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Schools

Forest Fest Promotes Environmental Awareness

Hillside Intermediate School holds the annual program as students interact with animals, learn green living.

's Roots & Shoots Forest Fest was held Saturday to promote environmental understanding and introduce students to green living.

Forest Fest began in 2000 as a spring environmental festival, and one of the initial highlights was a visit by Jane Goodall in 2002. To keep the theme of spring, festival organizers made a concerted effort this year to move more of the festival events outdoors.

Throughout the afternoon, families had opportunities to interact with and learn about animals like snakes, seeing eye dogs, rodents, farm animals and more.

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Fun and informative activities included an African Safari room, Wormery, Ladybug room, Book Fair and Duct Tape Delights.

The Wormery, for example, allowed children to learn about worms and even adopt one. In the Ladybug Room, children played a ladybug trivia game, made ladybug hats and painted rocks to look like ladybugs. 

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For many, the Solar Car Derby was one of the highlights of the afternoon as teams of students built shoebox-sized cars powered by solar panels as part of a science class project. The culmination of their hard work was a chance to show off their cars in a race.

In the end, the Junkyard Dogs won heat after heat to take the title of best car.

According to Hillside teacher Katrina Macht, the Roots and Shoots activities have a lasting impression on Hillside students. Even after graduating from the school, she said, they continue to come back to participate in, and assist with, events.

Macht said she enjoys reuniting with her former students and seeing them make a positive impact on the environment and conservation.

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