EXHIBITORS AND ECOLIBRIUM AREAS.

 Help provide environmental education and awareness within our community.

AGRICULTURE /ORGANICS AND COOKING DEMOS

Purpose: Discover the real energy cost associated with our food supply, and also learn about how we can reduce pesticide usage; what’s available locally; how to compost (backyard, city or vermicomposting); how animals are used around the world to help fight hunger and poverty; organics and health; cooking with herbs; and more! The cooking area will present several demonstrations throughout the day. Stop by this area for a schedule of featured chefs and the food items that will be prepared. Local foods will be featured.

CARDBOARD CAR DERBY

Purpose: A fun use for recycled products in producing a derby car! Team building, creativity and competition.

Helton’s Wrecker Service will be providing our “imported gravity” (ramp) for the race.

EDUCATION

Purpose: To introduce e-books, and environmental books and literature to people of all ages and interests, and to increase awareness of educational opportunities for students and teachers in our community.

Features: The Museum of Discovery’s mobile museum, with 10 interactive exhibits. This unit is available free of charge to all k-12 schools. We encourage teachers and administrators to visit it to see if it is a good fit for their schools; 

Learn more about local classes, college degrees and environmental careers from those exhibiting at EcoFest; and 

Get your library card and check out e-books from the library on the spot! Enjoy the Walk-thru-Lorax, too!

ENERGY AND ALTERNATIVE FUELS

Purpose: Learn more about many energy sources, availability, costs, etc. associated with them. Exploring all available sources of biodiesel and what we’ve learned from ethanol. Wind power demonstration and exhibit on-site. Conway EcoFest 2011 will be mostly solar powered, provided by Stellar Sun in conjunction with Conway Corporation. Features the first totally green food vendor: Green Cart Deli!

GREEN BUILDING AND ECOFRIENDLY BUSINESS & HOMES

Purpose: Discover ways to save money and resources. Learn about new technology in home/commercial building. Talk to the experts to learn how much energy (and water) can be saved with proper planning. Learn about FREE energy audits, the best ways to winterize on a budget, and easy, do-it-youself projects to save energy and money, and increase the value of your home (FREE literature available!). Talk with LEED Certified/Green Star Consultants and independent homebuilders. 

KITE BUILDING AND LESSONS/ KITE SHOW

Features: Giant kites and Trick Kites in flight. The types of kites flown will depend upon the weather. FREE kite-making kit to the first 200 kids (complete the partially made kites and fly them while you are at the park!). The trick kites will be on display throughout the day.

MARKETPLACE

Features: This area has tripled in size, so come prepared to find treasures! Food vendors include the solar powered Green Cart Deli; Seth’s Memphis Style BBQ; Nature's Market, Legendary Snow Balls, fresh fruit and more. There will be free Conway Corp. water throughout the park.

NATURAL RESOURCES

Purpose: Discover ways that we interact with our environment...(sometimes without even knowing it). Get involved in the “Water Works” area that explores many aspects of water issues, including what you can do to preserve the quality of water. Learn about Leave-No- Trace Campsites (how to enjoy your camping trip without negatively affecting your favorite spot!). The interactive cave will return this year. Other subjects and highlights include the Heifer International Animals, Owls and Raptors from the rehabilitation center, plus forestry issues/PLT (Project Learning Tree), wildlife identification and habitat issues, the importance of the Jewel T. Moore preserve at UCA, the watershed at the Hendrix Village, ground water and surface water models from The Arkansas Geological Survey and the Arkansas Rural Water Association and much more!

RECYCLING

Purpose: Learn about all aspects of recycling: The difference between the 3Rs and the 3 Arrows, what is recyclable (including textiles and glass), where you can recycle within our county, and how to get involved. Experience the Recycling Maze and much more!

TECHNOLOGY AREA

Features:   

A variety of short (30-seconds to 10-minute) clips or films will be featured throughout the day, in addition to having a computer bank for people to check out their personal carbon footprints, do environmental games and be introduced to good environmental sites. Staff from Best Buy will be on hand to help maneuver through it if needed. 

Special thanks to Conway Corporation for providing Wireless Internet Service at Laurel Park for the Conway EcoFest, and to Best Buy for providing tech equipment and support for the Conway EcoFest.

An online survey for EcoFest is available here.  It would be very helpful to have your input.

TRANSPORTATiON/car show

Purpose: Explore the many advances made by our community (green space, trails and parks). Connect with advocacy groups, look at the safety issues concerning our children and how it connect to health issues. Learn about bike safety, maintenance and trails (No Alley Cat ride this year); and pedestrian issues within our community. Look at long- and short-term possibilities in our area and around the state concerning light-rail (Passenger rail), too!

The car show will have a wide variety of vehicles from all electric, to hybrids, to Compressed Natural Gas and very fuel-efficient vehicles. There will also be information on how to maintain your older car for better mileage and environmental issues.

9/11 MEMORIAL

There will be a brief memorial to pay respect to this important weekend. A memorial will be set up in the Liberty Garden area of Laurel Park throughout the day, for participants to reflect on this day.