The Rio Grande International Study Center (RGISC) and Texas Parks and Wildlife Department are hosting the 3rd Annual Earth Day Celebration and Community Kayak Races on Saturday, April 28 at Lake Casa Blanca International State Park from 9 a.m. to noon.
The event is free to the public and so is park entry.
The family friendly celebration, which last year drew hundreds of Laredoans, includes interactive Eco-stations, Eco-games, vendors and a Recycled Art Contest for schools.
The global theme for Earth Day 2018 is “End Plastic Pollution.”
Kayaks for the Laredo Kayak Race will be provided, with five categories to choose from:
INDIVIDUAL – Men (one-seat boat)
INDIVIDUAL – Women (one-seat boat)
INDIVIDUAL – Mixed (two-seat boat)
RELAY – two-person team (one-seat boat)
RELAY – four-person team (two-person boat)
Check-in time for the races is 8:30 a.m. Early bird registration is $20 at rgisc.org or by calling (956) 718-1063.
The grand prize winner will receive a Perception brand kayak from Academy Sports.
Eco-Games start at 9 a.m.
“People naturally gravitate toward our Laredo Earth Day Celebration because I think that deep inside, we all recognize the need to protect nature and the environment,” said Tricia Cortez, executive director of RGISC.
“This event allows us to celebrate our planet and natural resources, and to become more aware and informed of pressing problems that we need to address as individuals, and as communities. As we embark on our third annual event at Lake Casa Blanca, and as we celebrate the 48th anniversary of Earth Day, I see how this event is becoming more and more dynamic,” Cortez said.
In conjunction with the 2018 global theme of End Plastic Pollution, RGISC is working on a one-day #NoPlasticStraw campaign with local restaurants to help reduce the 500 million plastic straws that are used in the U.S. every day.
Sponsors for the event include South Texas Solar Systems, ANB Cattle Company, Wells Fargo, RHEEM Manufacturing, Webb County Commissioner John C. Galo, Los Angeles Cattle Company, El Bufalo Pawn, Southern Distributing, LNV, Inc., and the South Texas Outreach Foundation.
Also, Person, Whitworth, Borchers, and Morales; Academy Sports, the Webb County Better Community Foundation, O’Bryant, Inc., Ancira Volkswagen, ReMax, Killam Oil Company, Casa Yoga, Judge Monica Notzon, AHVC, Inc., Crane Engineering, Ruben Soto Jr., CPA, and Judge Joe López.
To become a sponsor, please call (956) 718-103.
