Photo contest, tours part of Earth Day festivities Published April 10, 2017 By Merrie Schilter-Lowe 60th Air Mobility Wing Public Affairs The Earth Day Network is asking communities to hold teach-ins or other projects focused on environmental and climate literacy for Earth Day, April 22. Activities at Travis Air Force Base, California, leading up to Earth Day will do just that, according to Jonathan Carlson, 60th Civil Engineer Squadron environmental management system coordinator. Activities include a photo contest, two nature tours and a watershed model demonstration. ”In honor of the 47th anniversary of Earth Day, we’re inviting people to participate in the inaugural Earth Day photo contest,” said Carlson. “We are looking for photographs in three categories: flora, which includes plants, trees, flowers and landscapes; fauna, which includes wildlife, insects, rodents, reptiles and birds; and people enjoying nature,” he said. All photos must be taken on base and there will be one winner in each category. Anyone with base access can participate in the contest, said Carlson. Photos must be submitted by midnight April 12. Photographers who harm an animal will be disqualified from the contest. They also will be disqualified for trespassing in restricted areas or wetland areas inhabited by several threatened and endangered species, said Carlson. The public will vote for the winning entries on the environmental Facebook page April 13 to April 20. In case of a tie, a team of volunteers will cast the deciding vote. “Winners will receive their photos back in a nice frame,” said Carlson. Details about the contest and other activities are available on the Travis environmental Facebook page at: https://www.facebook.com/TravisEnvironmental. An environmental watershed demonstration at the teen center is scheduled for April 12 at 3:30 p.m. The hands-on demonstration will teach teens how housekeeping habits can affect natural waterways. Although the event is designed for teens, anyone can attend, said Carlson. An urban garden walking tour is scheduled for April 19 with Mark Dupree, master gardener and community manager with Balfour Beatty Communities. Participants should meet at the youth center at 10 a.m. Free snacks will be provided as well as seed packets so participants can plant their own gardens. “Due to a short growing period – two weeks before the tour – our expectation is not so much to see gardens with bountiful vegetables but to motivate children and adults to get involved,” said Penn Craig, 60th CES natural and cultural resource manager and base biologist. He said the tour also will set the standard for Earth Day 2018. “To aid in this process, we plan to award a trophy for the best urban garden following the tour on April 19,” said Craig. On April 20, the commissary will use grocery bags depicting recycling and natural scenery themes for customers’ groceries. Children at the base’s elementary schools and child development centers designed the bags. April 20 is also the date for the walking tour of the Castel Terrance nature preserve. Participants should meet at the Valley View playground across from the water tower in base housing at 10 a.m. “Wear comfortable walking shoes and bring a camera, water and snacks for the youngsters,” said Carlson. The tour covers about three-quarters of a mile on a trail that is suitable for strollers, he said. On April 21, winners of the photo contest will be announced on the environmental Facebook page. In addition to educating base personnel about Earth Day, the 60th CES environmental flight routinely provides newcomers and new facility managers briefings about illegal trash dumping, recycling, storm water, natural resources and hazardous materials that could affect the creeks and wetlands on base, said Luann Tetirick, 60th CES water quality program manager. “We also provide brochures to help contractors avoid common environmental mistakes,” said Tetirick. Activities that disturb the ground can harm the federally listed species on base, she said. California has some of the most stringent environmental laws in the nation, said Carlson. “The base follows those laws because it’s the right thing to do and because we want to preserve nature for the next generation,” he said.