Middle and high school students from across the commonwealth had an opportunity to open owl pellets and make it “rain” on an ecosystem at the Kentucky Environmental Education Council’s booth at the 2005 Governor’s Diversity Day, Wednesday, February 16, at the Civic Center in Frankfort. In the afternoon, over 900 students from 35 middle and high schools attended the exhibitor fair. The goal of the event is for students to learn more about state government agencies and services that are provided; over 50 state agencies; colleges and universities; and other organizations participated.

Jane Eller, executive director of the Kentucky Environmental Education Council, said, “Diversity of all kinds makes our planet stronger.  In our booth at Diversity Day, the kids have an opportunity to learn about environmental biodiversity and have some hands on activities. Teachers can learn about what environmental educational curriculum is available to their schools.”

The KEEC, an agency in the Kentucky Education Cabinet, was established in 1995 to improve Kentuckians’ understanding of the environment.   Their mission is to provide citizens with the knowledge and skills they need to make their own informed environmental decisions. For Kentucky teachers interested in receiving free CD’s with award-winning units of study on: Be a Solid Waste Survivor, Kentucky’s Wonderful Commonwealth of Water; or Biodiversity for the Middle School Classroom, contact KEEC Executive Director Jane Eller at (502) 564-5937, or by e-mail, jane.eller@ky.gov .