Minnesota Pollution Control Agency

Contact: Pam McCurdy, 651-757-2559, pamela.mccurdy@state.mn.us St. Paul, Minn. -- There will be something to do and see for all ages at the Eco Experience at the 2009 Minnesota State Fair. Individual actions in daily activities make a difference to protect and preserve our natural resources; especially when done as a family or community. Fair-goers who stroll through this year's Eco Experience can learn how their families can reduce waste, save energy, keep our lakes clean, and much more. What's new at this year's Eco Experience? Families can take the Eco Scale Challenge by traveling through the building, gathering stamps and learning about local foods, clean water, saving energy, reducing waste and more. They can then measure their results on the Eco Scale and see how what they do affects emissions of carbon dioxide, a greenhouse gas. What else can families do? Explore the base of a wind turbine, race solar boats, watch cooking demonstrations featuring local foods, enjoy a performance by Tricia and the Toonies, play games, solve puzzles, learn about clean water at the fish pond, or climb through Trash Mountain and discover how trash becomes treasures. WHAT: Fourth Annual Eco Experience at the Minnesota State Fair
WHEN: Thursday, Aug. 27 - Monday, Sept. 7; 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily
WHERE: The Progress Center, at the corner of Randall and Cosgrove (Look for the 123-foot-tall wind turbine blade.)
LEARN MORE: See http://www.ecoexperience.org About the Eco Experience: A partnership between the Minnesota State Fair, the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency, other state agencies and dozens of organizations and businesses, the Eco Experience has become the second most popular exhibit at the fair. The Eco Experience is the largest environmental event of its kind in the country in the last two decades. Since 2006, more than one million visitors have attended the 25,000-square-foot exhibit to learn more about clean water, saving energy, climate change, local food, transportation, green building and remodeling, and other ways to lead more eco-friendly lives. Discover easy and uniquely Minnesota ways to go green in your daily routine by exploring cutting-edge green technologies and having fun with interactive displays, kids activities, live performances and more. Look for more information and schedules in July at http://www.ecoexperience.org.