By Christopher Quirk
Gilroy
– The creative human spirit and the body’s physical capabilities
are being celebrated with a smattering of free seminars and
activities this Earth Day at Gavilan College.
Gilroy – The creative human spirit and the body’s physical capabilities are being celebrated with a smattering of free seminars and activities this Earth Day at Gavilan College.
On April 21, the college is combining its annual open house – GavFEST – with an Earth Day party.
“It’s a good theme to make (the open house) more fun for the community,” said Jan Bernstein-Chargin, public information officer for the college.
The day will highlight the college’s classes by featuring events that exalt the environment and allow participants to utilize their artistic and athletic skills.
The celebration will begin at 8am with a soccer tournament hosted by the college’s athletic director. Other athletic activities offered throughout the day include a Tai Chi seminar, a jump rope challenge, a baseball game and dance classes.
Most of the day’s events will start around 11am and will be artistic in nature. In addition to ongoing musical entertainment and a talent show, participants can take advantage of a variety of booths, from getting their hair styled by cosmetology students to making sun prints with an art professor. There are also specific activities planned for children.
The heart of the day will be a pirate-themed environmental treasure hunt on the college campus.
“Which will, incidentally, give you a tour of the campus,” Bernstein-Chargin said.
Other Earth Day-related offerings include an environmental maze and a reptile petting zoo.
The day is not only a chance for residents to see the college, but professors and students also will have a chance to exhibit their knowledge and learning, Bernstein-Chargin said. This should help drum up excitement in students and families for the credit and non-credit classes the college offers.
“People in this community shouldn’t have to wait until they graduate high school to come up here,” Bernstein-Chargin said. They should “grow up knowing that this resource is here.”
Christopher Quirk covers education for the Dispatch. Contact him at 847-7240 or
cq****@gi************.com
.
