The towns of Saratoga County are already taking strides to go green but they will take these efforts one step further in the days leading up to Earth Day on Thursday, April 22.
The Gideon Putnam Resort in Saratoga Spa State Park will hold its third annual event on Earth Day, where students from Saint Mary’s School in Ballston Spa will take part in environmentally friendly activities and learn to respect and preserve natural resources. The fourth graders will plant a tree from the park’s nursery on the resort’s ground, take guided nature walks with a New York State Parks educator, clean up debris around the park and help rake leaves and beautify the resort ground. They’ll also take a hands on approach to identifying common trees and how various tree species were historically used.
Delaware North Companies took over as owners of the Gideon Putnam in 2008 and brought along its dedication to maintaining an environmental company and getaway, said Candice Bergmann who does marketing, design and environmental initiatives at the resort. Having an Earth Day celebration for local youth fit into their business plan.
`The company just decided it’s the right thing to do. It wants to continually improve and that includes the environmental side of things; anything to help lessen their carbon footprint,` said Bergmann.
The resort originally welcomed a home schooled group, girl scout troupe and Saint Mary’s school and received a positive response.
`It’s a fun little adventure for [the kids] and since we partner with New York State parks, we like to support them and what they do. We also give students a free lunch, which they enjoy,` said Bergmann, who said the resort consistently thinks of the environment by using recycled paper, remanufactured ink cartridges and boasting an extensive recycling program.
A group of parents and teachers who wanted to find a way to keep students interested in science created the SAGE Science Discovery Night three years ago, and this year will host it again at Gowana Middle School in Clifton Park on Wednesday, April 21, from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.
Linda DeMasi helps coordinate the event and said with new technologies popping up globally and in the local area, maintaining students’ interest in their formative years is even more important.
`Starting in the middle school years, there’s a decline in interest of sciences; other things come up. We thought this might be a way to rekindle or keep that interest going if they could see all the many ways science is applied. Doing it in class is one thing but trying to make a connection to outside world [is another],` said DeMasi, who is president of Shenendehowa Advocates for Gifted Education [SAGE].
The event is always free, she said, and the district’s technology, science and health departments have come on board to make sure it stays that way. She said exhibitors include some local businesses and teachers who have the same level of excitement as the kids. There will be a business focusing on robotics, the Nanotech College, a local engineering firm showing 3D modeling, Odyssey of the Mind program, museums and more.
The first year attracted about 700 attendees, last year saw close to 1,000 and this year SAGE hopes to reach a number somewhere between the two.
`The kids are very engaged. We have more flight simulators coming because of the demand for them. There are a lot of hands on exhibits and kids are just lined up to participate. I spend the evening watching and get to see the level of engagement and learning while having fun,` said DeMasi. `We need to keep an interest in science because with New York being looked at as a tech valley corridor we have to grow resources for jobs that will be available.`
Clifton Park as a town will also get in on the Earth Day spirit with its fourth Town Paper Shredding Day on Sunday, April 18, from 1 to 3 p.m. in the Clifton Park Center parking lot near Dunkin Donuts. The shredded paper will be recycled and sold to a local paper products company.
Residents are encouraged to bring sensitive documents they want shredded, like bank statements, credit card records, tax bills and other documents with personally identifiable information, which will be destroyed for free. Residents are also asked to bring at least one canned good for each bag of documents they have, for donation to a local food pantry. Last year the town gathered 1,000 pounds of food and attracted 250 families with paper to be shredded.
Saratoga Springs will help its youngest residents celebrate Earth Day with the Saratoga Earth Day Festival on Saturday, April 17. Hosted by the Saratoga Children’s Museum, there’s a schedule of events starting at 9:30 a.m. that includes scavenger hunts, book signing, speakers, demonstrations, dancing, workshops and art activities. A full list of events is on the Web site,www.childrensmuseumatsaratoga.org.
“
