News Release 230

RECORD NUMBER OF STUDENTS ATTENDS DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES' EARTH DAY CELEBRATION

Volume 36-230

Contact: Jessica Royston

(For immediate release)

573-751-1373

 JEFFERSON CITY, MO, APRIL 25, 2008 -- A record year for registration brought more than 1,300 students to the south lawn of the Capitol to help the Missouri Department of Natural Resources celebrate Earth Day. Members of the public also attended. This year marks the department's 14th annual Earth Day celebration.

Tyler Adams, a student from South Callaway in Mokane, was excited to be at the event. "This is cool because we just learned about this stuff in science," said Adams. "I also liked watching the first Survivor game because someone from my school won the bike."

Local radio personality, Warren Kretch, hosted the Environmental Survivor Games and Environmental Deal or No Deal throughout the day. Kretch, who works for News Radio 950 KWOS in Jefferson City, has been working the event for the past 14 years.

"I love being involved with Earth Day because it's fun, and it's a hands-on event for the kids," said Kretch. "It's a great opportunity for kids to get out of the classroom and learn something new."

While the Department of Natural Resources sponsors the event, other state and federal agencies were invited to set up booths, exhibits and educational displays on the lawn.

This year's theme was Our Environmental Footprint. The department's goal was for kids to realize that they have an impact on the environment and teach them ways to reduce that impact. In keeping with the theme, Riley Caminiti, a fifth-grader from Westphalia, won the Earth Day slogan contest with "Gentle footprints today will ensure a path for tomorrow." Department of Natural Resources Director Doyle Childers presented Caminiti with a certificate for a $100 savings bond, donated by Central Bank in Jefferson City.

The Department of Natural Resources' Earth Day celebration was targeted toward students and was free and open to the public.

Prizes and giveaways were donated by Central Bank, Central Dairy, Coca-Cola, Dunkle Distributing, Hawthorn Bank, Jefferson Bank, Premier Bank, Silver Dollar City, UMB Bank and Wal-Mart.

For more information on the Department of Natural Resources' Earth Day Celebration, visit www.dnr.mo.gov/earthday or call Andrea Morrow at 800-361-4827 or 573-526-1837.

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(NOTE TO THE EDITOR: PHOTOS OF THIS EVENT, EXCLUSIVE TO NEWS MEDIA, ARE ONLINE AT www.dnr.mo.gov/earthday/media.htm.)