Earth Day Student Activity
We are excited to announce that we have a fantastic Earth Day activity planned for many of the students in the region. Farmington Municipal Schools, Aztec Municipal Schools, Central Consolidated Schools, Cuba Independent Schools, and Navajo Preparatory are all participating! Through generous donations and volunteer efforts, seed planting kits have been created for all the students. It is our hope that we can encourage everyone to develop a love for eating fresh fruits and vegetables at a young age that will carry them into adulthood with healthy eating habits.
Planting kits that include cucumber and marigold seeds along with a soil disc and small cup will be distributed to all students during Earth Week. Students will receive their kits during lunch in the cafeteria, curbside, or with meal delivery. We ask that you plan an Earth Day activity and plant these seeds in class, or assign it as a project to do at home. Our team has created a short video you can distribute or watch in class.
Our Earth Day team consists of agencies across San Juan County including:
Farmington Municipal Schools
Marie Johnson, Student Nutrition Program Coordinator
Kelly Stradling, A’viands Food Service Director
Aztec Municipal Schools
Central Consolidated Schools
Cuba Independent School
Navajo Prep
NMSU San Juan County Extension Office
Bonnie Hopkins Byers, County Program Director, Agriculture Agent
Weston Medlock, New Farmer Network Coordinator
San Juan Soil and Water Conservation District
Melissa May, District Manager
Andy Bleckinger, Assistant District Manager
Alyssa Richmond, San Juan Watershed Group Coordinator
San Juan College Harvest Food Hub & Kitchen
San Juan County Partnership
Patience Williams, Healthy Kids, Healthy Communities Program Coordinator SJC
Earth Day Challenge
During Earth Week many students will be given planting kits with cucumber seeds. Building healthy eating habits begins early, and it is our hope that all students grow to love eating fruits and vegetables for the rest of their lives. The Earth Day Challenge is to plant your growing seed at your home, in a pot or in the ground and document your success. Contestants will document their plant's growth and create some type of art piece celebrating their success. This could include a photo collage, drawing/painting, picture or video slideshow, or other creative creation. We encourage participants to document the process of growing their plant from germination through getting cucumbers and how you love to eat them.
There will be three winners chosen; 1 elementary (K-5) student, 1 Middle (6-8) student, and 1 High School (9-12) student. Each winner will receive $100 in Market Dollars to spend at the local Growers Markets in San Juan County or at the Harvest Food Hub in Farmington.
Details regarding contest and submissions will be posted soon. To get you thinking about possible entries, here is a demo video created during the contest last year. Happy Earth Day and Happy Growing!