Glen Helen Earth Day Celebration

Saturday, April 23, 2011

Come out to Glen Helen’s nature preserve in Yellow Springs for an entertaining, family-friendly Earth Day celebration on Saturday April 23, 2011. An entire day of activities awaits: our first annual Earth Day 5K Run/Walk fundraiser, an educational Green Fair featuring booths from local farms and environmental organizations, plus a series of free, interactive Earth Day programs led by Glen Helen naturalists.

Race Events run from 8 a.m. until 2 p.m. and take place on the grounds of the Glen Helen Outdoor Education Center and Raptor Center at 1075 State Route 343. Limited parking is available on site, including wheelchair accessible spaces near the activities. If the weather is nice, park at the 405 Corry Street parking lot and enjoy a 20-minute walk in the woods along Inman Trail, walking past famous landmarks like the Yellow Spring and the Cascades. Additional parking is available along St. Rt. 68 at the northern edge of Yellow Springs.

The day kicks off with a free kids fun run at 8:30 a.m. The Yellow Springs Youth Yoga Project will lead a pre-race stretch, and all finishers will receive a native sapling to plant at home. Kids are encouraged to stay afterwards for plenty of fun nature activities. The 5K Run/Walk kicks off promptly at 9 a.m., heading down the scenic Fire Road, around the Pine Forest, and through the School Forest meadow. Chili and cookies await race participants at the finish line. Pre-register for the race online at www.glenhelen.org by noon on Wednesday April 21st or in person starting at 7 a.m. on race day. Proceeds from the race will support preservation and environmental education programs at Glen Helen. The Green Fair will follow the race from noon to 5pm at the Glen Helen Building on 405 Corry Street.

New this year we’re offering a variety of free hands-on, family-friendly nature programs offered by Glen Helen’s Naturalist interns. These interns are nearing the end of their 10-month training program at our Outdoor Education Center and they are enthusiastic about sharing their love of the outdoors with kids of all ages! Programs offered include Fossils of Ohio, Creating Backyard Ecosystems, Let’s Get Wild (an introduction to Ohio wildlife) and Tiny Things (exploring nature with lenses and microscopes). They will also be leading excursions to our bird blind and a visit to our weather station to learn about climate.