Photo by Sarah Maxwell Evan Burgess, an employee of the Catoctin Zoo, educates the young kids from the post’s Child Development Center about wildlife.

The Fort Detrick environmental office hosted the yearly event that drew a crowd of about 500 people. Information booths with live-animal displays were found throughout, and children learned about environmental processes through hands-on exhibits.

‘‘Today is all about making people – everyone, especially the kids – aware of what they can do to decrease their environmental footprint,” said Bob Craig, Fort Detrick Environmental Program director. ‘‘We want people to think about decreasing their water consumption, petroleum products use, and use of electricity.”

The dome was crowded with the attendees, vendors, exhibitors, movies, a free lunch (thanks to Fort Detrick contractor Goldbelt Raven) and a lot of creepy-crawlies.

The snakes were back from last year, as were the insects in the U.S. Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases insect display along with the parrot and tarantula from the Catoctin Zoo.

The Poplar Island Environmental Restoration Project booth had information about the effort to restore the island. It once covered 1,500 acres and had eroded down to a mere four acres.

Now, thanks to the project it has been restored to almost 1,200 acres. The Potomac Appalachian Trail Club, the Fort Detrick Fire Department, and the Maryland Department of the Environment all came armed with a lot of information about positive ways to help conserve resources and maintain a clean and healthy environment.

Bob Craig, Fort Detrick Environmental Program director, and his group collected used batteries for disposal and exchanged environmentally-conscious reusable shopping bags for 10 plastic bags. In less than three hours they gave away more than 300 shopping bags and filled seven large garbage bags with the plastic type.

Some vendors came to discuss environmental initiatives that they are involved with at Fort Detrick. Washington Gas Energy Systems came to talk about the feasibility of solar applications and how to improve water conservation, air-conditioning applications, comfort issues, and building controls on post.

Another environmental effort being undertaken at Fort Detrick is erecting the post’s first ‘‘green” building. The U.S. Green Building Council was on hand to discuss awarding their Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design to the green building. Chevron was there to explain about the new clean fuel that will be used at Fort Detrick.

‘‘The clean fuel will help us reduce our air emissions dramatically,” said Craig. ‘‘We are at the point at Fort Detrick now where we are not just complying with environmental regulations, but we are trying to find new ways to reduce our environmental footprint.”

Craig has specific and easy suggestions that people can do to reduce waste and improve the natural resources sustainability.

‘‘To save on water consumption ... ‘nip the drip’ – fix leaks immediately and turn off the water completely when you are not using it. You can save more than you think on electricity just by turning off lights and appliances when you leave a room. To save on petroleum product use, just think more about your fuel efficiency, and drive carefully.”

Craig doesn’t just talk the talk – he recently switched from driving a low-mileage minivan to driving a high-mileage hybrid.

Kourtney Brown, an 11-year-old fifth-grader at Eastern Elementary School in Hagerstown, is one of the kids who said she benefited from the post’s Earth Day celebration.

Kourtney spoke while serving as the climbing pole for three of NCI’s Russ Hanson’s lovely and friendly pet snakes.

‘‘I have never had a snake as a pet,” Kourtney said. ‘‘My parents don’t like them, but I like them a lot.”

She introduced Wanda, a 14-year-old ball python who was snugly curled around Kourtney’s neck while Hanson provided some more personal details on Wanda.

‘‘She’s the biggest of my ball pythons because she’s the best eater,” he laughed.

Kourtney had also snuggled up with the Catoctin Zoo’s tarantula and visited the bug exhibit. But Earth Day wasn’t just about the critters to her. She said she learned all the lessons Craig hoped people would take away with them after the Earth Day event.

‘‘I recycle bags, and I never litter. And I turn out the lights when I’m not using them – and sometimes I turn out his lights, too!” she said, pointing to her 12-year-old brother Darion.

Craig gave a lot of credit for the day’s festivities to his staff, and especially his Outreach Coordinator Jenni Benson.

‘‘Jenni is the one who really took the lead on this for the last couple of years,” Craig said. ‘‘And this year is even bigger and better than in the past.”

For more information on recycling, energy conservation and other Fort Detrick Environmental Programs, call the hotline at 301-619-0044.