FERGUS FALLS -- M State will celebrate Earth Day with a pioneer of exploration.
Minnesota native Will Steger, who led the first confirmed dogsled journey to the North Pole in the 1980s and later took a dogsled journey to the Antarctic, will speak at 7 p.m. Friday, April 24, at M State, Fergus Falls, Legacy Hall.
It's part of the the school's “Happy Birthday Earth Day, 50 Years of Connecting With Nature” celebration.
“Residents of Otter Tail County want to be good environmental stewards,” said Beth Monke, one of the volunteers who are organizing Happy Birthday Earth Day at M State. “We take pride that our county has more than 1,000 lakes and that we have two state parks, at Maplewood east of Pelican Rapids and Glendalough northeast of Battle Lake.”
Steger has testified before Congress on polar and environmental issues. He was co-founder of the Center for Global Environmental Education at Hamline University.
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In addition to Steger's talk, breakout sessions will cover topics such as what nature does for us and how best to preserve it.
“We’re laying the groundwork for significant steps in preserving our environment in future years,” Monke said.
One breakout session will include a book discussion about “The Nature Principle” by author Richard Louv. His bestselling books also include “Last Child in the Woods.”
“The Nature Principle” will be available at the Fergus Falls Public Library in a book club kit and many copies will be available for individual checkout. Lundeen’s will also carry the book.
Other breakout sessions will include Teresa Jaskiewicz, speaking on the topic of pollinators, Sue Wika and other panel members talking about sustainable farming, Cedar Walters of county recycling discussing food waste and composting, a teen climate action group from Kennedy Secondary School working with Otter Tail Power on changing to LED lights and adding a solar array within the school district and a session about invasive species at area lakes.
“A children’s activity room will include some art activities and other hands on activities to help educate and inspire children regarding environmental issues,” Monke said.
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The latest information about electric vehicles will be provided and there will be free rides in electric cars.
Community book discussion opportunities on “The Nature Principle” will be April 23 at the Lake Region Health Expo and at the April 24 Earth Day event.
The Youth Fergus Falls Reads book will be “No One Is Too Small to Make a Difference,” by Greta Thunberg.
The children’s book will be “The Nature Connection: An Outdoor Workbook for Kids, Families and Classrooms,” which also is available at the Fergus Falls Public Library.
Informational tables at M State on April 24 will include representatives from the Department of Natural Resources, Prairie Wetlands Blue Stem Store, Lundeen’s, Otter Tail Power Company, East and West Otter Tail Soil and Water Conservation Districts, Otter Tail County Coalition of Lake Association (COLA), Pedal Fergus Falls and Citizens Climate Lobby.
If you go
“Happy Birthday Earth Day, 50 Years of Connecting With Nature,” will be 4:30-8:309 p.m. Friday, April 24, at M State, Fergus Falls, Legacy Hall. There will be free birthday cake and pizza will be available for purchase.
Sponsors for the April 24 event include the City of Fergus Falls, Fergus Falls Public Library and West Central Initiative.
