Science teacher Rhonda Blaue walked her class from the school to Lakeview Park. Mexico Parks and Recreation employees hosted an educational trail tour. Students learned ways to help the environment, like planting trees and caring for soil.

“They were real interested in coming,” Blaue said. “I had a lot of kids sign up.”

Many of the children appreciated getting outside on such a beautiful day.

“We got to be with friends and it was a fun way of learning because we got to walk around the park and they actually showed us, not just told us,” student Caitlin Blackburn said.

The Mexico Parks and Recreation Department organized the event for the first time and were pleased that so many youths participated.

“These kids really need an opportunity just to be outside with people that are knowledgeable about what’s around them to kind of help open their horizons a little bit,” director Chad Shoemaker said.

The Natural Resources Conservation Service and Missouri Conservation Department provided interactive booths to help the kids understand Earth Day better. These booths included things from how water runoff works to natural stamps used to make art.

Shoemaker says these children are at the perfect age to learn ways to help out.

“A lot of times when we make bad environmental or resource choices, it’s out of ignorance,” Shoemaker said. “Getting kids used to looking at these ideas as things they need to know to make good choices will hopefully drive them to learn as the years go on.”

Blaue feels her students learned a lot from the day’s activities and hopes Mexico will do this event again next Earth Day.

“They’re our next generation and we’re going to hand over all of our problems to them and I want them to be aware of what we have, what’s available and what we need to do for our future,” Blaue said.

Some of her students said they already recycle at home and are now looking to do more.

“Our Earth is important because we only have one so if we ruin it there’s nowhere to go,” Blackburn said.

Written by Heather Frayn