Eglin to celebrate Earth Day 2013

  • Published
  • By Mike Spaits
  • Team Eglin Public Affairs
More than 500 Team Eglin volunteers and participants are expected to help celebrate Earth Week 2013, here April 22-26. The events will include kayak ecotours of Eglin's streams and habitats, a nature hike, a reservation cleanup, the annual 5K Fun Run and an eco-mountain bike tour.

"These events really highlight how much we can accomplish for our environment as a team," said Brian Kelly, the co-chair of Eglin's Earth Day committee. "Last year, we had more than 300 participants and everyone had a really good time. From the response we've received so far, I expect we'll have more than 500 participants this year."

Last year, volunteers gathered more than 40 cubic yards of debris and trash in the single-day effort.

According to Maria Rodriguez, the 96th Civil Engineering Group environmental management stewardship chief, Earth Day is a chance for everyone to help the world we live in.

"Since the very first celebration 43 years ago, Earth Day has always provided a wonderful opportunity for individuals or groups to show their concern for their environment and make a positive impact by getting personally involved," said Rodriguez.

Earth Day is an international event demonstrating concern and mobilizing support for the environment. Earth Day was first celebrated on April 22, 1970, and rallied more than 20 million Americans from around the country and on college campuses to get involved in environmental "teachings." This event, which was the largest grassroots movement in U.S. history, created what has come to be known as the environmental movement. Out of this event came the first major pieces of environmental legislation--the Clean Air Act and Clean Water Act.

As a single event, Earth Day represents the commitment and significant investment this nation and other countries around the world have made toward positive environmental security. The active-duty military and civilian members of Team Eglin as well as family members and the local community will make a significant contribution to the overall impact of this monumental event.

"Earth Day is designed to expand environmental awareness while showing political leaders that the quality of our natural resources is a high priority. Here at Eglin, we have set up events that hopefully will not only be productive, but educational and entertaining as well," said Rodriguez.

Here is the schedule of events:

  • April 22-25 - Kayak Eco-Tour: Groups of 10 will kayak a remote section of the Eglin reservation. This event is full.
  • April 23 - Reservation Clean-up Project, Jackson Guard, 7:30 a.m. (approx. five hours duration).
  • April 24 - Eco-Hike, White Point, 9 a.m. to noon. Self- paced educational hike in the White Point recreation area with approximately seven stops for educational interaction with various representatives from CE Environmental (shore birds, endangered species, invasive plants, cultural and restoration).
  • April 25 - 5K Eco-Fun Run, 7 a.m. The run starts at the 96th Civil Engineering pavilion, circles the 96th CEG buildings and finishes at the pavilion.
  • April 26 - Eco-Mountain Biking Mapping Project, Timber Lake Recreation Area, 9 a.m. (two to three hours in duration). Approximately eight miles of trails at the Timber Lake Recreation Area not currently contained on the Eglin Geographic Information System will be mapped.
For more information, or to sign up for one of the events, e-mail Erica Laine at erica.laine.ctr@eglin.af.mil.