On Tuesday, April 22, the Department of Environmental Quality is hosting its fifth annual Earth Day Celebration at Constitution Hall in Lansing. The day will feature a number of fun and educational exhibits for school groups visiting from across the state.

"We are once again excited to be hosting Michigan's Earth Day celebration," said Director Steven E. Chester. "It serves as an opportunity for kids to learn about the environment, and a reminder for all of us to play our role in protecting it."

More than 1,600 students from nearly 35 classrooms across Michigan will spend a portion of their day interacting with nearly 60 interactive and hands-on environmental activities and displays. The Goodwill Association and Dell Inc. will be collecting computers for recycling as part of the day's events as well.

The Michigan Department of Agriculture and the Department of Natural Resources are co-hosting the event with the DEQ. Other participating organizations include Asthma Initiative of Michigan, City of Lansing, Corn Marketing Program of Michigan, Clinton County Department of Waste Management, Ducks Unlimited, Fenner Nature Center, Friends of the Middle Grand River, Greater Lansing Area Clean Air Coalition, Greater Lansing Area Clean Cities Coalition, JFNew, Meijer, Inc., Michigan Association of Conservation Districts, Michigan Beekeepers Association, Michigan Corn Office - Corn Growers Association, Michigan Department of Community Health, Michigan Future Farmers of America, Michigan Groundwater Stewardship Program-Americorps, Michigan Soil and Water Conservation Society, Michigan State University, National Wildlife Federation, Nature Discovery, Sierra Club, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Urban Options, Valley Farm Supply, Walmart, and Woldumar Nature Center.

Editor's note: DEQ news releases are available on the department's Internet home page at www.michigan.gov/deq.

"Protecting Michigan's Environment, Ensuring Michigan's Future"

Revised April 21, 2008 by Linda Crawford