On April 25, Fermilab hosted its annual Earth Day Fair in the Wilson Hall atrium, and it was a big success. Thanks to the day’s earlier big event, DASTOW, we had some welcome extra company: kids! Employees and their children got to visit our booths, check out the electric vehicles on display in the Wilson Hall driveway, and say hello to some reptilian wildlife.
Specifically, they saw a Blanding’s turtle and great plains rat snake. Staff from Willowbrook Wildlife Center came to Fermilab to educate us about these animals. The Blanding’s turtle is on the state’s endangered species list. The great plains rat snake is classified as threatened.
The fair also featured a water bottle collection. Many thanks to those who contributed! We invited folks to guess the number of plastic bottles in the bag, and a few people took home prizes for getting close to the right figure: 1,105 bottles. That’s approximately the number of plastic bottles that are used sitewide each working day.
We also thank everyone contributed to the donation to the local organization Mutual Ground, who accepted clothing for local families. We will continue to accept donations through Friday, May 3. Your donations can be dropped off at the admin desk on WH7E. See the Earth Day webpage for details on donatable items.
Bridget Iverson is the Fermilab environmental protection manager.
Click on the magnifying glass icon in the lower right to view images in full.

Willowbrook Wildlife Center staff show off a great plains rat snake and a Blanding's turtle. Photo: Leticia Shaddix
Earth Day Fair 2019
Willowbrook Wildlife Center staff show off a great plains rat snake and a Blanding's turtle. Photo: Leticia Shaddix

The Willowbrook Wildlife Center shows a great plains rat snake to Fermilab families. Photo: Reidar Hahn
Earth Day Fair 2019
The Willowbrook Wildlife Center shows a great plains rat snake to Fermilab families. Photo: Reidar Hahn

Look at that great plains rat snake! Photo: Reidar Hahn
Earth Day Fair 2019
Look at that great plains rat snake! Photo: Reidar Hahn

The day of the Earth Day Fair was also DASTOW, bring your child to work day. How fun! Photo: Leticia Shaddix
Earth Day Fair 2019
The day of the Earth Day Fair was also DASTOW, bring your child to work day. How fun! Photo: Leticia Shaddix

Employees and their children attend the Earth Day Fair. Photo: Leticia Shaddix
2019-04-26_5cc323b800efa_EARTHDAY
Employees and their children attend the Earth Day Fair. Photo: Leticia Shaddix

There's plenty to learn about this Earth-friendly practice, in which old goods and products are remade into new ones: Be sure to answer in the form of a question. Photo: Reidar Hahn
Earth Day Fair 2019
There's plenty to learn about this Earth-friendly practice, in which old goods and products are remade into new ones: Be sure to answer in the form of a question. Photo: Reidar Hahn

Did you know Fermilab has a bike share program? Check it out. Photo: Reidar Hahn
Earth Day Fair 2019
Did you know Fermilab has a bike share program? Check it out. Photo: Reidar Hahn

Earth Day Fair 2019
How many plastic bottles are here? Read the article to find the answer! Photo: Reidar Hahn