Apr 17, 2017
South Jersey’s largest Earth Day event
offers a full-day of environmental education and entertainment
The Atlantic County Utilities Authority will
host the 27th annual Earth Day festival at its Environmental Park on
Delilah Road in Egg Harbor Township on Sunday,
April 23, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The celebration will be held rain or shine. Admission and parking are free.
The event includes live
demonstrations, environmental-themed entertainment, workshops throughout the
day and more than 150 exhibitors.
“ACUA is once again very pleased to partner with Atlantic City Electric, South
Jersey Gas and others to put together a day-long event celebrating the
environment, said ACUA President Rick Dovey. “Bringing so many wonderful
organizations together under one umbrella for the day is a great opportunity
for visitors to connect with local organizations and understand how they can
make a difference. As many of us remember, the original Earth Day in 1970 was a
turning point for the environment. This year’s Earth Day takes on a new
significance in light of changes at the federal level. Becoming active locally
is one of the best ways for your voice to be heard. ACUA’s event is the perfect
entry point for anyone who believes the time to get involved is now."
Participating environmental organizations include: the Marine Mammal Stranding
Center, Jacques Cousteau National Estuarine Research Reserve, St. Francis Avian
Rehab Center, the Atlantic City Aquarium, Sustainable Jersey, Cape Atlantic
Conservation District, Great Egg Harbor Watershed Association, the Forsythe
Wildlife Refuge, and Woodford Cedar Run, Littoral Society, Sustainable Jersey
Hub, Sea Turtle Recovery, NJ Fish and Wildlife, Pinelands Preservation
Alliance, NJ Department of Agriculture.
Each year, Earth Day features
many educational and fun events. This year, in addition to the traditional
favorites, the ACUA is excited to present:
‘Colors of the Earth’ 5K Fun Run
For runners of all ages and
levels, the fun run begins at 8:30 a.m. Run through bursts of colored cornstarch
powder in this untimed event that emphasizes fun over competition. The registration fee is $20 per person and
children under five are free. Please visit www.acua.com or call 272-6911 for race
details. All proceeds from the race benefit South Jersey Field of Dreams.
Eco Hayrides
Eco Hayride tours, a
perennial favorite, take visitors to the very top of the landfill for panoramic
views of the area, including Atlantic City and the Jersey-Atlantic Wind Farm.
Crafters/Vendors A
wide variety of items will be for sale during the festival such as handmade
jewelry, energy efficient lighting, vegetable and native plants, bird houses
and feeders, baked goods, handmade glass items, local honey, health/nutritional
products, rain barrels, repurposed/upcycled items and art, and fair trade
products.
Interactive
Activities and Exhibits
Wind, Solar and Wastewater Facility Tours - First tour leaves at 10 a.m. Last
shuttle at 3:15 p.m. (Shuttle Located at Back of Recycling
Center)
Take a tour of New Jersey’s first commercial wind farm. Participants will be
shuttled from the Environmental Park in Egg Harbor Township to the wind farm
and back. This tour also includes the ACUA Wastewater Treatment Facility and
solar project located at the Atlantic City facility.
4H Petting Zoo - All Day (Garden Area)
Woodford Cedar Run - 11:45 a.m. - 12:15 p.m. and 2 - 2:30
p.m. (Recycling Center)
See the Raptors and Reptiles Show. Observe each species' unique characteristics
and learn about their habitats and adaptations for survival.
Eyes of the Wild - When Animals Attack -
12:30 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. and 3 to 4 p.m. (Recycling Center)
Many mammals have developed amazing characteristics to avoid becoming
"lunch." Learn how these creatures use some of their self-defense
tools.
Middle Earth Studios - 10:30 a.m., 12
p.m., 1:30 p.m. and 3 p.m. (Grass
Area)
Join Middle Earth Studios and be a
part of the performance to find out why the pirates are trying to lure the
Ladies of London to their tropical island in the New World. Bring cameras
because the most important people in the show, your children and friends, will
want to re-live this experience.
Mini Yoga Sessions - 11:30 a.m., 1:30 p.m.
and 3 p.m. (Garden Area)
Join Grow Yoga in our garden area for a 30-minute mini yoga session (mats
provided for up to 30 people).
Recycling Center Tours - 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. (Recycling Center - Second Floor)
This sophisticated system of conveyors, magnets, eddy currents, optical sorting
and manual quality control sorting is incredible! Come see how mixed recycling
collected from Atlantic County residents, schools and businesses is processed
and separated into valuable commodities to market.
The Turtlesinger - all day (Recycling Center)
An interactive program and where you will learn about, touch and feed live
turtles.
Meet Supercan - all day (Various Locations)
Meet and take photos with our favorite Mascot Supercan.
Free Seedlings Giveaway - all day(Around the Pond)
ACUA will give away a mixed variety of red maple and beach plum tree seedlings,
as well as zinnia and green bean packets.
Touch a Truck - all day(Outside Recycling Center)
Get up close to one of ACUA's recycling trucks and learn how they work from one
of our collection professionals.
Litter Hunt - all day
Download the app SeeClickFix on your
phone. Find the “litter” we've hidden at the festival marked with a red x. Snap
a photo of the litter and upload to SeeClickFix (Leave “litter” in its place;
don’t worry we’ll clean it up later!) Report at least 5 pieces and be entered
to win a prize!
Recycled Art Contest Artwork Display - all
day (Recycling Center)
See the artwork submitted by area students and artists for our third annual
Recycled Art Contest. Awards will be announced from 11 to 11:30 a.m.
Stockton University Plant Sale - all day (Greenhouse)
Free
Workshops A variety of workshops
will take place throughout the day in our amphitheater located off the large
pond:
Native Plants for Pollinators - 11 a.m.
Raven Ahmed, Earth First Natives
Pollinators need your help! Learn about some of the simple ways you can create
food and habitat for butterflies, bees and other creatures who are actually
some of our greatest allies. Native plants benefit not only these
important partners, but also provide beautiful, low-maintenance landscaping
that can save you time, water and money.
Rain Barrel Workshop - 12 p.m.
Ashley Aversa, NJDEP AmeriCorps Watershed Ambassador
Storm water in NJ causes flooding and pollutes our precious waterways. At this
workshop, you'll learn how to conserve water and recycle the rain with rain
barrels!
The Importance of Honey Bees and
Pollination - 1 p.m.
Gary Schempp, Busy Bees NJ
Learn about the history, biology (life-cycle) and importance of honey bees and
pollination, as well as the benefits of honey, pollen and other products of the
hive. Colony collapse and what non-beekeepers can do to help will also be
addressed.
Homestead Herbalism - Uses for Common
'Weeds' - 2 p.m.
Susan Hess, Still Room at Pitch Pines
Learn some fun, edible and even therapeutic uses for common 'weeds' that grow
right around us. Susan will bring common abundant native plants for
identification, handouts to take home and samples to taste after the workshop!
Gardening for Butterflies - 3 p.m.
Mary Lenahan, Monarch Teacher Network
Butterflies are beautiful winged visitors to our gardens. Learn what native
plants are food for both caterpillars and butterflies. Learn how to keep these
colorful critters in your gardens from spring to fall!
Music
& Entertainment
Live Music by Steve Kuzma - 10 to 11 a.m. (Food Court Stage)
Magic of Energy - 12:00 p.m. and 2 p.m. (Food
Court Stage)
An exciting, skillful, comical exploration of renewable energy resources:
Solar, Hydroelectric, Biomass, Geothermal and Wind Power. What about our trash?
Garbage can not only be recycled, it can be converted to energy! The show use a
series of comedy magic & circus tricks to explode everyone’s understanding
of plasma generators, composting and conservation!
Valerie Vaughn - 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. (Food
Court Stage)
Also known as New Jersey's Troubadour, Valerie has a vast collection of
original songs about the legends and lore of New Jersey. Her songs celebrate
the spirit of people and places of the state.
Award Ceremonies
Recycle Bowl Awards - 10:30 to 11 a.m. (Recycling Center, 2nd Floor Conference Room)
Recycled Art Contest Awards - 11 to 11:30
a.m. (Recycling Center, 2nd Floor
Drivers Room)
The ACUA would like to thank additional Earth Day
sponsors including:
Acacia, Amy S. Green Environmental
Consultants, Ancero, Atlantic City Jitney Association, AtlantiCare, Bayview
Bearing & Supply LLC, Caesars Entertainment, Carbon Activated Corp., Carbon
Industrial Services, Casa Payroll Service, Chavond-Barry Engineering, Edmunds
& Associates, Inc., Gabel Associates, Inc., Galloway Township Education
Association, Gayle Corporation, General Spring & Alignment Service Inc., Holman
Frenia Allison, Home Depot, Industrial Furnace Company, Inc., Interstate
Batteries, Law Offices of Alan Savitz, Esq., LLC, Lawson Products, LGL Limited,
Master Wire Mfg. Inc., McCullough's Emerald Golf Links, National Vision
Administrators, Nehmad Perillo & Davis, P.C., NW Financial Group, PFM Asset
Management, Polistina & Associates, Quad Construction Company, Russell Reid/Mr.
John, Shoprites of Somers Point & English Creek (Village Supermarket), Siracusa
Kaufmann Insurance, T&M Associates, T.M. Fitzgerald & Associates, W.S.
Goff Company, Inc., Wells Fargo Bank.
Thank you also to sponsors of the 3rd Annual Recycled Art Contest:
Atlantic City Cruises, Costello’s Pizza, Room 4 Escape, Toy Market and Ultimate
Battlezone