Published October 1st, 2008
Del Rey Pumpkin Patch is Green - Don't Miss It!
By Jean Follmer

Del Rey Elementary School in Orinda will hold its annual Pumpkin Patch on October 11 from noon to 3:00 pm. In addition to the pumpkins and traditional activities, Del Rey is adding some new activities that promote Earth consciousness.
Making their Pumpkin Patch debuts will be a 6-foot diameter canvas Earth ball as well as 50-foot long solar bags. "It is important to remind everyone to be Earth-friendly and Earth-conscious and have fun at the same time. We want to show that 'green' activities can be incorporated into any event. When was the last time the kids could hold the whole Earth in their hands?" asked Pumpkin Patch Coordinator Charmagne Peters. "Anybody can get a jump house; how fun is it to play with the world? Our Earth ball that will be featured this year is currently a classroom project. The canvas ball comes to us unpainted, so we've decided to have the 5th grade classes paint in the continents and bodies of water. So not only does it become an education experience, but an event that the students can bring ownership to," said Peters.
The 50-foot solar bags hold over 200 cubic feet of air. "The solar energy of the sun heats the air inside the bag and within minutes it rises and floats up to 50 feet in the air," said Peters. The Pumpkin Patch will also feature the Garden Committee this year. Peters said "Our Garden Committee is harvesting fresh lavender" for the kids to make sachets with. The proceeds from the lavender sachets will go directly to Del Rey's "Math in the Garden" program.
Del Rey is also taking other environmentally conscious measures. "We are composting using scraps from the kitchen and are really focusing on the environment. There are lots of exciting things going on at Del Rey," said Peters.

Other Halloween
Events and Activities
Sleepy Hollow Elementary School Pumpkin Patch Saturday, October 18th from 11:00am-3:00pm.
Bring your child to Sleep Hollow School for games, food and fun at our annual fund raising carnival. 20 Washington Lane, Orinda.

The Moraga Juniors annual Halloween Carnival will take place on Sunday October 26, 2008, from 10:00-2:00 at Camplindo High School at 300 Moraga Road in Moraga. It is a fun and fanciful event perfect for children ages 2 to 8 years, and attracts over 500 children each year. Participants will be able to choose a pumpkin from the pumpkin patch, enjoy carnival games with prizes for all and a festive art center with trick or treat bags and face painting. In addition, children can visit a variety of fun booths including “The Land of Oz,” “Oscar,” “Catch the Joker,” pocket witch, and a Cakewalk as well as a Toy walk. Lunch, snacks and refreshments will be sold at the Leaky Caldron Café and various homemade ghoulish goodies will be sold at the Carnival bake booth. Admission is $3 per child, plus a small charge for game tickets and food. All children are encouraged to come in costume. Each year, MJWC raises funds to benefit a variety of philanthropies including local libraries, CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates), BARM (Bay Area Rescue Mission), Royal Family Kids Camp, and other organizations that serve the women, children and the homeless of Contra Costa County .
For more information please contact Michelle Dow at Halloween@moragajuniors.org.

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