Severna Park Learns New Ways to Help the Earth

The lesson on Saturday at Severna Park Middle School centered around conservation, recycling and ways to help our watershed to become healthy again at the eighth annual Earth Day Expo.

The variety of things to see—native plants, rain barrels, sea creatures in a baby pool, Shred It services, activities to teach recycling and environmentally friendly advice for the home—kept visitors moving from station to station. Hamburgers sizzled on a grill, thanks to the men of St. Martin's-in-the-Field Church.

Lining the building outside of the school were dozens of exhibitors, schools and vendors—from local Watershed Stewards and the Magothy River Association to Girl Scouts, school clubs, energy efficient services, a shredding station, conservationists, environmental activists and animal rescue.

About 2,000 visited the Expo (not including those who came to the Shred It event earlier in the morning), said Jim Brennan, an Expo organizer. Brennan also worked with Chris Myers, volunteer; Sharon Morell, principal of Severna Park Middle School (SPMS); and Linda Zahn of the Greater Severna Park Chamber of Commerce to organize the event.

Severna Park's elementary schools, each designated a Maryland Green School, had a table with displays outlining their recycling and green projects or had activities designed to teach a new earth-friendly tip. 

Severna Park Elementary School's art teacher Sherri Rinehuls helped kids make a recyclable bookmark out of shredded wet paper sprinkled with flower seeds. Once dry, the bookmark can be planted.

Oak Hill's principal Deneen Houghton proudly reported that the school was named a Maryland Green School just days ago and will be celebrating with a concert this month.

The SPMS Honor Society students sponsored a coloring contest for kids with the prize of a handmade Earth Day bracelet dangling with shiny charms. Further down the sidewalk, Severna Park High School's Leadership Institute, representing the Environmental Club, had a display covering the array of projects the club has and will undertake in the community.

Folger McKinsey Elementary School is busy with merging their parent and teacher programs on topics of going green, said Pat Fasick, a Folger parent volunteer at the Expo. "We are growing our program and doing lots of different things like promoting recycling," she said.

The school held a catalog and magazine collection drive last year, which brought in the length of 12 school buses of donations, said parent volunteer Chris Myers.

This is the eighth year for the Expo, previously held at St. Martin's-in-the-Field on Benfield Road. Next year's date has already been set for Earth Day on April 22, 2012 at the school.

"It was a good turnout, the exhibitors were fantastic," said Brennan, noting that competition from local sports played a role in keeping the numbers down. "It's all about teaching people what to do at home to help improve our waterways."