On Sunday, May 1st, SIUC Campus Lake hosted a new event for kids and their families, called the Earth Extravaganza! Throughout this fun-filled afternoon, kids moved through a series of nature stations organized by local environmental organizations, such as Green Earth Inc., Touch of Nature, and Crab Orchard National Wildlife Refuge. By engaging kids in hands-on, eco-themed activities, including paddle boating, salsa dancing in nature, creating eco-crafts, playing in recycling relays, exploring the Earth with microscopes, and participating in a Spring Scavenger Hunt, presenters succeeded in instilling an appreciation for the Earth and created environmental awareness.  

The Earth Extravaganza was organized by Lacey Gibson, Ellen Esling, and Brooke Patton, the three local teens who brought Carbondale the Grand Avenue Pumpkin Run, a charity race to benefit two local organizations. These students worked in cooperation with the SIUC Beautify Southern Illinois Student Alliance to organize The Earth Extravaganza, the successful first-annual event that will undoubtedly be continued for years to come.

Participating organizations included: the SIUC Beautify Southern Illinois Student Alliance, Green Earth of Carbondale, Crab Orchard National Wildlife Refuge, Shawnee National Forest, Little River Research & Design, Touch of Nature, Jackson County Health Department, Crab Orchard National Wildlife Refuge, SIUC Recreational Sports Services,Salsa 29 Productions, Ms. Asaturian, and Ms. Bottje.