Art and the environment mix in Earth Day event
Many different environmental organizations will be celebrating Earth Day this year, but would it surprise you to know that an art museum is going all out for the big day?
Climate Day for Kids at Seattle Art Museum's Olympic Sculpture Parkinvolves different activities by a number of community groups.
"SAM is trying to be more involved in Earth Day activities. It is something we want to make a tradition," says SAM environmental steward Jackie White.
White, who became SAM's first environmental steward last summer, is based at the sculpture park, but her job involves looking at the sustainability issues of the museum as a whole. She works with the SAM Goes Green Team, the education department to develop environmental themes, and monitors the Olympic Sculpture Park's shoreline.
"We're just making sure we're on top of taking care of this great place," she says.
The idea of Climate Day is to talk about climate issues with a young audience that probably doesn't understand what a carbon footprint is. White says it was easy to find environmental partners to participate.
"There hasn't been a lot for younger kids about what's going on and how they can relate to this issue," White says. "We've had a really great response; anybody who's heard about this event has called and said, 'Can I be involved?' People are excited."
Climate Day is aimed at children ages 4 to 10, "but there's a mix of activities. We want to make sure we have things that are interesting to kids, to moms, to teenagers who come along. We want it to be fun for everyone."
The day starts out with a sold-out Family Fun program at which children 12 and younger explore the park's art, then make a rainproof piece of artwork using recycled materials.
Beginning at noon, Climate Day kicks into high gear with 10 stations manned by local environmentally minded groups.
The Bicycle Alliance of Washington and Spokespeople will share a station to talk about their programs, pass out bike commuting maps, and showcase a few good commuting bikes.
