2008 EVENTS

This tenth annual Earth Day Celebration is an environmentally-based event that celebrates the Earth and its resources. This year’s event theme is "Power to Change" and features educational activity booths, the John H. Baldwin Film & Lecture Series, two musical stages, a Procession of All Species, and much more! The event is produced by the volunteer efforts of the Earth Day Steering Committee.

There will be free LTD shuttles from the downtown station and Saturday Market to EWEB’s River Edge Plaza during event hours.

John H. Baldwin Film & Lecture Series (North Bldg., EWEB Training Center; Board Room)

John H. Baldwin was the founding director of the Environmental Studies Program and the Institute for a Sustainable Environment at the University of Oregon. During his 25 years as a professor of public policy and planning at the UO, John worked at the local, regional, national and international level to make our planet a better place. He taught, presented, provoked, advocated, collaborated, coached, mentored and befriended environmental students and leaders all over the world. It is in this spirit that the Earth Day Steering Committee has dedicated this film and lecture series to John H. Baldwin, Ph.D.
More information and schedule here -->>

The Inland Water Way Earth Day Parade - 9:30 AM

All you water hounds can get your canoes and kayaks and float to Alton Baker park through the Canoe Canal for Earth Day. Friends of Oregon River Sports will gather at the Turtle Pond at 9:30 AM on the day of the event and lead a paddle of human powered craft to the "Watery World" near the duck pond at the foot of the Peter DeFazio Footbridge, in the main park area along the Willamette River.

To reach Turtle Pond enter the park canal system at the canoe launch behind Autzen Stadium. The launch site is just upstream from the Autzen foot bridge, you will find a large parking area but please do not block the launch zone. Once on the water, paddle upstream till the canal opens up at the pond. We will start launching at about 8:30. We will have several volunteers to help lead the flotilla back toward the main park at about 10:00 am.

Things to bring: your boat, canoe, kayak, ducky? Please make sure your craft is in good condition for the float. Wear your PFD (life jacket)!! Plan for the weather, bring coffee, hot cocoa, a snack, etc. Plan to wear something eye-catching, like your favorite fun hat! Bring a noise maker (your boater whistle) or favorite instrument. To get back to your car just paddle back up stream to the launch.

Please remember that everyone participates at their own risk. Once we reach the main there will be volunteers at the duck pound to watch your boat and gear while you enjoy the Earth Day events across the river at EWEB. Early mornings on the pound are are really cool...................... hope to see you there!!

MECCA & BRING Recycled Art
(North Bldg., EWEB Community Room)

Craft activities for children and adults, including musical instruments, costume-making, and mask making, bumper stickers & pins and other fun crafts using reclaimed materials.

Art Contest (sponsored by MECCA & BRING Recycling)

Currently accepting submissions of artwork, that addresses the question: How would you change the world to create a healthier Earth, or how would you create changes in your own life to make the Earth a healthier place? Submission deadline: April 11, 2008. Four ages categories with winners selected in each group. For more details, look for Earth Day contest at www.materials-exchange.org or call Yvonne Manipon (MECCA) at 302-1810.

Earth Day 2008: The “Power to Change” Dynamic Dozen Book List

We've gathered a list of 12 great books to read for Earth Day. More information about recommended reading list here -->>

Free Bike Tune-ups

Bicycle mechanics from Paul’s Bicycle Way of Life will be on hand to provide free tune-ups on site. Grab your bike and pedal over to take advantage of this great offer.

Geocaching for the adventurous

Adventure game seekers can enjoy Geocaching at this year’s event sponsored by REI. Participants will use a Global Positioning System (GPS) device to locate caches hidden throughout the event, sort of a high-tech scavenger hunt.

Green Roof Tour - 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.

To learn more from both designers and owners, a tour of three green roofs is offered as part of Earth Day activities.  Participants will visit Eugene’s first permitted residential living roof (a stormwater management demonstration home), Sequential Biofuels , and University of Oregon Long House.

A green roof is a vegetative planting layer on top of the roofing membrane.  As a design feature, green roofs integrate the natural and built environment, creating an aesthetically appealing amenity.  Other benefits include on-site stormwater retention, creation of habitat for birds and insects, and reduced heat intrusion.  Other green building amenities that can be viewed on the tour include rainwater harvesting and solar energy systems.  Free transportation is provided by LTD, but seating is limited.  Come join us at the EWEB plaza, to the south of the main building (look for the Breeze bus). 

For more information, contact Jeannine Parisi @ 484-2411 ext. 3314

Procession Of All Species

A Celebration of all creatures great and small! The Procession of All Species is an artistic celebration in which participants honor all species of life on our home planet. Anyone can join the Procession by donning a costume, mask, or other representation of their favorite plant, animal, mineral, ecosystem or natural wonder (but NO live animals, motorized vehicles or written signs/messages). Costumes and masks can be made onsite, beginning at 11 a.m. in MECCA’s EWEB Community Room in the north building. The Procession of All Species will assemble at 2:00 p.m. behind the Main Stage at EWEB’s River Edge Plaza Fountain, on the riverside proscenium. The route will meander through the Plaza and proceed across the Peter DeFazio Footbridge, over the Willamette River, and ending in Alton Baker Park. This year’s procession will again be lead by Eugene’s favorite Brazilian Troupe, Samba Ja!

Pacific Tree Climbing Institute

A free, introductory tree climbing experience open to all ages! PTCI is an Oregon outfitter/guide service that offers recreational, guided canopy tours. If you’re under 18 years of age, remember to bring a parent or legal guardian to sign the mandatory liability release! Located by the EWEB Credit Union Building on 4th Avenue & Mill Street.

Earth Day Book Swap and Book Sale

Reduce, reuse, reread! Join us upstairs in the EWEB cafeteria to swap or purchase your favorite earth-friendly books, suggest publications for others to read or to just relax. Bring a book to leave for someone else, or purchase a book to support the African children’s education project in Togo. New and used books donated by Black Sun Books and other local independent bookstores, along with Books w/o Borders periodicals and books relating to Earth Day will be for sale, with a portion of the proceeds earmarked for children’s education in Togo.

Free Trees, Composter, eWaste Coupons and more

Visit all the Earth Day booths for prizes, discounts and other valuable items like a drawing for a composting bin from the City of Eugene’s Solid Waste and Recycling program or $15.00 eWaste coupons from Lane County. And again this year, EWEB’s arborists will provide free trees. Quantities limited to supply on hand.

LTD and the EmX Bus

Visit LTD’s newest EmX bus onsite all day! And you can take a free LTD bus all day, any route, and shuttle from the downtown station right to the festival site at EWEB’s River Edge Plaza, all courtesy of Lane Transit District! Don’t forget to bring a can of food for Food for Lane County. More information about LTD's Food Drive here -->>

The SunRover  

Constructed as a demonstration of solar electric technology, the SunRover generates power from the sun. The blue photovoltaic (PV) panels mounted on top of the SunRover harness the sunlight to produce clean electricity. The SunRover can operate as a portable generator, delivering power to community events and educational demonstrations. Producing electricity with zero emissions and very little environmental impact, the SunRover has no moving parts and little maintenance is required. When parked at EWEB’s facilities, the SunRover recharges onboard batteries and feeds excess power into EWEB’s electric lines. The PV panels can produce up to 1080 watts of power in ideal conditions. In an average year in the Willamette Valley, the panels should produce about 1400 kilowatt hours. Using energy efficient (Energy Star®) appliances, this would be enough energy to power your refrigerator, clothes washer, dishwasher, television and microwave for an entire year.

The Watery World at Earth Day

Walk across Willamette River on the Defazio Bike Bridge to the Watery World by the riverside at Alton Baker Park by the Duck Ponds.

Fun Exhibits and Workshops at the Watery World include:

The Umbrella Flour Mill Water Wheel Display
The Power to Change! Using recycled household equipment from Bring, we bring you an ingenious water wheel harnessing the power of the flowing water for viewers to grind wheat berries into flour - kids can make Water Power Flour.

The River Box
Kids, come experiment in this simulated model of how a river carves its way into the land.

Play in Boats up on the land

Make Clay Watershed Models of our Area that Go with the Flow
Kids of all ages come make your own take-home models of our hills and rivers in potters clay or spray bottle rain fun lets you see how our rivers work.

11:00 a.m. Join us together making a huge clay model of the Eugene area watershed basin

12:00 p.m. Take home Willamette Valley Clay Model Workshop- from Eugene to the sea for younger kids

1:00 p.m. Take home Eugene Area Clay Model Workshop

2:00 p.m. Take home Willamette Valley Workshop- from Eugene to the sea for younger kids

3:00 p.m. Take home Eugene Area Clay Model Workshop

4:00p.m Take Home Willamette Valley Workshop- from Eugene to the sea for younger kids

Brought to you by the Drop in the Bucket Brigade of the School of Earthy Arts 556-3139, Louisa, 684-9656