DCNR to Recognize Schools Earning Honorable Mention Awards in PA's Earth Day 40 Challenge

Schools in Cambria, Chester and Elk Counties to Plant Native Species Trees, Receive Other Prizes

HARRISBURG, Pa., May 17 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Department of Conservation and Natural Resources will recognize the three schools that earned honorable mention awards in the Earth Day 40 Schools Challenge with native tree-planting events this month.

The three schools, as well as the titles of their winning projects and dates of their respective planting events, are as follows: May 18, St. Mary's Area Middle School, Elk County, "Bring Back the Butterflies"; May 20, Avon Grove Charter School, Chester County, "Big on Biodiversity"; and May 26, Northern Cambria Middle School, Cambria County, "Biodiversity: If We Plant It, They Will Come."

Each tree-planting will take place at 10 a.m., at the schools.

"Each of our Earth Day 40 Challenge participants did a great job from start to finish learning about environmental issues and then taking an action that serves as a great example for the rest of us on how to further conservation in our daily lives," DCNR Secretary John Quigley said. "We are happy to provide the winning schools with a lasting reminder of their success in meeting an environmental challenge."

The tree species that will be planted include Tulip, Chestnut oak and American elm. Each school also will receive a plaque, a series of four "Our Changing Climate" books provided by the Department of Environmental Protection, and 10 wall charts and the book "A Guide to Common Freshwater Invertebrates of North America" provided by the Fish and Boat Commission.

Earth Day 40 Schools Challenge projects were carefully evaluated by a special panel of judges.

Each project in the Earth Day 40 Schools Challenge was required to be related to one of five themes: Super sustainable foods; Big on biodiversity; Transportation that treads lightly; Reduce that carbon footprint; and Wild about water.

The Earth Day 40 celebration is a cooperative effort of DCNR and the departments of Agriculture, Education, Environmental Protection, and Transportation, as well as the Fish and Boat and Game commissions. Outside partners include the Philadelphia Zoo, Waste Management and World Environment Day 2010, which Pittsburgh will host.

For more information about the Earth Day 40 school projects, or to take the Earth Day 40 Challenge for individuals or groups, visit www.iconservepa.org and choose "Take the Challenge," or call (717) 772-9101.

Media contact: Christina Novak, 717-772-9101

SOURCE Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources

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