ORANGE — To celebrate Earth Day, the Energy Committee is helping to organize free, family-friendly activities at Fisher Hill Elementary School on Tuesday, April 22.

The event is also supported by community partners and through a state Municipal Vulnerability Preparedness Action Grant that is funding a rooftop solar array for the renovated school. Grants from the state’s Green Communities program and National Grid are contributing to the accompanying battery storage system.

The event begins at 1 p.m. outside the school with a short presentation for all ages about solar energy by Phil Valiquette-Lalonde, electrician and installation foreman with Solect Energy. Valiquette-Lalonde is a graduate of the Orange schools and now a parent.

After the presentation, attendees can stroll down to the future site of the outdoor classroom adjacent to a pond ecosystem. The outdoor classroom is being constructed by White Oak Timber Frame and Woodworking.

Simultaneous environmental, craft and planting activities will be held on the grassy site from 1:30 to 3 p.m. Participants can make botanical sun prints with Mount Grace Land Conservation Trust, plant and take home Sungold cherry tomatoes and sunflowers from Seeds of Solidarity, learn about “creatures of the wetlands” with the Orange Energy Committee, and enjoy an “unnatural things” scavenger hunt walk and a solar fountain demonstration with Athol Bird and Nature Club volunteers. There will be some light refreshments as well.

“Earth Day was initiated in 1970 and has spread to events in over 190 countries,” Seeds of Solidarity co-founder Deb Habib wrote in an email. “This community event celebrates the power of the sun while uniting several local organizations to honor the wonders of the planet through environmental activities.”

This is not a school-sponsored event. Children must be supervised by an adult at all times. Activities will be held inside the school if it rains.

“Hopefully we’ll get a lot of people there and it’ll be a beautiful day,” said Energy Committee member Pat Larson.

Reach Domenic Poli at: dpoli@recorder.com or
413-930-4120.