On Friday April 21st Muncie Central High School held its first ever Civic Earth Day event.

Spearheaded by Julie Snider, who teaches government at Muncie Central, the event engaged students in a day devoted to community, civics, and collaboration. The experience was designed to help students gain insight into being an active citizen in our local community.

Students picked up trash, cleaned the Central campus and planted roughly 14 new trees, all indigenous to Indiana, on the Central campus.

Allen Kidd, teacher and advisor to Central’s Recycling Club led a student discussion on the importance of trees in our community.

Ball State President Geoffrey Mearns attended the event to show support for teachers and students. State Senator Scott Alexander came to interact with students and helped plant trees. State Representative Sue Errington spoke to students about the role of legislators in our State.

The George and Francis Ball Foundation set up a station for students to plant flowers.

Jason Donati a Stormwater/Recycling Educator with the Muncie Sanitation District taught students how to plant a tree and guided them through the process.

Students also planted annual and perennial flowers to beautify the Central High campus.

The League of Women Voters of Muncie/Delaware County educated students about voter registration and assisted eligible students in completing paperwork as well as led conversations about voting as a citizen’s opportunity to be heard.

Economics teacher Drew Shermeta led a session on how to write to elected officials about issues of concern. Reflecting on the theme of civic participation and the environment, students painted small canvases that will be combined into a large mural. They also supported the vulnerable in Muncie by writing cards and painting flowerpots to provide to nursing home residents and baking dog treats for the Animal Rescue Fund.

The Earth Day Civics event was supported in part by the CREATE project. In 2022, a collaboration between Muncie Community Schools and Ball State University. CREATE was one of six grantees receiving an American History and Civics-National Activities Grants through the U.S. Department of Education.