In honor of Earth Day, two sixth-graders illuminated the challenges and solutions surrounding food waste in mini-documentaries and took first place in a contest open to all Durango middle school students.
“It was really playful, it was educational and it was full of information,” said Lauren Berutich, the grass-roots leadership director for the local chapter of Great Old Broads for Wilderness. The Durango-based national nonprofit focuses on wilderness and open space issues.
The two films by Miller Middle School students Angela McManus and Mia Baguskas were screened Thursday and the team was awarded gift certificates and a $50 cash prize.
Producing the videos taught them a lot about food systems, said McManus.
“I really didn’t know how much food was wasted,” she said.
The contest challenged all middle school students in Durango to produce films focusing on environmental issues and it drew a handful of submissions. The nonprofit hopes to hold the contest next year and attract more contestants, Berutich said.
Earth Day celebrations in town will continue Sunday at Rotary Park. Durango Nature Studies will hold a 5K and 1-mile family fun run at 11 a.m. The nonprofit also is planning a kayak race and kids’ boat-building during the annual festival.
Mary Shinn
