West Hartford’s Hall High School will host ‘Earth Night’ on June 2, 2023.

Coral tanks at Hall High School. Courtesy photo

By Ronni Newton

Building on the success of “Ocean Night” several years ago – an event planned for this June will showcase not just the danger of climate change to the ecosystem of the oceans, but also efforts across West Hartford to promote sustainability.

“Four years ago, the Hall High Coral Project hosted Ocean Night to educate the community about ocean conservation,” said Anthony Wasley, who teaches marine science at Hall and also organized and serves as advisor to the Coral Project Club. “They planned various S.T.E.A.M. (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Mathematics) activities including arts and crafts for kids, research booths, lab experiments, a documentary viewing, and tank tours to entertain and bring awareness to many subjects regarding ocean awareness to the West Hartford community. Ocean Night was attended by hundreds who learned about coral bleaching and helped raise funds for our 450 gallon propagation system.”

Fast forward through the years of the pandemic – when large-scale events were put on hold – and this year Wasley has partnered with many other organizations to host a family-friendly Earth Night on Friday, June 2, from 6-9 p.m., appropriate for people of all ages.

“To be more inclusive of the many aspects of our environment, Hall’s Coral Project is partnered up with the Hall High Environmental Club. Chem 4 Kids will also be participating in running science demos and activities for children,” he said. Other organizations involved in sustainability or promoting environmental causes and positive change that will be attending the event include the Sierra Club, the West Hartford Garden Club, Auer Farm’s 4H and Pollinator clubs, Root2RISE, the West Hartford Tree Project, CT Notable Trees, and Reboot Eco. West Hartford Recycling Coordinator Katherine Bruns will also be at the event.

Environmental Club at Hall High School. Courtesy photo

“The theme of Earth Night is to foster appreciation for our Earth and its oceans through art, sustainability, education, and community,” said Wasley. “By inviting local entrepreneurs and planet advocates, we hope to support their endeavors and highlight the amazing work they have done to support sustainability and educate the community regarding environmentalism.”

The Coral Club will be giving “tank tours,” showcasing the coral propagation system, aquaponics system, gardens, and composting system. Hall’s Environmental Club will lead a “worm tour,” taking attendees through the school’s vermicomposting system – which utilizes the vegetable food waste generated from the cafeteria and culinary classes to feed worms, that then digest the material and leave behind “worm castings” – which in turn are used to add valuable nutrients to the soil that then aid in growing and harvesting of produce for school lunches.

“Sustainable programs like these clearly showcase the Environmental Club’s motto: help locally, save globally,” Wasley said, noting that Hall’s worm castings will be sold at the Earth Day event.

Other organizations will provide STEM demonstrations and other activities, and there will be an arts and crafts station and face painting to engage children and other guests.

There will also be documentaries and other films presented throughout the night (click here for the list) – highlighted by “Kiss the Ground,” a documentary featuring Woody Harrelson that discusses the greatest solution available to save our plant’s topsoil and combat climate change, Wasley said.

There is no cost for anyone to attend Earth Night, although there will be food (including a Liquid Nirvana juice and smoothie bar) and other goods sold by local businesses.

More details about the event can be found here.

There are still opportunities to participate, and local organizations or businesses with a focus on sustainability that would like to be a vendor at Earth Night can contact Anthony Wasley at [email protected] or Leanne Nolan at [email protected].

Vermicomposting system at Hall High School. Courtesy photo

Coral tanks at Hall High School. Courtesy photo

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