(Posted April 4, 2006)

HUNTINGDON, Pa. -- The Juniata College Conservation Club is sponsoring the 4th annual Earth and Folk Festival featuring music by Juniata students and professors, free yoga, and organic baked goods, activities for children and adults, as well as educational information booths from 1 to 5 p.m., Saturday, April 8 on Tussey-Terrace Patio on the Juniata campus.

The event is free and open to the public. In case of rain, the event will be moved to the lounge of Tussey-Terrace residence hall.

"We began this tradition three years ago with an Earth day celebration event and decided to try a festival format two years ago," says Lauren Forster, Conservation Club member and a senior from Camp Hill, Pa. "We hope to sponsor understanding of environmentally friendly ways of life with the Huntingdon and campus communities."

Among the music performers are Philip Dunwoody, assistant professor of psychology and folk musician, and Juniata student Lisa Detweiler, a junior from Berwyn, who performs original songs in addition to country and folk music.

The Conservation Club also has organized activities throughout the day, including free yoga lessons, henna tattoos, a solar cooking demonstration, papermaking, face painting and a story-reading area. The Juniata Environmental Science Society will provide a rainforest information table with activities and other Juniata clubs will provide a variety of organic baked goods. Juniata's Chemistry Club, in a joint effort with the Conservation Club, will be selling stapleless staplers. Other tools for reducing consumption will also be available for purchase such as tote bags and travel mugs.

State agencies and other organizations will be on hand to answer questions and hand out educational information, including Pennsylvania Cleanways, the Juniata Clean Water Partnership and Bluemoon organic farm.

"We are trying to help people be more aware of local organizations with environmentally friendly practices," Forster says. "An Earth Festival celebration is the best way to get the community involved."

Contact April Feagley at feaglea@juniata.edu or (814) 641-3131 for more information.