April 22: Earth Day Fair at Steward

The community is invited to an after-school Earth Day Fair on Tuesday, April 22 from 3:15-4:30 p.m. in and around the Bryan Innovation Lab. Visitors to the Fair can create a nature-inspired block print on a tea towel or reusable tote (provided). Attendees are also encouraged to bring their own items to block print, such as cloth napkins and T-shirts. Fairgoers can also nibble on some make-your-own trail mix and enjoy the beauty and diversity of the Bryan Lab gardens and woods. 

In addition, Eco Inspired, a Richmond-based business that sells sustainably made and plastic-free products, will have a pop-up shop set up inside the Bryan Lab. The Bryan Lab models best practices by purchasing all of its cleaning products from Eco Inspired.

“We are always trying to model ways of being more environmentally conscious,” said Megan Young, Bryan Innovation Lab program specialist, who organized the Fair. “Earth Day is an opportunity to remind ourselves of Earth’s wonders and our responsibility in being good stewards toward helping our planet thrive. We’re excited to celebrate nature – which is also next year’s schoolwide theme – with our Earth Day Fair. All are welcome!”  

Elevating environmental leadership isn’t only a focus during the week of Earth Day; it’s part of Compass 2028, Steward’s strategic plan. Therefore, the environmental ad hoc committee has for several years put forth efforts to reduce waste on campus. In 2023, a schoolwide composting initiative began in the Middle School Dining Commons and Bryan Innovation Lab. In 2024, the committee focused on bringing awareness to its already existing recycling program. On Earth Day 2025, the school will begin a partnership with TerraCycle, a nationwide recycling platform that aims to eliminate waste by repurposing hard-to-recycle items.

“We are thrilled that Steward will be participating in their free program, which recycles sauce packets and kids’ snack pouches,” said Ms. Young. 

In conjunction with Earth Week, Lower Schoolers will engage in special Earth Day programming on April 22. In Whitney’s Garden (near the Colonnade), Lower School Music Teacher Sandy Dacus will lead a sing-a-long. Around the carpool loop, our young artists can create Earth Day chalk drawings. In the Bryan Lab, Lower School Visual Arts Teacher Emily Wolfe will lead children in designing two murals: one inspired by our beautiful Earth and the other inspired by the late Ingrid Moore, former Lower School division director. Ms. Young will lead the building of “small worlds” with natural materials from the woodlands behind the Bryan Lab. 

Also on April 22, a special storytime will take place at the Red Glory Maple tree on the Lower School playground that was planted in 2023 in memory of Mrs. Moore. Under the leafy canopy of the beloved tree, Lower School Innovation Specialist Suzanne Casey will read Earth Day stories to the children.  

Plus, Lower School Librarian Carlee Smith will introduce young Spartans to some new friends on April 22: reptile visitors from Scaly Tails RVA!

“We’ve been reading and learning about the characteristics of reptiles,” said Ms. Smith. “This will be a great opportunity for students to meet — and pet! —some reptiles.” 

 

Throughout the school year, the Bryan Innovation Lab offers Nature Play School each Thursday from 3:15- 4:30 p.m. for babies through Lower School ages. This free program, open to Steward and non-Steward families, encourages unstructured outdoor play and fosters an appreciation for nature. In and around the Bryan Lab gardens, participants may plant seedlings, harvest vegetables and herbs, or create nature-inspired art – all under the guidance of Ms. Young. 

Maddie Hayden ’27, Lucky Moore ’27, and Joey Burmeister ’26, members of Steward’s Leadership Program, planted three Serviceberry trees in front of the Bryan Lab during Nature Play School on April 10. This idea was inspired by the UN’s Sustainable Development Life on Land Goal to “protect, restore, and promote sustainable terrestrial ecosystems” and was the students’ year 2 Leadership Program service project. Nature Play School outdoor explorers listened intently as Maddie, Lucky, and Joey explained the value of native trees. They discovered that the Serviceberry is not only vital to insect and bird populations but has historical significance as a main food supply for Native Peoples and early settlers. 

Kenya Martin ’26, also a member of the Leadership Program, recently led a bluebird nest watch training session for several Upper School students. Using the Nest Watch app, Kenya and the Upper Schoolers will monitor Steward’s Bluebird House Trail (a collection of five student-made birdhouses around campus) throughout the spring as a Citizen Science project that collects data on the breeding biology of birds. 

“We track things such as eggs laid, hatched, or gone,” explained Kenya. “We also check to see if there are any new nests built and if any birds are using them.” She added, “This project helps me exemplify leadership skills by showing me how to work with people and use teamwork, communication, and decision-making.”

Looking Ahead 

Over the next year, Steward will partner with Future Habitats, an ecological landscape business based in Richmond, to upgrade the Bryan Innovation Lab’s outdoor spaces.

“We’re excited to work with the staff from Future Habitats, who will replace all of our community garden boxes, re-do the rain garden and landscaping in front of the Bryan Lab, and manage the retention pond behind the Bryan Lab,” said Ms. Young. “By beautifying and improving these spaces, we can continue to use these environments as a way for students to connect with the natural world. As always, we strive to model best practices for the built environment that supports the needs of humans and nature.”