The week of Earth Day, or Earth Week, is upon us and base personnel from RAFs Lakenheath and Mildenhall are again needed to volunteer for nature-related events.

More than 20 events on base or in the local communities are scheduled, from cleanups and conserving nature reserves to planting trees, a golf tournament with an environmental twist and an Environmental Fair at Lakenheath’s base exchange.

Some events also will allow students at Lakenheath schools to take tours of the base’s recycling center and study creatures lurking in a pond on base.

Jean Dennett, who has been coordinating these types of events at both bases for the past seven years, talks about Earth Week.

What is Earth Week all about?

It’s about gaining awareness on environment issues and getting people involved in doing something responsible.

How many volunteers are you looking to get this year?

If each person volunteers for one event, then we’ll need 100 or more people. If one person volunteers for three or four events, we’ll need less people overall.

Why do you volunteer to coordinate the Earth Week events?

I think it’s important to encourage other people. [And] it’s fun getting outside and doing something that’s going to be a benefit.

What tend to be the most popular events among volunteers?

The nature reserve and the school projects tend to be popular.

Why do you feel airmen should volunteer their time for these events?

From a military point of view it’s something that they can put on their EPRs [enlisted performance reports].

Do you think these events help show locals that the U.S. Air Force has a caring side?

Oh, yes.

What do volunteers typically get out of this?

They learn more about the environment; learn to appreciate nature and how to take good care of it.

Are some of these events something fun for airmen to do with their families?

Yeah. The Earth Day Fair [at RAF Lakenheath’s BX] is very much for families.

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