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Eco Fair Fills Students with Energy – and Knowledge

April 23, 2009 – Elementary school students had a hard time keeping their excitement in check as they ran around the lawn surrounding the Great House at St. Georges Village Botanical Gardens, racing from table to table as teachers called to them to slow down.
The excitement was the annual Eco Fair, marking Earth Day.
“This was the best day for me,” said Ebtihaj Muhsin, from IQRA Academy. “I learned so much. I learned we don't have to use too much electricity – we can use solar from the sun.”
The fair in its 16th year was themed “Be Water Wise” with presenters delivering messages about how to preserve the environment and conserve resources.
Carol Kramer Burke, program director at the St. Croix Environmental Association, said the children are definitely absorbing eco-friendly ideas.
“Kids are getting the message to co-exist with nature,” said Burke. She said they had 16 schools registered with more than 1,500 students taking part in the two-day fair that began Wednesday. She added they always have a positive response from the schools with nearly all the schools on the island represented.
“The hands-on demonstrations and seeing helps to enhance the learning process,” said Naiella Knight, third grade teacher at Lew Muckle Elementary School.
There were hands-on interactive and fun activities for the students at the displays of 21 agencies and organizations set up in the Great House and on the lawn.
Manny da Motta and Michael DiNapoli, from Solar Solutions, had their mobile solar water heater on display. As the students felt the hot water pouring from a faucet they appeared amazed it could be done.
On display was an electric car, a GEM by Chrysler, owned and distributed by Arlen Wheeler. The little car appeared to be a hit with the boys in particular as they peered inside and hung all over it while Wheeler told them about the batteries and how it is powered.
William Coles, of Fish and Wildlife, held the students attention with the huge skull of a false killer whale.
“If it isn't fun we don't do it,” said John Farchette, of the St. Croix East End Marine Park, under Department of Planning and Natural Resources and Coastal Zone Management. Farchette got the kids attention with Sheldon Plankton, a character they all knew from Sponge Bob Square Pants. He went on explaining plankton are the beginning of the food chain.
Don Bailey from the University of the Virgin Islands aquaponics farm gave a lesson on tilapia farming and water reuse and recycling. He told the students how the wastewater from the tilapia's tanks at the UVI farm is recycled into hydroponic tanks, feeding the plants, removing impurities before the water is recirculated back to the tilapia.
“The kids did very well and were very focused on the activity and presentation,” said Bailey.
One display that fascinated the students was provided by V.I.Waste Management Authority. The display showed huge chunks of grease that had lumped together in the sewage system after people poured cooking grease down their drains. The lumps of grease turn hard as rocks, causing blockage after sitting in sewer pipes for two months.
The eco fair is sponsored by Waste Management Authority and SEA with St. Georges Village Botanical Gardens as host.

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