Earth Day to be celebrated Saturday

While environmental issues continue to escalate in the global political arena, Earth Day offers Columbia County residents an outlet to learn more about the world they inhabit.

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Reed Creek Wetlands Park and Interpretative Center will be the site of the county's Earth Day celebration from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. Saturday.

"We are going to have several exciting events that day," said Keep Columbia County Beautiful Coordinator Jenny Hinton.

The event will include a butterfly release at 11:30 a.m.; story time provided by the Columbia County Library at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m.; a "turtle talk" by turtle enthusiast Jeff Miles; and an inflatable Moonwalk for children.

Children also can examine bugs and plants from the park's wetlands.

Guests can participate in a visual scavenger hunt that spans the 300-foot boardwalk as well as the park's trails and throughout the festival grounds, said Laura Beltran, the educational coordinator at the park.

"We're also going to be having plastics and cell phone recycling that day," Hinton said.

Early morning bird watching will be offered for adults beginning at 7:30 a.m., but participants must register by Friday.

Beltran said the group will bird watch at Reed Creek Park as well as the Savannah Rapids Pavilion and will visit other parks throughout the county based upon the public's interest. Participants must bring binoculars, she said.

Though Columbia County is celebrating Earth Day Saturday, the environmentally-friendly holiday officially falls on Tuesday, according to Earth Day Network.

Hinton said she hopes the crowd gains more knowledge of wetlands and its inhabitants at the event.

"With Reed Creek being a wetlands park, we hope that they come and experience what that has to offer," Hinton said.

She added that the celebration will be "fun for all ages."

The event is free to attend. For more information, call Hinton at (706) 312-7195.

Earth Fare, in the Shoppes at Furys Ferry plaza in Martinez, also will be holding an Earth Day event Saturday from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. Activities include a family bike ride from 10 until 11 a.m., raffle prizes and a cook out with live music.