By Aimee Beaudette
Hoosac celebrated Earth Day a little early this year to stay ahead of the weather. The day was packed full of community service and educational seminars. To kick off the day, students watched part of a documentary showing the beauty and wonder of the Earth we live on and some of the magnificent creatures we share it with. [private]
Immediately following the presentation, students loaded buses to clean trash from Hill Road and the Greenway Trail in Hoosick Falls. A small group stayed on campus to build a large two-stall compost bin to be used for kitchen scraps.
Following a wonderful lunch, students rotated through educational activities around the campus. They learned from Mr. Brode some truths about bottled water and water filtration. Then they sat on the lawn near the gazebo, taking in the sunshine and beautiful weather as they wrote some Earth Day Poetry with the help of Mr. Horne. Mr. Mather gave an engaging talk about food waste, the benefits of composting, and techniques to compost effectively. In the Squealery, Mr. Tomasula reviewed different ways to reduce, reuse, and recycle. Ms. Beaudette led a discussion in the library on the scientific findings surrounding global warming. The stars of the show, however, were Charlie and Wendy, two goats brought in by Mrs. and Mr. McLenithan to demonstrate the use of farm animals.
Throughout the day students had the chance to write and submit poems for an Earth Day Poetry Contest, to be judged by Colonel Watt, as well as take pictures for a photo scavenger hunt.[/private]