SALEM, Mass. - Children in the Salem State College pre-school have built a life-size model of a coyote to launch their celebration of the college's annual Earth Day.

As their Earth Day project, the preschoolers are studying the Forest River Conservation area. "We're learning about coyotes and other wild life that inhabit the area," said Beverly Gerson, director of the pre-school. "We're also studying the marshes, trees and grasses."

The children of the pre-school have depicted their impressions of the conservation area in murals and poster art on display through April 21 in the college's library. Their art is part of the college's Earth Day celebration on Monday, April 14th.

Salem State and Healthlink are planning events throughout the day including a student poster competition, an art exhibit by area public schools, an environmental career fair and "Friend of the Earth Awards" presented to environmental activists. All events are free and open to the public. "We're excited about the opportunity to bring the North Shore community together for this special day," said Krishna Mallick, a professor at the college and one of the event organizers.

Environmental artwork created by students in public schools will also be on display as the Horace Mann, Saltonstall, Bates, Bowditch, Phoenix and Carlton schools in Salem, the Ford School in Lynn, the Marblehead Middle School and the Salem State College pre-school will be represented.

For more information, contact Mallick at (978) 542-6298 or e-mail kmallick@salemstate.edu.