MARINE CORPS AIR STATION IWAKUNI, Japan -- Students from Mathew C. Perry Elementary School observed Earth Week from April 20 to April 24 and participated in a poster contest organized by the station’s environmental division.
“We wanted a way to stimulate children’s creativity and heighten their awareness on environmental issues,” said Melanie L. Bengtson, station environmental director. “We felt a poster contest would be a fun way to get the word across about Earth Day.”
The first Earth Day was celebrated on April 22, 1970, when U.S. Senator Gaylord Nelson organized a meeting to promote the ideas of stewardship and highlight the growing concern of pollution in the air, soil and water.
“It’s important for our children to observe Earth Day and develop a concern for the environment since they’re our future and need to take care of their planet,” said Kathy E. Warden, a second grade schoolteacher at M.C. Perry Elementary.
A total of 175 students in grades one through five participated in the poster contest, which was judged by a panel of teachers and members of the station’s environmental division.
“We judged the posters based on how well they tried to convey the ideas of environmental awareness,” said Bengtson. “We looked for creativity and simplicity.”
After the first and second place posters for each grade level were identified, an award ceremony was held at M.C. Perry’s Elementary School gym April 29.
“The poster contest was a great way to get discussions going on in the classroom,” said Warden.
“One of my students, Skye Pejsa, brought up a good point by saying, ‘Earth Day should not just be one day out of the year, it should be everyday.’”
The station environmental division is also organizing various cleanups within the station for service members to participate in.
The next seawall cleanup will take place May 29 and is open to all service members interested in doing something for the station and for the environment.
Questions regarding the upcoming seawall cleanup can be directed to the station’s environmental division at 253-4854.