From making recycled rainbows to building birdhouses out of pinecones, children and their parents learned all about protecting the environment Sunday, thanks to a group of students from St. Ignatius High School.

About 70 people braved rain and cold temperatures to attend “Earth Day Celebration,” a family-friendly event hosted by members in the high school’s SSC (Students Serving Community) club.

Good Old Days Park & Amphitheater in St. Ignatius served as the backdrop for this year’s celebration, which included music, crafts and informational booths.

A strong emphasis was placed on recycling, as children were taught how to make crafts from trash and other recycled goods.

“We’re putting this out to the community to fill a void – our goal is to educate more and more people about the environment and how to protect it,” said advisor and St. Ignatius H.S. English teacher, Sara Keast.

This was the third year for the event, which was the brainchild of students in the SSC club.

Rod’s Harvest Foods in St. Ignatius donated paper bags, which were decorated by students at St. Ignatius Elementary School. Two winners from each grade were chosen by SSC members. Those bags that didn’t win are currently on display at Rod’s.

Money raised from this year’s Earth Day Celebration will go to future events and programs. Students were also awarded a grant from the Office of Public Instruction for this year’s event.

“We were very happy with the turnout considering the weather,” said Keast. “Our goal is to make each year better than the year before.”