BERWYN, PA — Chester County is set to welcome Earth Day with open arms. A joint initiative by State Senator Carolyn Comitta and the YMCA of Greater Brandywine (YMCA) invites residents to a day of family fun on Saturday, April 20. The venue? The sprawling 54-acre campus of the Upper Main Line YMCA (UMLY), which houses a state-of-the-art environmental and STEM education complex and over five miles of lush, scenic routes along the headwaters of Darby Creek. An added point of pride is the campus’s status as Pennsylvania’s first conservation easement site.
Planetary awareness meets fitness goals as the Earth Day celebration coincides with the YMCA’s national Healthy Kids Day event. Both aim to inspire children and their families to stay active, physically and mentally, even after the summer ends. These twin events not only celebrate a summer steeped in outdoor fun and exploration but also encourage interpersonal interactions devoid of digital mediums.
These events, open to all and completely free, offer an array of engaging activities. Attendees can enjoy bird-watching walks, canoeing, art projects, tree-planting sessions, stream studies, face painting, and live music. The event will also host a vendor area featuring an assortment of environment-focused and sustainability-driven businesses, non-profit organizations, and state agencies. Visitors can further gain knowledge about YMCA memberships and its various programs and summer camps.
Brian Raicich, Executive Director of the Upper Main Line YMCA, expresses his organization’s pride in partnering with Senator Carolyn Comitta, a respected advocate for environmental efforts in the state. The collaboration seeks to amplify the significance of sustainability, spotlight regional organizations dedicated to the cause, and deliver a memorable day of fun for local families.
The event will host representatives from over 30 state agencies, regional non-profits, and local businesses, all collectively contributing to the creation of a more sustainable Chester County. Highlights include a 34-foot Pennsylvania Wood Mobile exhibit that educates attendees about the state’s forests, their sustainability, and the threats they face. The famed Pennsylvania Dairymen’s Alliance Milkshake Truck, a mainstay at the annual Pennsylvania Farm Show, is one among the featured food trucks.
The YMCA’s commitment to STEM and environmental education for local youth is evident in its varied offerings. Its UMLY complex includes a nature center, raptor center, micro-farm and barnyard, STEM classrooms, watershed lab, and a woodshop cottage. Furthermore, the YMCA’s unique Zoo & STEM on Wheels program brings experiential learning to schools, libraries, and senior centers across Chester County and beyond.
UMLY’s legacy in environmental education is also anchored in its status as the home of Pennsylvania’s first conservation easement. Set up in 1966 in partnership with Natural Lands, this easement permanently safeguards a part of the YMCA campus from future developmental threats. Over 500 native trees have been planted in recent years, enhancing the area’s natural habitat and biodiversity.
As we forge ahead, UMLY continues to be a lighthouse, shaping future leaders in diverse fields from science education to environmental engineering through its robust environmental education programs. April 20 promises to be yet another step in their journey, inviting the community to join hands and celebrate the wonders of our home – Planet Earth.
To learn more about Senator Comitta’s Work in the Pennsylvania Legislature: https://www.pasenatorcomitta.com
To learn more about Environmental Education at YGBW: https://ymcagbw.org/nature-and-environmental-education-programs-ymca
To learn more about Natural Lands: https://natlands.org/
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