With a heavy heart, Clark Public Utilities canceled many upcoming community events this spring in an effort to curb the spread of COVID-19 in our community; Earth Day Fest, the marquee event the Clark Public Utilities StreamTeam puts on each year in partnership with Clark County was no exception.
But, never a group to be discouraged, StreamTeam improvised and switched gears. This year, rather than the community coming together in person to mark Earth Day, the utility’s StreamTeam is bringing the celebration to the community through the Virtual Earth Day Fest Challenge.
“One of the many things that makes Earth Day Fest so special is it has always offered fun and engaging activities, and learning opportunities, for people of all ages and abilities,” Clark Public Utilities’ StreamTeam Program Coordinator Maddy Loy said. “We strove to capture that same spirit in the Virtual Earth Day Fest Challenge.”
Now, instead of just one day of fun activities and volunteerism, subscribers to Clark Public Utilities’ StreamTeam newsletter will enjoy four weeks of insightful and engaging hands-on activities to get would-be Earth Day Fest participants outside while still respecting physical distancing guidelines.
Every week will feature a different theme: noxious species, waste management, Pacific Northwest forests and watersheds.
After a brief introduction to the week’s topic, readers are invited to explore other educational resources on the subject. Readers are then invited to connect what they’ve learned to the world around them through an individual activity that can be completed from the comfort of home.
Participants’ hard work won’t go unrecognized. Photos of completed projects can be submitted for sharing on the utility’s social media platforms and a chance to win a prize from a local business.
To take the lessons further, virtual Earth Day Fest participants can explore additional activities and lessons in the educational extension section.
For those who have never attended Earth Day Fest or aren’t familiar with StreamTeam, the Virtual Earth Day Fest is a perfect opportunity to learn about the group’s mission and get involved without going anywhere.
“We’re disappointed that our event was canceled, but we’re heartened by our community’s efforts to flatten the curve of the coronavirus. By staying home we’re all doing our part to slow the spread,” Loy said. “With the Virtual Earth Day Fest Challenge, our faithful volunteers, and hopefully some new folks, can join in to feel more connected to our local landscape and each other.”
This 2020 Fest would have been the 21st consecutive year of the utility’s popular Earth Day event. Over the decades it has become a community institution at the Salmon Creek Greenway, and hundreds of volunteers plant well over a thousand trees, pick up truckloads of trash and pull countless noxious weeds every year –all in the name of improving water quality and bringing salmon back to Salmon Creek.
Always resourceful, the utility’s small but mighty StreamTeam are undeterred by this year’s changes. Although circumstances are unusual, Clark Public Utilities believes we still have the power to make our environment a little healthier than it was before–together, if just a little farther apart than in year’s past.
“We’re hoping parents of school-aged children will especially appreciate the fun and educational activities we’ve planned for each week,” Loy said. “Each challenge is designed to inspire a teachable moment right in our own neighborhoods.”
To sign up for the newsletter, visit clarkpublicutilities.com/streamteam.
Energy Adviser is written by Clark Public Utilities. Send questions to ecod@clarkpud.com or to Energy Adviser, c/o Clark Public Utilities, P.O. Box 8900, Vancouver, WA 98668.
