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 “At the time, there really were no large events to commemorate Earth Day in the region. As home to the Center for Sustainable Communities, the Landscape Arboretum, and the University's ‘green’ programs, we felt we had the resources to start something special. Who knew then what this event would become?” - Dr. Jeffrey Featherstone, Director of the Center for Sustainable Communities at Temple University Ambler
That first EarthFest welcomed about 1,500 visitors and 50 exhibitors. Celebrating its sixth year in 2008, EarthFest has grown exponentially - last year welcomed nearly 10,000 visitors and more than 90 exhibitors!
Hosted by the Temple University Center for Sustainable Communities, EarthFest 2008 will be held on Friday, April 25, from 9:30 a.m. to 2 p.m., rain or shine, at the Temple University Ambler Campus, 580 Meetinghouse Road, Ambler.
The mission of EarthFest is to promote environmental awareness using sustainable concepts, methods, and practices to protect and preserve our environment. Organizations, businesses, colleges, high schools, middle schools, and elementary schools, and individuals demonstrate sustainable concepts and technologies, and provide interactive educational displays, activities, and much more!
EarthFest is one of the most successful and highly anticipated events of the year at Temple University Ambler. It is central to our core values of student-centered learning, respect for the environment, and community engagement. Thousands of students from all over the region come together and spend time learning about the world in which we live and the interconnected systems on which the lives of people and animals depend. There is perhaps no other environmental event in the region that accomplishes this much in a single day.
“One of our core values at Ambler is Community Engagement. I can’t think of a better display of this value than the planning and execution of EarthFest. We hope that all of our visitors will take this unique opportunity to learn about and interact with more than 85 exhibitors. We are very pleased to be continuing our partnership with the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society (PHS)!” - Dean James W. Hilty, Dean, Temple University Ambler
For the fifth year in a row, Temple University Ambler's key partner in presenting EarthFest is the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society (PHS). PHS's Kids Grow Expo - which includes educational exhibits, service learning projects and competitive classes as part of the Junior Flower Show - is an integral part of the event each year.
The theme of the 2008 Kids Grow Expo is “Growing Healthy.” The theme encourages students to make healthy eating and active lifestyle choices. In addition to the horticultural and artistic entries that students can exhibit, several classroom projects are also included.
“These activities will offer fun and effective ways to introduce nutrition basics. Our hope is that through these projects we can inspire youngsters to become better educated about nutrition and their need for physical activity.” - Flossie Narducci, Coordinator, Kids Grow Expo
LEARN MORE ABOUT THE KIDS GROW EXPO AND JUNIOR FLOWER SHOW HERE.
 In keeping with the Kids Grow Expo's "Growing Healthy" theme, Temple University exhibitors such as the Center for Obesity Research and Education (CORE), Temple Athletics, the Temple University Infant Lab (located at the Ambler Campus), and Temple University Ambler and Fort Washington's Summer Education Campus program will also promote healthy lifestyles for young people.
Temple departments, from Ambler Campus Admissions, the Center for Sustainable Communities, and the Ambler College, to the University Recycling Department and Facilities Management will also be well represented at EarthFest.
Temple University Ambler student organizations, including the Student Government Association, Brothers and Sisters United, the Criminal Justice Society, Resident Hall Senate, Sigma Chi Delta Sorority, Gamma Sigma Sigma Sorority, and Ambler Campus Program Board, will provide interactive games that, while fun, also teach important lessons about recycling, protecting the environment, and preserving plants and animal habitats to young visitors. For the first time, $200 grants are being made available to each student organization that would like to exhibit at EarthFest - the application is available here.
“EarthFest is a program that opens up a field of possible careers that students typically are not exposed to. It’s one thing to read a brochure, but it’s another to actually visit the campus, see, and experience what we are doing and talk with students who are currently in the programs.” - Dr. Lolly Tai, Senior Associate Dean, Temple University Ambler
LEARN MORE ABOUT TEMPLE UNIVERSITY'S EXHIBITORS AT EARTHFEST HERE.
 More than 90 exhibitors, ranging from non-profit watershed groups to for-profit businesses and high school, middle school, and elementary school student organizations, present their ideas, projects, and initiatives in ways that intrigue and attract young people.
Exhibitors for 2008 include the Philadelphia Zoo, The Franklin Institute, Adventure Aquarium, Elmwood Park Zoo, the Academy of Natural Sciences, the Insectarium, Delaware Valley Earth Force, the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection, Wondergy, the Girl Scouts of Eastern Pennsylvania, the John Heinz National Wildlife Refuge at Tinicum, the Philadelphia Water Department, and more than 80 others.
“The more people are exposed to this information, the more likely they are going to take it to heart and become involved in making the Earth a better place for everyone. I see it as a giant awareness festival, a great day for students, parents, and teachers to learn and have fun.” - Laura Warner, Manager of Zoo Outreach, Philadelphia Zoo
The Elmwood Park Zoo and many other new and returning exhibitors will also be highlighting conservation issues. In the case of Elmwood Park Zoo, for example, they will be focusing on amphibians.
"After thriving for over 360 million years, one third to one half of the world's known amphibian species could go extinct in our lifetime. We would like to help EarthFest visitors learn about these amazing creatures and find out what zoos are doing to help them." - Cindy Geiger-Jenkins, Volunteer Coordinator, Elmwood Park Zoo
And that's just two examples of the literally dozens of fun, educational opportunities students will be provided at EarthFest!
One of the primary goals of the Center for Sustainable Communities is developing partnerships within the surrounding communities. We believe EarthFest is a perfect opportunity for area businesses, organizations, municipal groups, and schools to get involved and work toward developing sustainable communities for today and tomorrow.
LEARN MORE ABOUT ALL OF OUR EARTHFEST EXHIBITORS HERE.
LEARN HOW TO BECOME AN EXHIBITOR HERE.
VIEW THE EARTHFEST 2008 EVENT MAP HERE!
 Schools from throughout the area not only visit EarthFest, they also have the opportunity to share their own exhibits, exploring concepts as diverse as watershed clean-up and tree planting to the study of global warming and recycling.
Area schools have become an even greater part of the event with each year. To help engage high school students in EarthFest's sustainability theme, a new program - "Making the Recycle Band" - has been developed for the 2008 event. The concept marries both pop culture and environmental stewardship in a fun, interactive way as high school student groups use recyclable and reusable objects to create instruments for a friendly competition that will highlight the top three "bands" on the EarthFest Main Stage.
“We will supply the recycled materials for the schools to work from. If a band would like to develop a song that promotes environmental awareness to go along with their recycled instrument performance, so much the better!” - Rachel Oliver, Assistant Director for Admissions and Coordinator for the Making the Recycle Band competition
During EarthFest, an area school, student organization, or educator is also presented with the “EarthFest Commitment to Sustainability Award.” The 2008 recipient is the Souderton Area High School SAVE (Students Against Violating the Earth) student organization.
SAVE seeks to promote the preservation of our natural world by encouraging appreciation, understanding, and responsible use of the environment.
The high school environmental group not only promotes a wide variety of environmental concepts, they put those concepts to tangible use in their Student Environmental Education Center, also known as the “SAVE House,” a working home built by SAVE students that incorporates a wide variety of environmentally sound technologies. It is the central part of the program’s Project EFFECT (Environmental Friendly Facility Exploring Conservation Technology). Learn more about the Commitment to Sustainability Award here.
“There are so many students doing incredible things at a grassroots level that, each year, we want to take the opportunity to recognize their achievements. Students such as these are the stewards of the future. Our primary goal with EarthFest is education. While we are able to bring a diverse group of students, educators, and exhibitors together each year to celebrate a common cause, students at schools throughout the region are teaching their peers — and in many cases their parents — how they can ensure sustainable communities for today and tomorrow.” - Susan Spinella, EarthFest Coordinator
Have questions about EarthFest 2008 or the Kids Grow Expo? We're here to help!
For questions about EarthFest 2008,
please contact:
Jim Duffy
580 Meetinghouse Road
Ambler, PA 19002
267-468-8108
For questions about the Kids Grow Expo, please contact:
Flossie Narducci
Pennsylvania Horticultural Society
100 North 20th Street
Philadelphia, PA 19103
215-988-8897
    
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About EarthFest 
