Local Event Recognizes Earth Day

Area Students Participate

In recognition of Earth Day, Fort Peck’s Office of Environmental Protection presented an event that attracted many students to the Wolf Point Community Hall last week.

Charles O’Neal, climate coordinator for the Fort Peck tribes, noted that the organization added a large green container in front of the hall as part of the activities. A similar container for recyclables is located in Poplar.

“We’re just trying to do our part,” O’Neal said.

Students at the program were treated to hot dogs, brats, chips and water. A cake walk was another highlight.

“We want to bring awareness to recycling, get the most out of your products,” O’Neal said.

Teaching young people the importance of recycling is an important step. “Make it a better place for the next generation,” O’Neal said. “Because they are the ones who are going to be living here.”

Northside Principal Georgie Gourneau said students were busy picking up litter much of the afternoon. The fifth graders cleaned up near the school, the sixth-graders gathered trash on Sixth Avenue while the fourth-graders tackled litter at Borge Park.

Students enjoyed a sweet taste of honey at the event. Heather Snell said that the honey came from one of the three bee hives located at the tribal community garden in Poplar.

“For a lot of them, it sounds like it was the first time trying something like this,” Snell said.

She reported that worker are currently getting the community garden cleaned up for the upcoming summer. Home economics students from Poplar Middle School will assist in the building of mushroom beds.

Features of the community garden include raised beds, water on site, garden tools, garden seeds and plant education.