children’s activities, attendees will learn how to live a more environmentally friendly lifestyle without much effort.

More than 30 exhibitors will be on-site showcasing real solutions to living sustainably.

Some highlights of the event include:

•Guided tours of a Giant Earth Balloon (every 20 minutes in the school gymnasium).

•Singer, songwriter, recording artist Patty Kakac (performing from 4:30 to 5:25 p.m.).

•Keynote Speaker Ken Meter, sharing his insights on how locally-grown foods can stimulate the local economy (7 to 8 p.m.).

•Hands-on children’s activities (create a recycling “monster,” hunt for “critters” in pond water, make plant labels and tomato cages for the school garden, and navigate a GPS course scavenger hunt).

•Pre-order an oak rain barrel and pick it up at the fair (www.ecorainbarrel.org).

•Bring tennis shoes, print cartridges, cell phones, and PDAs to the recycle collection station.

•Healthy food and refreshments for the whole family will be available for purchase ($3 for children 12 and younger, $4 for all others). Bring a reusable water bottle for free refills.

•Many door prizes contributed from fair vendors.

Additionally, four 30-minute workshops will be offered: How to Build a LEED Certified Residential Home (4 to 4:30 p.m.), Energy Saving Tips for Today’s Family (4:45 to 5:15 p.m.), Composting (5:30 to 6 p.m.), and Lakescaping/Rain Gardens (6:15 to 6:45 p.m.).

All workshops will be held in the school music room.

For more information about the Community Eco Fair event, visit www.alexandria.k12.mn.us/ecofair.

Tags: local news, eco fair, school district 206, news, earth, environment