U.S. Park Ranger Nancy Kelchner said 143 students and chaperones were from Dandan Elementary School, 110 were from Koblerville Elementary School, 228 were from San Vicente Elementary School, and 124 were from Garapan Elementary School.
Kelchner said unlike last year when the exhibit was held only for two days, it will be for three days this year to give each class more time with the presenters.
For the first time, she added, the Pacific Historic Parks Association, a non-profit organization, provided funding to construct the tents for the exhibitors and transportation for the students to and from their schools.
She said 50 student volunteers from different high schools will also get eight hours of credit for community service which will be credited toward their graduation requirements.
Kelchner said the Environmental Expo is held in conjunction with the National Parks Service Week one week ahead of the original schedule.
“We had to pull the exhibit in advance because the NPS week fell on the Holy Week,” Kelchner said.
Tasi Tours provided buses to transport the students from their schools to the exhibit grounds.
Event coordinator Lisa Eller of the Division of Environmental Quality said more exhibitors who did not make it on Tuesday would be coming to do their presentations yesterday and today.
“This year, we are fortunate to have a spacious exhibit area and we are glad to provide the students this unique opportunity for them to meet with all the agencies involved with environmental awareness issues,” Eller said.
She said there are more presenters this year compared to the past years.
Scheduled to visit the exhibit grounds yesterday were 200 students with chaperones from Kagman Elementary School, 112 from San Antonio Elementary School, and 220 from William S. Reyes Elementary School.
Today, 76 individuals will be coming in from GTC Elementary School, 52 from Tanapag, 171 from Oleai Elementary School and more students from private schools including Eucon International School and Mt. Carmel School.
Presenters during the expo were the Commonwealth Cancer Association, Coastal Resource Management, DEQ’s site assessment, laboratory, and earthmoving, Department of Public Works-Solid Waste, DPW Energy Division, Northern Marianas College-Cooperative Research Extension and Education Services, WESPAC, Micronesia Challenge, Department of Land and Natural Resources-Division of Fish and Wildlife Turtle Program, DLNR- Agriculture Fruit Trees and Plants, DLNR-DFW-Brown Tree Snake, DFW (Wildlife Research), Department of Public Lands, Marianas Islands Nature Alliance, EMO-Seismic Division, NRCS-USDA, DPS Fire Division, HPO-DCCA, Tan Holdings and CUC Power/ LED Lights.
