On Monday, April 22, Rye Country Day’s Sustainability Program hosted the annual, campus-wide Earth Day Fair. This beloved event is jam-packed with activities and opportunities to learn about and show appreciation for our beautiful planet. 

Parachute & Earth Games 
It was a fun and entertaining day on the fields, where students participated in Earth games (like Team Earth Ball), parachute activities, and Capture the Flag during P.E.

Book Nook with Mr. Dunn 
Mr. Dunn joined Lower Schoolers on the Adirondack chairs to read a variety of stories about the planet and what we can do to take care of it.
 
Earth Day Fair, Chalk Art, and Clothing Swaps
Upper School clubs and classes organized engaging activity tables for Lower and Middle Schoolers, including Earth Day trivia, planting, face painting, a photo booth, and more. The sounds of DJ Don Fitz-Roy gave the Earth Day Fair a fun and lively atmosphere. Special thanks to our guests Our New Way Garden and Rye Nature Center. RCDS alumna Amy Benerofe ’84 from Our New Way Garden brought seedlings for people to plant, and Rye Nature Center brought a variety of wildlife artifacts.

Students also participated in the school-wide chalk mural, organized by the RCDS Art Department, on the walkways around campus. 

Clothing swap tables were set up in front of the Athletic Center and in the foyer of the Cohen Center to promote sustainability by repurposing gently-used clothing.

Animal Shows, Performances, and  Film Screenings
Students enjoyed an exciting and educational reptile show in the Pinkham Courtyard, which included an alligator, a snapping turtle, and a ball python! Thank you to Mark Perpetua of Reptile Encounters for visiting.

In the PAC, Bash the Trash performed in an entertaining display of science, music, and environmental awareness. Additionally, the WildScats wowed their peers with performances including Can You Feel The Love Tonight? from The Lion King. 

Wild Hope, a series of short films highlighting changemakers who are restoring our planet, was also screened in the Black Box Theater.

Nature Walk on East Campus 
Across Boston Post Road, Ms. Nicole Zazzarino, STEAM/Science Department Assistant, led an informative nature walk on RCDS’s East Campus, pointing out the various species of native trees and plants on the property.