As with every year, the return of spring signals the beginning of warm weather, blooming flowers, and the Environmental Action (ENACT) club’s annual “Hop Into Spring” event. Coming back for yet another appearance, Hop Into Spring will be located at North Penn High School (NPHS) on Saturday, April 5, 2025. Held from 10:00 AM to 1:00 PM, this event is catered to elementary school students who wish to broaden their understanding of and generate enthusiasm for the environment.
“Our goal for the event is to get elementary students excited and educated about our natural world,” said Mr. John Collier, advisor for NPHS’s ENACT Club.
Hop Into Spring is an activity designed by high school students for elementary school students. Every year, members of the ENACT club choose a theme and create unique crafts and activities surrounding it. This year’s theme is adaptations, and several games have been prepared to ensure both children and their families enjoy the event while still incorporating educational lessons. While the intended age group is 4-10 year olds, any child can participate and have fun!
“Hop Into Spring is our way of teaching the younger generation about nature and why it is important to protect it,” said NPHS’s ENACT Co-President, Leyna Andrews.
Due to limited spots, parents are encouraged to sign up here and reserve a spot for them and their children during one of the many available time slots, but walk-ins are also allowed if there is space. The event is completely free, but donations are welcome and will be put towards similar events in the future. A designated tour guide will lead groups through each of the three activities, with each activity taking about twenty minutes to complete. The activities include hearing a story and going on a scavenger hunt (station 1), creating a nature-themed craft (station 2), and playing a nature-themed game (station 3). The total time the event will take for one group is around an hour, but families should show up a few minutes early to allow time for check-in.
“We’ve been growing the event each year, hosting around one hundred families last year,” said Collier. “[This year] we’re hoping to reach even more families.”
Any high schoolers who are interested in gaining volunteer hours or simply wish to make a child’s day can sign up here using their school email. Volunteers are expected to show up at the high school by 9:30 AM and end their day around 1:30 PM.
In addition to the “Hop Into Spring” event, NPHS will be hosting their “Native Pollinator Plant Sale” event at the same time. Also located at the high school, attendees of the event can stop by the plant booth in the parking lot and buy plants native to the Pennsylvania area. Each plant is $5 but an option of five plants for $20 is also available.
“[The plant sale] is a way to reestablish native plants locally for a better environment and to benefit Pennsylvania’s native wildlife,” said ENACT member, Lamisah Shaira.In the event of inclement weather, both events will relocate inside to NPHS’s cafeteria, where signage will be provided to guide newcomers. For more information, check out the posters for Hop Into Spring and the Native Plant Sale, or contact John Collier at colliej@npenn.org.