Sheppard Elementary helps base celebrate Earth Day Published April 20, 2012 By Dan Hawkins 82nd Training Wing Public Affairs SHEPPARD AIR FORCE BASE, Texas -- Team Sheppard held its annual Earth Day event April 20th at Sheppard Elementary School with a presentation on the benefits of recycling, protecting animals from plastics and the donation of a burr oak tree for the front of the school. Approximately 100 students participated in the event hosted by the 82nd Civil Engineering Squadron and DS2 contractors. According to Leslie Pena, environmental program specialist for DS2, ensuring the next generation of environmentally-conscious citizens is educated on the why's and how's of recycling is critical to achieving a greener society. "The importance is to get the information out there," Pena said. "These kiddos are our future. If we instill in them early on that recycling is a must and we can save our earth by recycling, then as they get older it contributes to our earth staying healthy." Melissa Rodriguez, teacher at Sheppard Elementary and the school's Earth Club coordinator, incorporates green philosophies into the curriculum to focus on a healthy lifestyle. "We talk about it all the time," Rodriguez said. "We recycle, we try to recycle paper and plastic. The kids start thinking about it...it's kind of becoming a mindset." The tree was originally due to be planted in a dedication ceremony; however, inclement weather postponed the planting until April 27th. DS2 also donated a bird feeder and 30 bags of seed for the Earth Club for their bird habitat. The message for everyone, regardless of age, on how to live greener is simple: it comes down to the three R's. "Our main message is to recycle, reuse, reduce," Pena said. "If we can do all three of these things then we make our earth a better place to live, a healthier place and less polluted place." For more information on Earth Day, go to http://www.af.mil/earthday.asp.