Earth Day celebrated with many activities Published April 29, 2011 By Jasmine Simon 377th Air Base Wing Public Affairs Kirtland Air Force Base, NM -- On April 20, Kirtland Air Force Base celebrated "Earth Day." "Earth day is every day" is a concept people at Kirtland AFB are taking part in to contribute to a healthier, cleaner planet. "We've been celebrating Earth Day here for years. We even planted a tree. Our goal is to make energy conservation exciting, fun and purposeful," said Larri-Lynn Torres, the base's director of Youth Programs and the Youth Development Center. "Earth Day celebrations teach skills that we hope will turn into lifelong habits." The 377th Civil Engineer Division Environmental Branch, in partnership with Sandia National Laboratories, sponsored Earth Day activities at the Kirtland Youth Program Center. The center's staff arranged for the children to attend a fun and educational event in the center's gym. Clifford Richardson, the Kirtland Energy Engineer from 377 Mission Support Group, handed out calendars to the children to help them learn calendar days that correspond to important energy conservation tips and reminders. Exhibits included energy-efficient lighting, planting and seedlings, and information on how to build a bird feeder using recycled cardboard milk cartons and educational information on butterflies. When asked what Earth Day is, six-year-old William Maness said, "Earth Day is every day; we pick up the trash off the ground and make sure it gets recycled."