Field Day is a beloved Middle School fall tradition. Mixed-grade “color teams” led by Eight Graders compete in a wide range of challenges — “athletic, academic, artistic, and just goofy,” in the words of Bessie Oster, Middle School Dean of Student Life.

Case in point? The rubber chicken toss (below).

This year's Field Day coincided with the National Climate Strike, in which many Upper Schoolers participated.

The day's activities introduced climate-themed elements to several familiar events “to honor the inspiring work of youth activists across the world,” said Ms. Oster. Science teacher Anne Marie Mignatti and history teacher Kate Meyer spearheaded the special climate-related challenges.

Wacky Relays introduced a new crowd favorite: the “Sort It Out” Recycling Challenge.

Pictionary clues were related to the environment: recycling bin; hurricane; global warming, etc.

In the trivia challenge, students fielded climate-related questions, including “true or false”: 

• The overwhelming majority of scientists agree that climate change is real and caused by humans.
• Global warming is accelerated by the reduction of global snow and ice cover.
• A rise in global temperature is expected to increase instances of malaria.

(All are true.)

This year's event called upon students and faculty alike to avoid single-serve, single-use water bottles and to consider carbon-neutral lunch options.

Nearly thirty Middle Schools students (and several faculty) went directly from Prospect Park to the Climate Strike rally in Battery Park, where teenage activist Greta Thunberg spoke.

As always, the 16 teams earned points not only for their performance in competition but for shows of spirit as well.

More pictures in our Flickr album.