SUNY New Paltz to host first Environmental Awareness and Sustainability Day on May 5

NEW PALTZ – The State University of New York at New Paltz will hold its first Environmental Awareness and Sustainability Day on May 5 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on the campus. The purpose of the event is to celebrate the Earth and how we can alter our lifestyles to help protect and preserve its natural resources, beauty, health and vigor.

The day’s program will feature Lynne Cherry, an author/illustrator whose best-selling children’s books teach readers to respect the earth. She is also the founder and director of Young Voices of the Planet, an organization dedicated to helping the voices of environmentally-concerned young people be heard. Cherry’s short film, “Young Voices for the Planet,” featuring stories about youth who have reduced the carbon footprint of their homes, schools and communities, will also be screened.

Groups and organizations that will participate throughout the day are: The Cary Institute, Brook Farm, the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) showcasing its Hudson River Estuary Program and its various workshops for educators; Scenic Hudson; Mohonk Preserve; New Paltz Climate Coalition; the Hudson River Clearwater; and New Paltz Farmers Market, as well as many citizen groups.

An expert panel on living green will feature: Suzanne Kelly – green burial; Amy Hepworth – sustainable and organic agriculture; Anthony Sicari – solar farms; and Laura Petit – composting and recycling. This will be held in the Julien J. Studley Theatre in the Old Main Building.

Games and activities for children of all ages will be available on the Old Main Quad along with the New Paltz solar car club, several college organizations selling refreshments and tours of the Environmental Task Force initiatives on the college’s campus. New Paltz has just been recognized by The Princeton Review in its 2012 Guide to 322 Green Colleges for its strong commitment to sustainability.

The New Paltz Environmental Task Force, the School of Education, and the Division of Academic Affairs are all making this event possible.

For more information about the Environmental Awareness and Sustainability Day, contact Dr. Rosemary Millham at 845-257-3118 or visit the college’s website at www.newpaltz.edu.