HAMPTON – Learn how to live “greener” and explore what your community is doing to better the environment at the 2010 EarthFest.
Hosted by NASA Langley Research Center, City of Hampton and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the third annual EarthFest will be held from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Sandy Bottom Nature Park in Hampton Saturday, Oct. 23, 2010. The free event will focus on the amazing things about our planet, and the challenges we face in preserving it.
New this year will be a mock-up of the Orion launch abort system. The 45-foot long mock-up, known as the LAS pathfinder was built by NASA Langley. The hardware was used to prepare for the successful Pad-Abort 1 flight test, which occurred May 6.
At the event, families, adults and kids can make a birdhouse from recycled materials, pan for gems and minerals, see alternative energy demos, meet master gardeners, use a telescope to look at solar flares, learn about protecting marine life, test their knowledge of weather and climate and play games for lots of prizes. There will be a “Protect our Earth Egg-stravanganza” contest beginning at 11 a.m. at the Nature Center tent. The “Egg-stravaganza” – or egg drop – will involve kids building a protective pod for their “Earth” egg out of recycled materials. The egg and building supplies will be provided, and judges will award prizes for each group.
Among the exhibitors, are Busch Gardens Williamsburg, Virginia Zoo, Peninsula Fine Arts Center, NASA Langley Research Center, Virginia Peninsula Astronomy/Stargazers and NOAA’s Monitor Marine Sanctuary.
EarthFest is a daylong celebration, with exhibits, entertainment and activities indoors and outdoors, rain or shine.
For more information and directions to Sandy Bottom Nature Park, go to: http://www.hampton.gov/sandybottom/
