Earth Day Kids Fest to Inspire Environmental Focus

The 11th Annual Earth Day Kids Fest (EDKF) "Healthy Kids, Healthy Planet" will find its way to Roswell today.

The event, co-hosted by the Captain Planet Foundation (CPF) and the Chattahoochee Nature Center (CNC), is a highly-motivational action packed and fun eco-festival where kids learn how to become great stewards of the planet we all call home.

Local kids will get a chance to rub elbows with environmental superhero Captain Planet and get a live slice of popular family band "Laughing Pizza." Let them bone up on environmental knowledge by visiting interactive booths and eco-exhibits at CNC. Families can experience the outdoors and connect to the natural world at the center. Naturalists will show off the center’s resident rehabilitated native creatures. Guests are invited to paddle a canoe around the center’s Beaver Pond.

Through engaging hands-on activities and live performances, kids are given the power to lead the way in preserving and protecting our natural resources and biological diversity, according to information about the event.

The family-friendly event is brought to the community by presenting sponsor Macy’s Foundation, as well as the Atlanta Journal Constitution, Van Michael Salon, Georgia Pacific, Rocket 21, the Coca Cola Company, Radial Café, Cara Isdell and Zak Lee and the city of Roswell. 

Food trucks will serve healthy food to hungry festival goers and the Whole Foods Market will teach kids how to make healthy fresh salads to encourage the ‘farm to table’ idea. 

The day will offer a fantastic array of “edutainment” to engage and entertain families. The Atlanta Hawks, Atlanta Braves and The Falcons will send spirit games for kids to play. Laughing Pizza brings a power packed musical performance.

The Weather Wall fascinates kids when they play ‘weatherman’, and things will get a little wild with live native animal presentations.  A green Eco-Village marketplace will provide guests a place to shop for earth-friendly ideas to green both homes and businesses.

There is even a mascot dance-off featuring the Clean Air Bair, Kirby the Duck, Captain Planet and CNC’s Box Turtle! Numerous local organizations will be on hand to help attendees explore eco-themes and get in the spirit to "Be a Planeteer!" 

Admission is: $6 for Child/$10 Adult/$7 Seniors 65+/$7 Students 13-18/ Kids 2 and under free. A complimentary shuttle bus service runs from St. Francis School near the corner of Willeo Road/Azalea Drive and Highway 120. Due to limited parking, carpooling is advised.

Those who ride their bikes from home to the event, Saturday, April 13 from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. will get free admission.

Earth Day Kids Fest Eco-Village participants include:

Atlanta Hawks, Braves and Falcons Spirit Groups

Charlie Bates Solar Astronomy – Stop by for a look at the sun through a solar telescope and hi-resolution video cameras.  See solar flares, sunspots and various electromagnetic Hydrogen plasma activities in the Sun’s layers. Free solar viewing glasses and NASA giveaways for all in attendance.

Chattahoochee Riverkeeper – Come lend a hand painting rain barrels to be auctioned off at the end of the festival!  While you work, learn some tips on how to conserve water at your home.

Clean Air Campaign – Is your school a Clean Air School? Come get your picture taken with our mascot BAIR, the clean air bear, and find out!

Fulton County Public Works – Spin the Wheel of Water and guess the letters in the water phrase. Prizes will be awarded to those that can guess the letters and phrases.

Georgia Center for Humane Education;  

Georgia River Network – Learn about paddling, rivers and the annual 7-day trip Paddle Georgia.  This year’s trip takes place on the Altamaha River.

Girl Scouts of Greater Atlanta – Will showcase their Forever Green activities.

Hands on Family Chiropractic

Nature Moment – Stop by to purchase a 100% recycled t-shirt with unique nature-themed designs.

One Entertainment Group – plant a flower or vegetable seed in a recycled container to take home.  While you plant, learn more about how much of the trash we toss is recyclable. 

Pebble Tossers – Bring your gently worn shoes to donate to school children in Haiti.  Come by to help sort, size and pair up shoes in preparation for a shipment.

Sierra Club – Centennial Group – Learn how pollution affects our water and the critters that live there.  Use the Enviroscape to see up close how pollutants enter our water, how those pollutants affect the fish and also plant a seed to take home.

Spin-Fit – a new exercise game for kids

Southeast Green

The Dolphin Project – Learn to ID dolphins by their fins, check out a dolphin skull and learn more about these fascinating marine mammals.

U.S.D.A. Forest Service, Pollinator Project

Veggie Oil Conversions/Green Restaurants Atlanta

Whole Foods Market – Salads from the Kaiser Permanente Unity Garden- Kids make their own

For more information on this annual family-friendly event, contact Rebecca Gilbert, 770-992-2055 x 236 or the Captain Planet Foundation, 404-522-4270. Log on to www.captainplanetfdn.org or www.chattnaturecenter.org for more details.