West Virginia University at Parkersburg’s student environmental group, the Ecohawks, will host an Earth Day celebration on Monday, April 22, from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. in the College Activities Center. The event is free and open to the public.

The Ecohawks will teach local elementary school children the benefits of reducing, reusing and recycling. There will also be reading and coloring stations, tree and vegetable seedling giveaways, educational games and a Smokey Bear meet-and-greet.

“We have an obligation to take care of the world we share,” said Ecohawks advisor Valerie Keinath. “The WVU Parkersburg Ecohawks hope to inspire and encourage others to find beauty in nature and become more conscious about their environmental impact as to preserve that beauty.”

Other individuals, groups and organizations providing environmental resources and materials include: Friends of the Lower Muskingum, Keep Wayne Wild, C8 specialist and author Callie Lyons, Mid-Ohio Valley Climate Action, Ohio River Islands National Wildlife Refuge, Ohio Valley Environmental Coalition, pollinator garden specialist Rebecca Phillips, Raccoon Creek Conservation group (AmeriCorps) and the West Virginia Division of Forestry.

Guests will also have the chance to view screenings of “The Toxic Tour” presented by Lyons and “The Sequel” presented by the Mid-Ohio Valley Climate Action Group.

For more information, contact Valerie Keinath at vkeinart@wvup.edu or (304) 424-8327.