Keep Roswell Beautiful
Earth Balloon Project
Mobile Environmental Classroom
Keep Roswell Beautiful purchases Earth Balloon
A new resident has come to the City of Roswell -- Keep Roswell Beautiful's Earth Balloon.
Formally introduced at a City Hall reception on August 20, 2007, the Earth Balloon is a gift to the children of Roswell. It is the only such teaching tool in the Southeast United States.
The inflated balloon filled the rotunda of City Hall.
"We are ecstatic at the the purchase of the earth balloon, the first KRB signature project," said Keep Roswell Beautiful Chair Ron Jackson. "This is a great tribute to the many efforts of the KRB board, who stayed focused and determined to bring this educational tool to the school students of Roswell. KRB is very pleased to be able to make it available."
Keep Roswell Beautiful (KRB) board of directors authorized the purchase of an earth balloon at its April meeting. KRB, a nonprofit corporation, works with the City of Roswell on environmental issues. Keep Roswell Beautiful will retain ownership of the balloon.
No public funds were used in the purchase of the Earth Balloon.
The Balloon was constructed in Minnesota and was delivered to KRB in June. The earth balloon cost Keep Roswell Beautiful $19,000.
As its signature project, Keep Roswell Beautiful adopted the purchase and use of the earth balloon as a traveling enrichment and environmental education program, a mobile classroom. The balloon will travel to Roswell-area schools for environmental education.
Funds for the balloon were raised by KRB projects over a three year period. Fund raising events included golf marathons and the Great Roswell Duck Race.
This Earth Balloon will make the Educational Programs of Keep Roswell Beautiful much more effective.
Last year, Keep Roswell Beautiful made a rented Earth Balloon available to area schools. The purchase of this "traveling classroom" will make such opportunities available on a more frequent basis.
Students enter the 22' (6.7m) diameter Earth Balloon through an entrance in the Pacific Ocean to learn about rain forests, the "ring of fire", time zones, population clusters, migration, man's impact on the earth and endless other topics.
The Earth Balloon is set up in school's gym and offers students a unique way to learn about our ever-changing earth. The Earth Balloon will visit Roswell area schools as a traveling enrichment program.
Keep Roswell Beautiful Chair Ron Jackson introduces the Earth balloon...
Keep Roswell Beautiful Board Member
Ed Klaas and son Teddy enjoy the
Earth balloon...
Mayor Wood and other community leaders meet the Earth Balloon...
Keep Roswell Beautiful Board Members, joined by Mayor Wood....
Scheduling the Earth Balloon: The Earth Balloon is available at no cost to public and private schools located within the City of Roswell, as scheduling allows. (Other conditions apply).
The Earth Balloon takes a great deal of staff time and effort to set up at schools and for other educational activities. Limited staff is available to support the Earth Balloon, which makes it impossible to schedule outside of the City of Roswell.
• The Earth Balloon is not available for any commercial purpose.
• The Earth Balloon cannot be set up outside under any circumstances.
• Entities using the Earth Balloon are responsible for any damage, unless
damage is beyond their control.
• The Earth Balloon will not be available in instances where there will be
no direct supervision of the area immediately around the Earth Balloon.
• Scheduling of the Earth Balloon must be made by an authorized
employee of a Roswell-area school, with approval of the school
principal, or his or her designee.
• The Earth Balloon will remain under the control of Keep Roswell
Beautiful staff, as directed by the Board of Directors of Keep
Roswell Beautiful, Inc.
The Earth Balloon is owned by Keep Roswell Beautiful, Inc., and decisions regarding its use are solely at the discretion of the Board of Directors of Keep Roswell Beautiful, Inc.
To schedule the Earth Balloon, employees of Roswell schools can contact Laura Aikens, Environmental Education Specialist at laikens@ci.roswell.ga.us or 770-641-3742.
