ARAMARK Parks and Destinations Marks Earth Day With An Array of Volunteer and Education Opportunities
PHOENIX, April 16, 2013 /3BL Media/ — From a cruise around Lake Tahoe with 300 fourth graders to a day of gardening by volunteers within Asilomar Conference Grounds, Earth Day promises to be special day of service across all of ARAMARK Parks and Destinations locations. Environmental stewardship is a key component for all of its destinations starting with its Green Thread program, which dictates that all areas of business conform to rigorous ISO 14001 environmental standards.
“ARAMARK strives to celebrate the Earth every day which is why our Green Thread program is woven into all that we do,” said Bruce Fears, president of ARAMARK Parks and Destinations. “Working in such beautiful, inspirational locations, like national parks and forests, keeps the topic of sustainability top of mind. Earth Day is one of those special days when we have the opportunity to share our vision with our guests.”
Many of ARAMARK’s destinations will recognize Earth Day in extraordinary ways. Following are specific events and activities:
Alaska:
ARAMARK will facilitate recycling for the 13th Annual Earth Day Celebration on Saturday, April 20 from 11:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. at the Sheldon Community Arts Hangar in downtown Talkeetna, Alaska. As part of the celebration hosted by Denali National Park and Preserve, residents are encouraged to bring cardboard, #1 and #2 plastics, aluminum, glass and steel cans for recycling.
Additionally, the celebration will feature locally made Earth friendly products. Free fair trade coffee also will be available to participants who bring their own mug or other beverage container. Those without a container can purchase coffee for $1.
For additional information, please contact Rachel Jencks, National Park Service Education Specialist, at 907-683-6430 or Rachel_Jencks@nps.gov.
Arizona:
On April 20, Lake Powell Resorts and Marinas will participate in and support “Keep This Land Beautiful,” a program by the City of Page encouraging citizens to clean up their surrounding areas. Those interested in participating should check in at City Park in Page between 7 a.m. and 9 a.m. to receive their bags, assignment, and ticket for the post-event barbeque at the park. Volunteers will be asked to pick up trash and recycle when possible. As part of its participation in the program, Lake Powell Resorts and Marinas will open the doors to its recycling facility, to collect the recyclables collected by volunteers. The facility will sort and process the items and facilitate their transport to a regional collection center for reuse.
In honor of Earth Day, Kartchner Caverns will continue to highlight locally sourced items in its gift shop, while also offering locally sourced food specials in its café. The property also will have a presence at the Earth Day Farmers Market on Thursday, April 18 at Sierra Vista, which has the theme of Gardening and Creating Sustainability.
California/Nevada:
From 10 a.m. – 1 p.m. on April 20, volunteers are invited to Asilomar Conference Grounds for an Earth Day project. They will remove exotic plants and replant indigenous vegetation in the dunes and forests at Asilomar, while learning about the native ecology that thrives inside the park. Volunteers are asked to bring gardening gloves and kneepads, if necessary. Lunch will be provided for volunteers at noon in thanks for all their efforts. For more information on Asilomar’s Earth Day project, call the Asilomar State Park Office at (831) 646-6440 or email roxann.jacobus@parks.ca.gov.
Zephyr Cove Resorts and Lake Tahoe Cruises will invite more than 350 fourth graders from local schools for a three-hour cruise aboard the M.S. Dixie II, a Mississippi-style paddle wheeler. While on the water, the kids will enjoy environmental based educational activities related to Earth Day, provided by local agencies such as the U.S. Forest Service and the Tahoe Douglas Fire District. Free for students, teachers and chaperones from selected area schools, the cruise will depart from Zephyr Cove Resort on Wednesday, April 24.
Colorado:
Celebrate Earth Day with a sweepstakes from Far View Lodge in Mesa Verde National Park. Now through April 14, Facebook fans can enter to win a two-night stay for two at the Far View Lodge and guided bus tours of the archeological sites in Mesa Verde National Park. They also will receive a pair of first class tickets on the Durango-Silverton Railroad. Visit http://www.facebook.com/mesaverde for more information.
In honor of Earth Day, Mesa Verde will host a sale of all its ecofriendly products including bamboo shirts, mugs, reusable water bottles and bags at Spruce Tree Terrace and Far View Lodge. Shoppers will receive 20 percent off of the original marked price.
Michigan:
Education is the name of the game this Earth Day for the Executive Learning and Conference Center at the Ross School of Business. The school will embark on an educational campaign on key environmental topics. For instance, signage will be displayed throughout the complex encouraging students to “Know Your Recyclables.” Employees also will wear “I Pledge to Reduce Waste” stickers and will distribute them to students and visitors in order to share their earth friendly efforts.
Pennsylvania:
For Earth Day, Gettysburg National Military Park will brighten up when the park plants a colorful flower garden in the Victory Gardens on the Terrace. The flowerbed is 5’X40’ and will serve as the backdrop for school group presentations and other events.
Washington D.C.:
Georgetown University Hotel and Conference Center will celebrate all of April as Earth Month. The property is promoting many of its green inspired initiatives with educational signage including ‘Farm 2 Fork,’ promoting its use of sustainable food and ‘Plant the Seed of Sustainability,’ posters promoting the sustainable measures in which it participates.
From Friday, April 19 to Monday, April 22, Georgetown University Hotel and Conference Center will staff a table in conjunction with Georgetown University to encourage people to pledge to ‘Clean the World.’ Guests who take the opportunity to make a public commitment to support the “Clean the World” program will receive educational materials and buttons.
Additionally, on Monday, April 22, the Faculty Club Restaurant will promote sustainable cooking with ‘Meatless Monday’ by showcasing vegetarian and vegan selections.
Washington
For the 6th consecutive year, Lake Quinault Lodge will host an Earth Day Volunteer Weekend at 9:00 a.m. on Saturday, April 20, 2013. Volunteers will work with the US Forest Service to repair historic trails along the shore of the lake and to maintain trails in the loop across from the lodge. The US Forest Service and the Lake Quinault Lodge will supply tools, wheelbarrows, and lunches for the volunteers.
As in previous years, The Lake Quinault Lodge offers "Earth Day Volunteer Packages" to appreciate the efforts put in by our guests to reduce their carbon footprints on our beautiful and bountiful planet Earth.
The Earth Day Volunteer Package is valid between April 19 - April 21, 2013 and includes:
Special $129 room rate
Sack lunches on Saturday's Earth Day Cleanup
A viewing of Dr. Seuss' "The Lorax" Friday at 6:00 p.m.
About ARAMARK Parks and Destinations
ARAMARK Parks and Destinations, a division of ARAMARK, delivers authentic and memorable experiences at national and state parks, national forests, specialty hotels, conference centers, museums and other tourist destinations throughout the United States. In partnership with its clients, ARAMARK Parks and Destinations seek to enhance the guest experience by offering industry-leading hospitality, environmental stewardship, recreational and interpretive programs. For more information, visit www.aramarkparksanddestinations.com or follow us on Twitter @TravelARAMARK.
