St. Patrick’s Day is over, but College of the Canyons wants to remind local youth that it’s always a good time to “go green.”

Elementary, junior high and high school students from across the Santa Clarita Valley will have an opportunity to win a prize by presenting their environmentally themed science projects to the community, during the fourth annual College of the Canyons Environmental Science Fair being held Wednesday, April 10.

Presented by COC and the Santa Clarita Environmental Education Consortium, this annual event traditionally features more than 35 student project entries based on topics such as transportation, ‘green’ building and design, plastics and recycling, daily toxins, composting and sustainable gardening, and organic foods.

Students will present their projects and offer explanations of their research and experimentations to a group of judges, as well as fellow students and fair visitors.

Winners will be acknowledged on the day of the event and have their projects showcased at Central Park during the City of Santa Clarita’s Earth Day/Arbor Day Celebration on Saturday, April 13.

As extra incentive, the SCEEC will also be awarding theme park and movie tickets or gift cards for winning projects in each of the three age categories (elementary, junior high, and high school).

“Environmental awareness has to start early. We can’t afford to wait until students come to college to begin talking about environmental issues,” said Jia-Yi Cheng-Levine, COC instructor and vice chair of the SCEEC advisory board. “By raising awareness early on, we have a better chance of effecting positive changes for a more balanced and environmentally sustainable future for all.”

The 2013 Environmental Science Fair will take place from 3 to 6 p.m. in the Dr. Dianne G. Van Hook University Center, Room 258.

The event is being organized by the SCEEC and sponsored by the college’s Associated Student Government and the Lockheed Martin Corporation.

Students interested in participating must have their entry forms submitted to the event committee no later than 5 p.m. Friday, March 29.

For more information about the event or to request an entry form email info@sceec.org.