Kids Learn About Environment at "Fun Day"

By Tim Kelly Environmentalists will tell you it’s all about sustainability.  They are usually talking about keeping our planet green. It also holds true for the environmentalists themselves, who wish to build momentum for the green movement and to recruit and educate their next generation. “We have a series of educational lectures and other activities for adults,” said Chris Halliday, a member of the Ocean City Environmental Commission. “We thought, why not put together a family-friendly day for the kids?” The result played out in typical Ocean City fashion Saturday, as more than 300 parents and kids attended the Commission’s second annual Nature and the Environment Fun Day at the Community Center. The kids made arts and crafts projects using recycled materials, watched entertaining videos with environmental themes and played games. They also learned about serious issues facing Mother Earth and explored ways to address them. At last year’s inaugural event, about 50 people showed up. Bolstered by a sunshiny day and warm temperatures, the room that is the regular home of the Stainton Senior Center was taken over by dozens of young families. “We completely went through all of craft materials we brought,” said Environmental Commissioner Catherine Cipella. She estimated approximately 250 recyclable craft projects were created by the kids in attendance. The Environmental Commission has been increasing visibility with its lecture series an ongoing message advocating “coastal resiliency,” the practice of adapting and finding strategies to protect barrier island environments and help the community cope with flood hazards and other issues. Its next talk will be on Thursday, Feb. 21, at 6:30 p.m., at the Free Public Library in the Chris Maloney Lecture Hall. Lisa Auermuller, Watershed Coordinator of the Jacques Cousteau National Estuarine Reserve, will present the lecture, free and open to the public. Kristina Costello, of Brandywine, Md., helps daughter Klara and son Duke create decorative butterflies using recycled materials. On Saturday, the serious messages of the environmental cause took on a lighter tone for the little ones.

The event was held in partnership with the Ocean City Free Public Library and the Cape May County Park & Zoo.

“This is a great chance to get the kids out and do something educational and fun,” said Kristina Costello, who watched as son Duke, 5, and Klara, 2, made decorative butterflies using toilet paper tubes and recycled paper. The family, from Brandywine, Maryland, was in town visiting Costello’s husband’s parents, who live in the north end. “We come every couple of months, and there is always something going on,” Costello said. “This town does a great job putting the family events together.” Zoo Educators Kendra Verity and Nikki Licata engaged the children with a harmless snake and a jumbo-sized, floppy-eared rabbit named Bugs. Bugs, who couldn’t get enough hugs and pats from the kids, was the clear star attraction of the morning, according to an informal poll of the youngsters. Time and again, when kids were asked what was their highlight, “Bugs” or “the rabbit” was mentioned. Zoo Educator Nikki Licata shows Bugs the bunny to the Mullins family: 4-month old Julian, held by mom Jill, with Dakota, 5, and Cyprus, 8.  The snake drew waves of new friends, and also those a bit wary. “Most children (with fear or dislike of snakes) have a parent or both who don’t like them,” Verity said. Admittedly, we forgot to ask the snake’s name. But one lad referred to him or her as “Sammy.” Jasmine, 8, and Alexis D’Angelo, 6, of Phoenixville, Pa., and Ocean City, looked on wide-eyed as the reptile slithered to within inches of the girls and then stuck out its lengthy tongue. “He’s smelling you now,” Verity said, to the children’s astonishment. “He uses his tongue to smell things.” Jill Mullins, of Ocean City, was anxious to take out 8-year-old son Cyprus, recently recovered from chicken pox, and daughter Dakota, 5. On her hip was Julian, 4 months. All three had their private moments with Bugs. “I caught it this morning (on social media) that this was happening, and said, ‘Let’s go.’” Mullins explained. “Ocean City just keeps doing it better and better. If Ocean City posts it, people will come.” Eco-friendly arts and crafts were a big draw, resulting in about 250 decorative creations.