Climate change and environmental degradation are huge topics for the youth of America and much of the general population. Efforts by large organizations and national policies have helped to educate people about best practices and have had some impact to slow the effects that humans have had on the natural ecosystem, but more can be done. A focus on local actions to help global problems is now taking hold across the world, and Munster is a home to a group that is looking to foster positive change that will benefit future generations.
Munster Sustainable & Green has been working to educate residents and partner with organizations since 2022. They helped to organize Munster’s first Earth Day celebration in 2023 and have since taken on other projects to create awareness. Now they hope to keep things moving in the right direction by taking the lead on this year’s Earth Day event that will take place on April 20th from 11-2pm at Heritage Park. The event is sponsored again this year by Munster Parks and Recreation and the Munster Civic Foundation.
The group thinks people now have a good idea of what to expect from an Earth Day event and will invite their friends to this year’s program. “We had a good turnout last year and the feedback was very positive.” Munster Sustainable & Green Member Alise Buchmeier said. “There was so much going on in addition to the speakers, activities, giveaways and booths that we had. There was a weed wrangle early in the day and the Munster Historical Society let people see the Kaske House.”
Students from Eads Elementary helped to promote the 2023 event by creating posters which were distributed around town.
When asked what to expect at the 2024 event, Lindsey Smith, also from Munster Sustainable & Green, told Munster Life, “This year we want to be even more youth focused and emphasize youth involvement. We’re looking to have more booths and activities that will be run by our youth organizations around town. We want school groups and Cub Scout and Girl Scout troops to come show the town that they care about preserving natural habitats.”
Heritage Park will also be the site of a Weed Wrangle being held the same day from 9am til noon in which the public can pull non-native garlic mustard and vinca vine from the woods. The Munster Monarch City group will be working with master gardeners, Wild Ones of Gibson Woods and others to make sure the weed wrangle will be a success. Attendees to the Weed Wrangle and the Earth Day event can expect to enjoy the camaraderie of their neighbors, learn something new and walk away with the power to make positive changes for the next generation.
Contact Munster Sustainable & Green on facebook if you or your organization are interested in volunteering or presenting at the Earth Day event on April 20th.
