FORT HOOD, Texas — Fort Hood Directorate of Public Works Environmental officials will host their 2017 Fort Hood Earth Day event and tree planting from 9 a.m.-2:15 p.m. April 7 at the pavilion area behind Fort Hood’s Rod & Gun Club.

The purpose of the event is to increase environmental stewardship on the installation by engaging children of military and Central Texas families.

The event begins at 9 a.m with a Tree Planting Ceremony and recognition by the Texas Forest Service as a Tree City community for the 12th year.

Nearly 1030 students in grades 3rd-5th from Killeen Independent School District’s Duncan, Oveta Culp Hobby, Venable Village, Peebles and Clarke elementary schools along with Copperas Cove Independent School District’s Clements/Parsons Elementary school and Temple Independent School District’s Scott Elementary school will participate in the event.

Each school session will include presentations from organizations like Keep Texas Beautiful affiliates, Central Texas Council of Governments, Texas A&M University Central Texas, CenTex Sustainable Communities Partnership, and DPW Environmental.

Students will see displays, performances by the Shoemaker High School’s Pandemonium Band and animal presentations by Zoomagination.

Media who wish to cover this event must register. On April 7 at 8:30 a.m., media should meet public affairs at the south-side parking lot of the Fort Hood visitor’s welcome center.