[Ashley, PA] – Eastern Pennsylvania Coalition for Abandoned Mine Reclamation (EPCAMR), a nonprofit organization dedicated to lessening the impacts of abandoned mines on the environment, is launching a fundraiser and premier event for EPCAMR’s latest educational children’s videos and their accompanying curriculum about abandoned mine drainage (AMD) in Northeast Pennsylvania. The short films and accompanying science kits are designed to be used in local schools to teach young students about the effects of AMD on the environment and the importance of protecting our natural resources and waterways.
The fundraiser and launch event will take place on February 26 from 5-9PM at Damenti’s Ice Bar located at 5 Bowman’s Mill Road (Exit 145, off Interstate I-81, West Hazleton, PA). [Get Google Maps Directions]
The event will feature a screening of the two new videos, hands-on demonstrations, and activities, and a photo booth with our trout puppets from the video. One video will follow Brooky the brook trout as he braves a storm and reconnects with his Auntie Rainbow. It will highlight AMD, blocked culverts, impediments to fish and aquatic life, fish ecology, AMD Treatment, and macroinvertebrate identification.
A take with Seven the Snail at the end of the Askam AMD Treatment System on Nanticoke Creek.
Auntie Rainbow Trout gazing into the clean stream upstream.
Brooky the Trout getting ready for his film debut at the Askam Maelstrom Oxidizer Treatment System on Nanticoke Creek.
Brooky the Trout and his puppeteer getting ready for some lines.
The second video will highlight the EPCAMR Staff taking two students on a tour of a local AMD discharge in South Wilkes-Barre, PA and walk them through how they monitor the locations for flow and chemistry. They will also learn how iron oxide is recycled and collected to create a pigment that EPCAMR processes to be used in various art forms and activities.
The youth actors and Laura are preparing for a scene along the Askam AMD discharge in the Nanticoke Creek watershed.
The students and the trout puppets will be featured in a three-station showcase of AMD Art, AMD Tie Dye Shirt Making, and AMD Chalk Making.
Brooky and Rainbow gather around the AMD Artwork at one of the EPCAMR Showcase Stations in the video.
This is one example of iron oxide pigment used for an AMD Tie Dye t-shirt.
EPCAMR’s Iron Oxide Chalk Making Station featured in one of the videos.
A meet and greet with producer Claudia Meglin, creative director for visual effect of the popular children’s show, Lazytown will also be happening and she will say a few words about working with EPCAMR over the last few years through ISI and funding provided by the Mental Insight Foundation, American Water Charitable Foundation, The Luzerne Foundation, and PA Council of Trout Unlimited’s Forever WILD funds and EPCAMR. Both videos were produced and co-directed by Centone Pictures and Reiner Productions.
Here are some of the crew and cast from the second EPCAMR video.
Here are some of the crew and cast for one of the videos.
There will also be a silent auction featuring some art made with recycled iron oxide from local streams.
Attendees will also have the opportunity to learn more about the organization’s mission and how they can get involved in their local community.
“We are excited to launch these new educational resources and provide young students with the knowledge and tools they need to positively impact the environment,” said Laura Rinehimer, EPCAMR’s Environmental Education Program Specialist. “Through this fundraiser and launch event, we hope to raise awareness and funds to support our continued efforts to educate and empower local children to become engaged locally in their watersheds.”
Since the pandemic, EPCAMR has tried to shift some of our educational focus toward creating short environmental education videos and virtual presentations and curricula that we could share with teachers and students across our region to reach a broader audience when we couldn’t get directly into the schools or conduct the outdoor watershed learning experiences we had commonly done in years past,” stated Bobby Hughes, EPCAMR Executive Director. “We involved several excited local youths in the videos, voice actors and puppeteers, as well as all Staff in the combined video productions and aimed for fun, a little comedy, play on words, and some fishy humor.”
EPCAMR invites community members, educators, families, children, and anyone interested in environmental education to attend the event and support their mission. A $5 donation includes admission to Damenti’s Ice Exhibit, Animals on Parade, a drink, and admission to the film screenings. A portion of the ticket sales will be donated to a number of non-profits serving folks in the community and towards the production and distribution of future videos and curricula for local schools and community centers.
For more information about the fundraiser and launch event, or to learn more about the organization and its mission, please visit [EPCAMR.org]. Call 570-371-3523 for details.
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