Call it "Earth Days."

This year, Earth Day happens to fall on a Friday, but children generally are in school then. So to accommodate the ecologists who may be busy in class, Earth Day's 35th anniversary is being celebrated for four days, through Saturday.

One of the most notable events Thursday was a visit to the White House by students from South Cache 8th and 9th Grade Center in Hyrum. They appeared with President Bush during the presentation of the Environmental Youth Awards in the East Room.

Bush praised 30 young men and women who won the President's Environmental Youth Awards for their volunteer work to improve the environment. In his statement, he mentioned the Cache Valley students, saying of the winners, "In Oklahoma and California, you cleaned up debris around local creeks. You built nesting boxes to protect local birds in Staten Island, New York. You improved trout habitats in Hyrum, Utah."

His remarks were transcribed on the White House Web site, www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2005/04/20050421-4.html.

The awards were presented by the acting administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency, Steve Johnson.

According to KSL, the eighth- and ninth-graders had maintained indoor honeybee hives, planted a tree windrow and raised and released their own fish.

Other Earth Day events include:

Wednesday through Friday:

• "Terra Firma" holds three days of celebration for what it terms "Earth Week," including art displays, drum circles, band performances, discussions, a slide show and a movie, at the University of Utah's Union Building plaza. For a schedule, www.utah.edu/green/earthWeekSchedule_2005.htm.

Friday:

• About 75 fourth- and fifth-grade students from Box Elder County will be planting trees, visiting education stations to learn about natural resources and working with soil conservationists. The event is planned for the Potter Farm and is sponsored by the Northern Utah Soil Conservation District.

• In the Salt Lake City area, Army Reservists will celebrate the day with a 10 a.m. tree-planting in conjunction with Valley Crest Elementary School, West Valley City. After trees are planted, students will tie yellow ribbons on them in support of deployed troops.

Saturday:

• "Un-Earth treasures" at Library Plaza, 210 E. 400 South, an event sponsored by the Salt Lake Valley Landfill, Salt Lake City and the Trans-Jordan Landfill. The family can celebrate while making paper bead jewelry, planting seeds and constructing cereal box notebooks, according to the facility. Salt Lake County Mayor Peter Corroon will introduce a "recycled fashion show."

• Ogden Nature Center, 966 W. 12th St., Ogden, "is throwing open its doors . . . with free admission, educational and fun activities for all ages, live music and belly dancing, Earth Day art contest exhibit, birdhouse exhibit, information booths on green building, plant sale, and much more," according to Earth Day Network.

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E-mail: bau@desnews.com