Earth Day Events Featured at Delaware North Companies Properties from Florida to California

Buffalo, NY (PRWEB) April 21, 2008 -- As the stewards of special places Delaware North Companies will hold events at its properties around the country in recognition of Earth Day. Delaware North became a forerunner in the hospitality and food service industry when it established GreenPath, an award winning sustainability and environmental management system in its parks and resorts division in 2000.

The company's commitment to GreenPath (http://www.delawarenorthgreenpath.com) and the environment will be on full display Earth Day with a number of events for associates and guests to take part in. As an official food service and hospitality provider for many state and national parks, Delaware North will be holding such events at some of the more beautiful areas in the world. Specific events include:

Corporate Headquarters, Buffalo, N.Y. - Delaware North Companies, the award-winning operator of the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex, will host retired U.S. Navy Capt. and former NASA astronaut Eugene Cernan (http://www.delawarenorth.com/NewsRoom/NewsRoom.asp) for its Earth Day events in Buffalo. As the last man on the moon, Cernan has a unique perspective on the importance of caring for our planet.

Cernan will help the Jacobs family, the owners of Delaware North, and Nichols School kick off the construction of an eco-friendly academic building on Nichols' campus. The Jacobs family is contributing $1 million toward the new building which will employ numerous principles of GreenPath.

Delaware North will then welcome Cernan to the company's global headquarters where he will address thousands of employees in person and via audio conferencing with the company's 200 locations worldwide. Following this event, Cernan will travel to a Buffalo-area school to speak with students.

Yosemite National Park (http://www.yosemitepark.com), Yosemite, CA - Delaware North Companies Parks & Resorts has planned a full schedule of events for Earth Day at Yosemite National Park. Guests will be able to participate in family nature walks, educational presentations regarding stewardship, a sustainable 'salad bar' tasting and learn about the park's Audubon Society-approved golf course or build unique Earth Day crafts.

Sequoia National Park, California -Delaware North associates at Sequoia National Park hosted an Earth Day Fair on Saturday, April 19 that featured giveaway prizes, activities, samples and food. Associates also took part in a community celebration of Earth Day in Vasalia, CA. Associates manned a booth that offered information about the company, environmental programs and GreenPath achievements.

Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex (http://www.kennedyspacecenter.com), Orlando, Fl. - Associates at Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex will team up with a local school to celebrate Earth Day. Two volunteers will pair with each class at Apollo School and walk them through activities focused on recycling, energy use, and wildlife.

Yellowstone National Park, Bozeman, MT - Delaware North Companies Parks & Resorts is actively working with two Yellowstone National Park area schools to educate students about Earth Day. The company offer presentations at assemblies throughout the day and hold a poster contest. Winners will receive Earth Day T-shirts. The company has also invested in signage that will be featured at different locations in the park.

Grand Canyon, Arizona - Delaware North is holding numerous contests for local schools in the Grand Canyon area. Students from grades K-8 can enter the company's Earth Day bag design contest. Three winners will be selected and all the artwork will be displayed in the company's Grand Canyon stores. High school students can compete in an Earth Day T-shirt design contest. The winning shirt is worn by Delaware North associates during all Earth Day activities.

Harrison Hot Springs Resort & Spa (http://www.harrisonresort.com), British Columbia, Canada - Guests visiting the lodge on and around Earth Day will receive a unique welcome card and wild flower seeds in their guest rooms. The card will convey an Earth Day and GreenPath® message.

Gideon Putnam Resort (http://www.gideonputnam.com), Saratoga Springs, NY - Delaware North Parks & Resorts at the Gideon Putnam has invited student groups from four area high schools to attend a nature hike through Saratoga Spa State Park sponsored by the New York State Park Service. Students will then enjoy lunch at the resort and be able to plant a tree in the afternoon.

The Lodge at Geneva-on-the-Lake (http://www.thelodgeatgeneva.com), Geneva, OH - Associates at The Lodge at Geneva-on-the-Lake will take part in the annual Geneva State Park clean-up. They'll also hold a recycling contest for area elementary students and an Earth Day poster contest for junior-high students. Winners will receive gift certificates and lunch at the lodge.

Asilomar State Conference Grounds (http://www.visitasilomar.com), Asilomar, CA - Asilomar State Conference Grounds will host 400 fourth-grade students along with teachers and parents for a day of activities. State park officials will conduct activities themed toward protecting our Earth's habitats. The culinary team will prepare an Earth Cake for all attendees to enjoy and there will be numerous contests held throughout the day.

Niagara Falls State Park (http://www.niagarafallsstatepark.com), Niagara Falls, N.Y. - Delaware North Parks & Resorts associates will partner with two area schools to plant flowers and beautify the nation's oldest state park. Students will also be able to experience the numerous attractions in the park.

Hamburg Fairgrounds & Raceway, Hamburg, N.Y. - Associates are taking part in a carpooling event. All those who participate are being rewarded with gift cards to local Vito's Delis.

About GreenPath

Key elements of the award-winning GreenPath environmental management system include: the establishment of "green teams" at each location, incorporation of environmental considerations and sustainable practices into all business decisions, using environmentally-friendly cleaning products, institution of comprehensive waste reduction and recycling programs and implementing associate and guest awareness initiatives promoting stewardship. In an unprecedented step for a U.S. hospitality company, the company successfully registered GreenPath to the ISO 14001 environmental standard established by the International Organization for Standardization. Subsequently, Delaware North successfully registered GreenPath at its Buffalo, NY, headquarters and several properties: Harrison Hot Springs Resort and Spa, Jones Beach, Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex, Niagara Falls State Park, Yellowstone National Park, Yosemite National Park, Sequoia National Park, Asilomar State Beach & Conference Grounds, Tenaya Lodge at Yosemite, the Grand Canyon, Geneva on the Lake State Park and Delaware North's central reservations office in Fresno, Calif.

About Delaware North Companies Parks & Resorts (http://www.delawarenorth.com/Destinations/Destinations.asp) Delaware North Companies Parks & Resorts is a subsidiary of Delaware North Companies, a leading hospitality provider with significant experience in hotel, retail, food service, recreation and transportation operations. The company's portfolio includes historic properties in North America, such as Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex; Yosemite, Sequoia, Yellowstone and Grand Canyon national parks; Asilomar State Beach and Conference Grounds; Tenaya Lodge; Harrison Hot Springs Resort & Spa; Niagara Falls State Park; Jones Beach; Plaza del Pasado in Old Town San Diego State Historic Park; The Lodge at Geneva-on-the-Lake; The Balsams Grand Resort; and The Gideon Putnam Resort.

About Delaware North Companies

Delaware North Companies is one of the world's leading hospitality and food service providers. Its family of companies includes Delaware North Companies Parks & Resorts, Delaware North Companies Gaming & Entertainment, Delaware North Companies Travel Hospitality Services, Delaware North Companies Sportservice, Delaware North Companies International and Delaware North Companies Boston, owner of TD Banknorth Garden, Delaware North Companies is one of the largest privately held companies in the United States with revenues exceeding $2 billion annually and 40,000 associates serving half a billion customers in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Australia and New Zealand. For more information, visit www.DelawareNorth.com.