Several events are planned around Costa Rica in observance of Earth Day Sunday, one of which will bring about 100 young people to La Sabana park, west of San José, to clean up and plant trees, according to a statement from the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA).

“It will be a very rich experience for all participants... Youth will take charge of collecting trash, cleaning the lake, painting and planting more than 300 trees of native species to Costa Rica,” said Johanna Arce, coordinator of the Council for Young People (CPJ) development program.

Participants will include members of the council's regional committees and other youth groups. However, young people ages 12-35 who don't belong to one of these groups are also invited to participate and should apply with CPJ.

Sunday's cleanup is part of a series of events organized to “provide a space for youth to work to improve the environment, but also on educational activities for them to work as a team, share, develop communication skills and get to know other young people and other parts of the country,” Arce said, according to the statement.

The council has several volunteer activities planned for youth ages 12-35 during the next couple of months in the northwestern Guanacaste town of Palo Verde; Chirripó National Park, in the Southern Zone; and in Manuel Antonio National Park, on the central Pacific, among other natural spots.

Those who'd like more information can call the council at 253-4131 or 280-5618. For more Earth Day activities, see this week's Calendar page in the print or electronic edition of The Tico Times.

-Tico Times