ELLSWORTH – Community service and volunteering is an important curriculum component at Ellsworth High School, as evidenced by the number of service learning projects completed by students.

Seniors Maya Bueso and Josie Pechacek have planned an Earth Day event from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, April 20 at E-Town Collaborative (259 N. Broadway St.) The duo is excited about the variety of activities to be offered.

Attendees can look forward to nature-themed face painting, picking up free trees from Pierce County Land Conservation Department, a reading event hosted by Ellsworth Public Library, games, a land conservation water display, bracelet making station for kids, planting station, refreshments, and community organization booths (Ellsworth Dog Park Committee, Ellsworth Trails, E-Town Arts and Ellsworth Community School District Foundation).

This is Bueso’s fifth service learning project. She wanted to tackle more hours and asked Pechacek to join her. The girls dived into planning the event, rounding up participants and researching what trees would be best for this region (to give away for planting).

“I think it’s important to be environmentally aware of pollution and littering,” Bueso said. “The event is to promote education toward things like that.”

Pechacek has experience with projects such as hosting a tennis camp and coordinating Ellsworth Gift Box, but she said this is one of the more complicated events she’s taken on.

“We arranged it and will have to find more people to fill in spots,” Pechacek said. “We are waiting to see if a beekeeper would be willing to participate too.”

The event will also feature door prizes such as gardening tools, stainless steel water bottles, garden gloves, kids garden kits, and reusable grocery bags.

The event was made possible by a $1,000 grant from the Ellsworth Community School District Foundation.