Denver’s biggest, all-local, green-living event of the year, EarthWorks Expo (www.earthworks2009.com) on Aug. 22-23, will give green-minded families the opportunity to see and learn about hundreds of sustainable products and services with an estimated 150 exhibitors, 42 workshops, two keynote speakers and special programs for children in its EarthKIDS area. 

Attendees at the 3^rd Annual EarthWorks Expo at the Denver Merchandise Mart will be able to meet several live animals from the trained animal handlers at Denver Zoo (www.denverzoo.org)—including an alligator, prairie dog, box turtle and more.

“Our EarthKIDS area is a unique part of the Expo designed especially for kids with fun, safe, ongoing and scheduled activities for children of all ages,” says Michael Lindemann, Expo Director.

In addition to having live animals at EarthWorks Expo, the Zoo staff will offer child-friendly conservation information about elephants and palm oil.  Denver Zoo will also exhibit a working model of their new biomass gasification system, which will utilize the Zoo’s diverse waste stream of human trash and animal waste to power its upcoming Asian Tropics exhibit.

“As an organization dedicated to conservation, we are committed to finding green solutions that support the environment and all of its inhabitants,” says Jennifer Hale, Sustainability Coordinator for Denver Zoo.  “We’re proud to partner with EarthWorks Expo to celebrate sustainable solutions that have a positive impact on the environment.”

The Butterfly Pavilion (www.butterflies.org) also will present a kids program at EarthWorks Expo called “Big Bugs!” where kids can meet “Rosie” the tarantula, pet Madagascar hissing cockroaches and see Thorny Devil walking sticks.

Throughout both days of EarthWorks Expo, Bright Horizons Family Solutions (www.brighthorizons.com) will provide ongoing, hands-on activities such as making rainforest hand puppets, origami animals and recycled art sculpture.  Long-time environmentalist Vince Curran of Pedro’s Planet will demonstrate recycling by demonstrating for kids how paper goes from used to new.

For a complete schedule of activities in the EarthKIDS area, visit www.earthworks2009.com/attendkids.html.

Workshops, keynote presentations, exhibits, musical entertainment and children’s activities are all included in the daily admission price of $5 for EarthWorks Expo--Denver’s most informative and empowering green-living event of the year.  Children 12 and under are free when accompanied by an adult; seniors and youth are $3.

Sponsors for EarthWorks Expo 2009 include Xcel Energy, the Denver Newspaper Agency, 99.5 The Mountain, Denver Zoo, 7News, ReDirect Guide, Natural Awakenings magazine, Anderson & Associates Public Relations, Inc., Westword, Boulder Weekly, High Country News, 50-Plus Marketplace News, Nexus, Independent Power Systems, SolaRover, KUNC Radio, Grant Family Farms, Livewire Urban Radio, Mountain Utility Electric Vehicles and Waste-Not Recycling.

The Denver Merchandise Mart is conveniently located at I-25 and E. 58^th Ave.  Times for EarthWorks Expo are 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 22 and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday, Aug. 23.  Parking is always free.

For more information about EarthWorks Expo, visit www.earthworks2009.com or call 970-416-8700.

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