IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 10, 2007
CONTACT: Gordon Ovenshine:
724-738-4854

gordon.ovenshine@sru.edu

Earth Festival features kites, workshops, family fun

           SLIPPERY ROCK, Pa. – The April 21 Earth Festival at Slippery Rock University will include kite making and flying with the Fly! Pittsburgh Kite Club, a petting zoo, obstacle course and many other activities for children and adults. Free shuttle service to concurrent Children’s Day activities elsewhere on campus will be offered as well. 

           Earth Festival events, free and open to the public, are 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Robert A. Macoskey Center for Sustainable Systems Education and Research on Harmony Road, near the University’s football stadium. Parking is free.

           Adult activities include a tree-grafting workshop, wool spinning and weaving, and workshops on climate change and wind energy. A sustainable marketplace featuring locally and organically grown produce items and various lunches will be offered.

           Earth Festival corresponds with Children’s Day of Kaleidoscope, SRU’s April 18-29 arts festival. Free shuttle service will run between Children’s Day activities and Earth Festival.

           The Earth Festival activities for children are:

           Kite making and flying with the Fly! Pittsburgh Kite Club

           Farm animal expo by Frank Davis  

           The Eco Challenge Obstacle Course, prizes will be awarded

           Children’s education and craft activities conducted by SRU elementary education students

          Adult activities are:

          “Wind and Solar: Is It Right for Me?”presented by North Coast Energy Systems

          “Climate Change: A Regional Perspective,” presented by Julie Snow, SRU assistant professor geography, biology and the environment

           Macoskey Center tours 

           “Bringing Back the Blue Birds,” Harry Schmieder, The Birdhouse Network

           Sustainable careers expo

           Eco-friendly cars demonstration, with Greg Boulos of Steel City Biofuels 

           Leave no trace interactive campsite

           Live music

For more information, call the Macoskey Center at 724-738-4050

Slippery Rock University is Pennsylvania’s premier public residential university. Slippery Rock University provides students with a comprehensive learning experience that intentionally combines academic instruction with enhanced educational and learning opportunities that make a positive difference in their lives.