Biodiversity is the word of the day during Munnell Run Farm's Third Annual Earth Day April 20.

"The variety of life on earth is the simple definition," said Jill Shankel, Environmental Education Coordinator for the Mercer County Conservation District based at Munnell Run Farm on state Route 58 in Coolspring Township.

The free annual event for children ages 6 to 12 is from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., with hands-on activities, wagon rides through the farm, with lunch included at the pavilion.

"We have over 100 kids signed up now," said Ms. Shankel. "The first year we did this, we only had about 30 children. Its definitely growing."

The hands-on activities include playing a game of "Biodiversity Bingo" and planting some shrub cuttings in nearby wetlands. The children and their parents will have the opportunity to tour the on-site cooperative trout nursery and take a "hay-free" tour on their wooden tractor-pulled wagon.

"The shrub planting is kind of a community service project for the kids. We'll be planting different species of shrubs which feeds into biodiversity," she said.

Biodiversity is the state-wide theme this year. Part of the reason the state chose the theme was because according to a state-wide survey, though Pennsylvanians have a general openness to environmental issues, only 38 percent knew what biodiversity meant.

"It's basically because everything is interconnected," Ms. Shankel said. "We want to make them more aware of environmental issues and help them understand why biodiversity issues are important."

She and the staff hope to make the children and their parents more aware of their Pennsylvanian environment, as well.

"In schools, kids seem to know more about the rainforest then the biodiversity in Pennsylvania," Ms. Shankel said, adding that having an event that involves children is a win-win situation in helping to educate adults.

"People will take the time to take their kids when they might not come out on their own," she said.

The event is free, including a luncheon served at an outdoor pavilion.

"We bite the bullet on this one. It comes out of the education budget in the Conservation District," Ms. Shankel said. "We feel its worth it. Kids need to learn this, because when they become decision makers, they will make more informed decisions about the environment."

Other upcoming events at Munnell Run Farm include the spring pre-school series scheduled on Tuesdays, starting April 30 through May 14. The topics are "Weather-wise", "1-2-3 Grow" and "Nature's Nasties".