Not Just for Kids

Happy Earth Day!

April 22 is Earth Day, a day (first set aside in 1970) on which we honor our planet Earth. Rain forests far away from us ­ both in the tropical belt around the earth's waist, as well as some temperate rain forests in places like northern Washington state and Alaska ­ help us all over the planet. The trees and plants in these forests release the oxygen that we need to breathe, as well as suck up harmful, world-wide pollutants. Most of Earth's creatures live quietly in rain forests.

If you'd like to learn more about the rain forest and see some really awesome pictures from an expedition in Peru's Amazonian rain forest, check out the Jason Project's Website at http:www//jasonproject.org.

To learn about Earth Day and get some suggestions on what you can to do protect your home planet, visit the Wilderness Society's Website at http://earthday.wilderness.org/kidsstuff/kids.

Anne Arundel County is full of young authors. Many of them have been discovered through Anne Arundel County Public Schools. From time to time, we'll be sharing with you the winning poems and short stories from the 1999 Young Authors' Contest. For Earth Day, we bring you a poem by Paige Brocious, who attends Cape St. Claire Elementary. Paige earned a third place award in poetry by third graders.

The Rain Forest

I see strange creatures in this forest beneath my feet and above me.

I hear birds squawking and monkeys howling in this new world around me.

I taste the sweet taste of pollen floating in the air.

I smell the wonderful smell of plants surrounding me everywhere.

I feel the raindrops falling on to my face.

I know that the rain forest is a beautiful place.

- by Paige Brocious

Color Me!

taken from Anmar Napguana Mimmigana, We the Children of Mother Earth written by Jorge Ventocilla; illustrated by Ologuagdi

A kingfisher is one bird found in both Chesapeake Country and the tropics. It lives along rivers, where it spears fish with its beak. This drawing comes from a coloring book written to teach the Kuna children of Central America about rain forest wildlife. Rain forests provide the Kuna with necessities like food, firewood, building material and medicinal plants.

You can walk through a rain forest, too!

Feel the warm, steamy air of a tropical climate, listen to the calls of tropical birds and monkeys. Perhaps you'll bump into the shy sloth who is at home hanging upside down from tree branches. In Washington, DC go to the National Zoo's two-story Amazonia Exhibit, or in Baltimore, go to the National Aquarium's South American Rainforest Exhibit.

Drawing Contest! Send us your dolphin drawings!

You can be eligible to win free tickets, compliments of the National Aquarium in Baltimore, to see its new
dolphin show called Coastal Connections: Dolphins at Our Shores! Read our weekly fact about your coastal neighbors, the dolphins, and draw a dolphin at work or play. Fill out the form below, attach
it to your drawing and mail it to NBT Dolphins, P.O. Box 358, Deale MD 20751. We will choose the winner on May 27.

Did You Know that speed is a combination of design and power? Dolphins are designed to reach top speeds of 26 mph.

Name___________________________________________________________________ Age _______   Address __________________________________________________________________________   City/State/Zip _________________________________________ Telephone ( ___)_______________

First Book Story Hour Fri. April 23 (7-8pm)-Listen to a story & help get books to needy kids at First Book Story Hour. Barnes & Noble, Annapolis Harbour Ctr.: 410/573-1115.

Do Like Bill Nye Fri. April 23 (7-9pm)-Test a few new fun & painlessly educational science kits. Be Beep, 558A Ritchie Hwy., Severna Park or 2327C Forest Dr., Annapolis: 410/544-1844 (Severna Park) 410/224-4066 (Annapolis).

Be a Ranger Sat. April 24 (10-3)-Kids ages 8-14 learn about nature in 1 of 5 Junior Ranger programs. Lunch, drinks & materials included. Merkle Wildlife Sanctuary, Upper Marlboro. $8; rsvp: 301/888-1410.

Get Hooked on Fishing Sun April 25 (1-3pm)-Kids ages 8-14 & an adult gear up to learn the basics of fishing. All caught fish are released. Bring gear or borrow some. Cedarville State Forest, 1201 Bee Oak Rd., Brandywine. $2; rsvp: 301/888-1410.

Butterfly Hike Mon. April 26 (1-3:30pm)-Kids ages 8+ discover butterflies in our ecosystem on a guided, 2.5-mile hike. Patuxent Research Refuge North Tract, Rt. 198 btwn. BW Pkwy. & Rt. 32. Free; rsvp: 410/674-3304.

Silly Stories and Goose Tales April 27 & 29 (10:30am)-Preschoolers learn their ABCs in a storytime on Tuesday & animals in a storytime on Thursday, both w/Terry Bennett. Borders, Bowie: 301/352-5560.

Infant Fun Wed. April 28 (10am Annapolis Library; 9:30am & 11am Broadneck Library)-Infants tag along w/their parents for Babies in Bloom storytimes. Play Pat-a-Cake and This Little Piggy; listen to songs, stories and rhymes; and watch stimulating fingerplays at either of 2 area libraries: 410/222-7371.

Meet a Firefighter Wed. April 28 (10:30am)-Meet a real live firefighter to find out what the job is like before trying on real firefighter suits and boots. Zany Brainy, Annapolis Harbour Center: 410/266-1447.

| Issue 16 |

Volume VII Number 16
April 22-26, 1999
New Bay Times

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