[CINC] SB Washington Elementary School Eco-Fair 10/03/09

[deb4nb at aol.com]

Greetings All,

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Hooray for Washington Wildcats and their Eco-Fair Sat. 10/03/09!??Many organizations were asked to attend this important green event from 1-4pm,?held on the Washington Elementary?ocean view playground.??Fortunately the day was beautifully warm and sunny,?with only?light breezes. 

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Each booth was?instructed to have a theme, and ours was appropriately "Keep Our Oceans Clean."?? In addition to our usual Park and Sanctuary panels and materials, the NOAA marine debris posters were displayed,? plus my contributed bag of trash found on

Anacapa Island?(some items regurgitated by gulls...eeewww).? Items included: foil, plastic wrappers, balloons, and fishing line.? Surrounding the marine?debris display?were critter replicas such as a pelican, shark, gull, blue whale, sea lion, harbor seal, eel, stingray, etc.? After species identification,?there was?talk on what can?happen when animals encounter debris.? I was impressed how much the kids knew, and?their ideas for keeping the ocean clean. 

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It still amazes me how many people don't know about our Channel Islands, even though they can see a few offshore.? Blue whale posters were earned, baleen and teeth were discussed,?and a few parents enthusiastically informed me about their anticipated SCI school?field trip this month.

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The most alluring kids'?attractions?were the?Wildcat Jail, Inflatable Castle Jump, and the Rock Pop Kids band.? My personal favorite attraction?(next to our booth of course)?was Ocean Futures Bag Monster.? A brave?human walked around in a huge costume made of 700 plastic bags, which is what an average consumer can use in a year.??What a?clever visual!?



After this No Waste?event, our local charismatic Western gulls predictably?searched the playground for morsels left behind.? Hats off to Washington?Elementary for leaving the area relatively clean!



Happy Green Trails,



Debra



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