Las Vegas School Celebrates Earth Day in M.V.

By CORINNE MESSER

The Progress

Seventy-five Las Vegas students and their parents from the Journey Education grade school, spent last weekend camping at the Clark County Fairgrounds in an effort to “un-plug” and celebrate Earth Day.

Celebrated on April 22, Earth Day was established in 1970 as a way to increase public awareness about environmental issues. It promotes conservation efforts to protect our planet. Journey Education principal Dr. April Taggart has made an annual tradition of organizing an overnight Earth Day for her school community.

“This is our 6th year coming to Moapa Valley to celebrate Earth Day,” said Taggart. “In the past, we camped at the Valley of Fire, but started camping at the fairgrounds last year, following COVID-19.”

Journey Education focuses on leadership and character building traits, according to the school’s Administrative Director, Cindy Jensen.
“We do a lot of service projects,” Jensen said. “Our 6-8 graders recently made get-well bags for children with cancer receiving chemotherapy.”

The Earth Day tradition has always included a service project, Jensen said.
“When we camped at Valley of Fire, we cleaned graffiti off of the rocks,” she said. “Last year we cleaned up the Overton Cemetery, and this year we are picking up trash around the fairgrounds.”

Jensen said the students gain a certain confidence by serving. She has observed the students find joy in continuing to serve throughout their high school careers and thereafter.

At this year’s event, Logandale resident, Bill Johnson spoke to the students about Earth Day. He let the students choose polished rocks of jasper, fools gold, and agate, and pictures of desert flowers that he had prepared.

Johnson also recognized Dr. Taggart for her 31-plus years serving in the educational field as she is retiring this year. He also mentioned that Dr. Taggart and her husband, Marty were former residents of Moapa Valley. Marty Taggart taught at MVHS and was a legendary coach in the school’s wrestling and football program for 35 years.
“The two of them, have blessed thousands of kids with their years of teaching,” Johnson said.

Later in the evening, Las Vegas Native American Youth Dancers performed for the attendees. Having many years of dancing experience, the group performed each dance beautifully.

Their instructor, Kerrie Bahbedonie, explained that each dance had a meaning. One was a story about hunting, another was about imitating a crow, and another was a medicine dance.

The final dance was a highlight for the Journey Education students because they had the opportunity to join the dancers in a circle dance called the Friendship Dance.