By Tim Cherry
Staff Writer
Thursday, April 12, 2012

Kayaking, fishing and energy management highlight Fort Belvoir’s Earth Day observance April 20 at 9 a.m. at Tompkins Basin Park.

The celebration provides Soldiers, civilians and children numerous environmental education opportunies.

The Directorate of Public Works is hosting the festivities which feature a hybrid car provided by General Motors, electric safety instruction from Dominion Power and an array of recreational activities for all ages.

The event will end at 6 p.m on April 20 and continue April 21 with a day-long Family campout hosted by the Directorate of Family and Morale, Welfare and Recreation beginning at 10 a.m.

Belvoir’s celebration concludes April 22, the day of the international Earth Day observance.

DPW is celebrating the occasion by hosting the 24th annual Potomac Watershed Clean-up, beginning at 8 a.m. and they will provide a light lunch during the event, food to be determined.

Community engagment throught the three-day observance is highly encouraged, rain or shine.

“It’s a chance to get outside and learn a little bit,” said Wilamena Harback, DPW program manager for environmental outreach, education and industrial storm water. “People don’t do that much any more in this electronic age.”

This is the 42nd Earth Day celebration. According to www.earthday.org, former United States Senator Gaylord Nelson founded the first celebration April 22, 1970.

The observance pushed environmental concerns, such as air and water pollution, to the forefront of political debate.

More than one billion people now participate in Earth Day activities each year, an effort to improve the world’s sustainability for future generations.

Earth Day’s theme this year is Mobilize the Earth, the publics call for government to once again place environmental issues at the forefront of the debate.

According the website the theme is “the Earth won’t wait,” which advocates placing the environment’s importance to the longterm success of each nation, on equal footing with topcis such as a nations economics.

The movement calls on leaders to end fossil fuel subsidies, embrace renewable energy technologies, improve energy efficiency and make energy universally accessible.

“We need to focus on the earth,” said Brianna Kipper DFMWR Outdoor Recreation manager. “Earth comes first.”

Several activies emphasize the theme in Belvoir’s celebration.

Vendors are providing energy saving tips, a solar power display and water conversation techniques.

A six mile hike through the Accotink Bay Wildlife Refuge will occur during the festivities.

Guided canoe and kayaking tours of the area will also take place from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m., April 20.

The campout, hosted by DFMWR’s Outdoor Recreation, features a scavenger hunt, children games, smores and a night fishing clinic for children from 8 p.m. to 11 p.m. The cost is $5 per person.

Families can rent or bring their own camping equipment. Outdoor Recreation is providing charcoal for grilling.

“It’s a great time for Families, espcially for kids camping for the first time or fifth time,” Kipper said. “Kids learn what Belvoir outdoors have to offer. We’re kind of a hidden treasure down here.”

Harback said the day is also a teaching tool for children. A group of Fort Belvoir Elementary sudents will participate in Belvoir’s celebration and Harback invites more children on post to attend.

“It’s been pretty good,” Harback said of previous Earth Day celebrations. “I love seeing the children enjoy themselves and they all seem to take something away.”

Earth Day serves as an precusor to Belvoir’s Potomac Watershed Cleanup. The community service event features trash collecting along Belvoir’s shoreline to reduce pollution on post.

Volunteers are encouraged to register by contacting (703)-805-3969.

“They go hand-in-hand,” Harback said. “Preserve the environment that you live in.”

For more information contact (703)-805-3081.