JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – The Missouri Department of Natural Resources will host its annual Earth Day celebration from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m., April 22, on the south lawn of the Capitol.
"The annual Earth Day celebration engages our youth through interaction," said Sara Parker Pauley, director of the Missouri Department of Natural Resources. "This is an opportunity to learn first-hand from experts on a wide variety topics dealing with the environment and our natural resources."
The free event is open to all ages, but it is geared toward fifth-grade students. The department expects more than 1,200 schoolchildren to benefit from exhibits, interactive displays and stage shows, including live bird presentations by the World Bird Sanctuary.
Earth Day 2016 Schedule:
- 10:00 a.m. Opening Ceremony
- 10:30 a.m. Lucky Duck Water Game
- 11:00 a.m. World Bird Sanctuary Show
- 12:00 p.m. Lunch Break
- 12:30 p.m. Selection of Door Prize Winners
- 12:45 p.m. Lucky Duck Water Game
The opening ceremony will include an announcement recognizing the youngster who won this year’s slogan contest. The winner is Landrey VanOverschelde, a fifth-grade student at St. Peter Elementary School in Jefferson City. She took top honors with the slogan "Missouri State Parks: Create Your Own Adventure." The contest corresponded with this year’s theme "One Hundred Years of Missouri State Parks." The official celebration of the 100th anniversary began April 9, 2016.
Throughout the event, Capitol Circle Drive and a portion of Broadway Street will be closed to vehicle traffic. For more information, visit the Department of Natural Resources' Earth Day Web page http://dnr.mo.gov/earthday.