Submitted photos courtesy of Lucy Godwin Students at Tygarts Valley Middle/High School take part in a water conservation relay for Earth Day.

MILL CREEK — Students at Tygarts Valley Middle/High School took part in a range of activities for this year’s Earth Day.

Organized by teachers and TVHS grads Lucy Godwin and Holly Davis, the hands-on environmental presentations on Tuesday featured information about recycling, water conservation, and protecting watersheds from pollution.

The information was presented in ways that made learning fun, such as through a water relay where students tried to prevent spills and collect the most water for their team. Middle school classes as well as some ninth- and 10th-grade classes were able to rotate through the Earth Day activities, which took place outdoors and in a classroom.

Godwin said she was thankful that her students were able to enjoy fun, engaging activities in honor of Earth Day.

“We are very grateful for our presenters, who provided our students with hands-on, memorable learning experiences,” she said.

Kay Hart, coordinator of the Tygart Valley Master Naturalists organization, center, shares a water conservation relay activity with students at Tygarts Valley Middle/High School for Earth Day.

The water conservation program was presented by Kay Hart, coordinator of the Tygart Valley Master Naturalists organization. The event was extra meaningful to Hart, especially since she taught at TVM/HS for 35 years.

“This 55th Earth Day was very special to me,” she said. “I was able to share with the current middle school students and a few high school students what Earth Day means to the world.”

Hart added that she and current teacher Deborah Rice previously organized Earth Day events for the school, and they both appreciated Davis and Godwin’s efforts to mark this year’s celebration.

“It’s so nice to know the event has come full circle,” she said.

In addition to Hart’s “Conserve Our Water” program, the school’s Earth Day presentations also included two other lessons for the students.

Students at Tygarts Valley Middle/High School take part in a recycling game presented by Beth Henry-Vance, right, a coordinator with the West Virginia Youth Environmental Program.

Kelly Smalley, an AmeriCorps volunteer serving with the Save the Tygart Watershed Association, led an interactive and thought-provoking presentation where students discussed how development and different land uses can impact a stream. 

Beth Henry-Vance, a coordinator with the West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection’s Youth Environmental Program, shared a “reduce, reuse, recycle” presentation with students. The groups also played a large board game about how a plastic bottle can be recycled into new materials, such as clothing and carpeting.

“I am always happy to meet with students to share environmental activities with them, and share information about litter prevention and waste reduction,” Henry-Vance said. “One of the big problems that kids notice is the amount of litter along our roadways, and it’s encouraging to hear lots of students say they want to make a difference.”

Teachers at TVM/HS said they have a small recycling program for aluminum cans already in place, and they hope to organize a school-wide litter cleanup later this year.

Earth Day is celebrated April 22 each year, with people of all ages worldwide sharing ways to protect the environment and benefit all living creatures.

AmeriCorps volunteer Kelly Smalley, center, leads an Earth Day presentation with students at Tygarts Valley Middle/High School.