Billings News

Hundreds volunteer for Earth Day

Posted: Apr 17, 2010 5:45 PM by Amanda Venegas
Updated: Apr 17, 2010 5:45 PM

BILLINGS - Billings residents kicked off Earth Day, a few days early, by cleaning up the Magic City. Saturday, the Audubon Conservation Education Center held their second annual Earth Day festivities.

People of all ages came out to support the Audubon Center by launching floating islands, planting, and building bird and butterfly habitat gardens. The center, which is located, South of Billings is a non-profit statewide wildlife conservation facility. About 200 people rolled up their sleeves to make an environmental difference.

Staff members say, as Montanans we have the opportunity to see and preserve nature everyday.

"We forget about these parks that are right in Billings, so close by, but that give us a real wild experience. So, I'm hoping to open people's eyes to the fact that this is here and this is something you can come out and do on the weekend, come for a hike, bike riding, go fishing in the river. Just get out in your own big back yard. There's so much that nature has to teach us," said Heather Ristow, Education Director.

Some young girl scouts and boy scouts jumped into Earth Day, by helping to clean up our community. Lockwood's service unit and boy scouts from troop ten put on orange vests and gathered trash along Airport Road.

In addition to serving their community and helping make Billings brighter, the Breakfast Exchange Club donated some funds to help the scouts.