TRR photo by Mary Greene Two young participants take a break from wearing their cat masks during the Earth Day parade on April 26. (Click for larger image)

Children march on Earth Day

By MARY GREENE

NARROWSBURG – The theme was “Love Your Pets” and a collection of children wearing cat masks and carrying stuffed animals and banners lined up on April 26 in gorgeous sunshine. The event was the annual Sullivan West at Narrowsburg Earth Day parade.

Coordinated by Health and Physical Education teacher Karen Bliss, the parade involved Kindergarten through sixth grade students. The younger children were assisted by eighth grade students, who thought of the theme and presented various programs during the day.

“The eighth graders put on a play at Morning Program,” said Bliss. “It was a play they wrote, and it had four scenes on littering, water pollution, forest fires and pet care.” Afterwards, they visited elementary classrooms, where they taught a lesson on habitat.

“The eighth grade has been totally involved this year,” said Bliss. “They’ve been fabulous.”

Of the experience, eighth grader Jaimie McGee said, “It was good for us to work with the kids. We could teach them about pets in a fun way.”

“They look up to us,” added eighth grader Tierney Cole.

The Narrowsburg Earth Day parade has taken place for 20 years. Themes in the past have included recycling and river life. “Children have a natural connection with nature in general, and animals in particular,” said Bliss of this year’s events. “The Earth Day activities affirm this natural connection and bring it to the fore of their thinking.”

Also on April 26, Narrowsburg children were treated to a Delaware Valley Opera (DVO) performance of “Sid the Serpent” at the Tusten Theatre. The performance was part of the DVO community outreach program.