Apr. 19—AIKEN — On Saturday, downtown Aiken transformed into a hub for environmental education in celebration of Earth Day.
Booths surrounded the Newberry Street water fountain representing organizations such as Augusta-Aiken Audubon, the Ruth Patrick Science Education Center and Aiken Pest Control, all hoping to educate the public on everything from recycling to supporting native plant and animal species.
The South Carolina Bluebird Society, whose aim is to make Aiken aware of the bluebird’s presence in the CSRA and to keep the breed alive using nest boxes, shared information about their cause during the event.
“Our primary goal is to protect and propagate and install more nest boxes to keep the breed going. Back in the 1970s, bluebirds almost became extinct,” said Society president Mike DeBruhl. “Through South Carolina Bluebird Society and the North America Bluebird Society organizations like that, by yielding nest boxes and installing them, they made a comeback. They’re no longer on the endangered list.
Jim Sproull, a volunteer with the South Carolina Bluebird Society, shared two years ago the organization fledged its 50,000th bluebird thanks to the nest boxes that they sell. They expect to reach 100,000 fledged bluebirds in the next four years.
For volunteer Kimberly Nayda-St. Clair, her joy is in watching children become educated about bluebirds. “We’re starting a new generation to be more observant of how important birds are for ecology and our living environments. And not only for the bluebirds, but other birds that use their nest boxes, they’re all beneficial to help keep the insect population down,” she said.
Other booths were specifically focused on allowing kids to get hands-on.
The Aiken Master Gardener Association was one of those, featuring a station for children to make their own chia pets using pantyhose, rye grass seed and soil.
“We’re wearing gloves, we’re playing in the mud, and we’re making chia pets,” said Master Gardener Ellie Carlisle. “It goes home with them, and they fill it with water and it grows.”
“A lot of these children haven’t put their hands in the mud,” Carlisle added. “And they just, their eyes get so big, they love it. I think it’s a wonderful experience. I love seeing the children, but you know, we’ve served as many adults as we have children.”
Several booths away, Susan Potter, Jane Hemingway, Pat Dunlop and Tammy Cillo shared that they travel to garden clubs and schools to talk about the importance of growing host plants and pollinator plants that attract butterflies.
These ladies represent The Butterfly Monarchy, an organization that works to protect monarch butterflies and their migration.
Dunlop said that many people who interact with them are surprised to learn that milkweed is the only plant that the monarch butterfly will lay its eggs on and the only plant that monarch caterpillars will eat.
“Earth Day is just an opportunity for us to share this information with the community,” said Potter. “We love for the younger kids and the adults to come by because they are very interested in the butterflies and the pollinators here in South Carolina.”
Trees SC was also on site to advocate for urban forestry.
“A lot of our workshops revolve around insect and pest issues. Insects that weren’t in this area are now coming into this area,” said Trees SC Secretary, Rachel d’Entremont. “There are a lot of issues around proper pruning of trees and improper mulching of trees. And the proper trees to plant in this area.”
d’Entremont said that Aiken’s Earth Day event keeps the community’s eyes on organizations like Trees SC. “It’s a good opportunity to talk to people who aren’t aware that we have programs available for professionals and laypeople,” she said.
Kent Rosenberger, the Senior Director of Environmental Safety, Health and Quality for Savannah River Mission Completion, spoke about SRMC and the environment.
“SRMC is the liquid waste contractor at the Savannah River Site. So from the historical operations of the site for 75 years, they generate a lot of hazards and radioactive liquid waste,” said Rosenburger. “Our job is to get those wastes into a more stable form, so they can’t harm the environment or individuals. That fits right into the Earth Day idea of protecting the environment and the planet.”
