Earth Day is Wednesday, April 22nd, but don’t wait until then to get outdoors. Here are spring events that take us back to nature and help us protect and celebrate our beautiful planet. See our calendar of events for more Earth Day events and spring festivals throughout the Chicagoland area.
Ongoing exhibit through June 21
Earth from Space
Kenosha: www.kenoshapublicmuseum.org
Kenosha Public Museum, 5500 1st Ave. Stunning satellite images reveal our dynamic, ever-changing planet. Free!
April 9, 10-11:30am
Homeschool Explorations: Fabulous Frogs!
West Dundee: 630-444-3190 www.kaneforest.com
Binnie Marsh Forest Preserve Shelter, 38W040 Binnie Rd. This program series is specially designed for home school families with children ages 5-10 although all ages are welcome. $2/person, please register.
April 10, 11:30am-5pm
Create-a-Craft: Earth Day Fun
Mount Prospect: 847-253-5675 www.mppl.org
Mount Prospect Public Library, 10 South Emerson St. Come celebrate Earth Day with colorful crafts that highlight nature and planet Earth. Children younger than age 9 must be with adult. Drop in.
April 11, 2pm
Animal Ambassadors
Morton Grove: www.mgpl.org
Morton Grove Public Library, 6140 Lincoln Ave. Learn about the animals that live here in Illinois, perhaps in your own backyard. Meet a few live special animal friends for a hands-on experience. Free, registration required.
April 12, 26 & May 9, 1-2pm
Garden Workshop Series
St. Charles: 630-444-3190 www.kaneforest.com
Creek Bend Nature Center, 37W700 Dean St. Join district naturalists for a fun and interactive series of gardening programs. Create your very own arrangement to take home. Fee: $10/garden, Please register.
April 12, 24 & May 10, 9-11am
Restoration Work Parties at Creek Bend
St. Charles: 630-444-3190 www.kaneforest.com
Creek Bend Nature Center, 37W700 Dean St. Spring brings lots of invasive garlic mustard! Get good exercise removing this and other invasive plant species. Refreshments after; let us know if you’re coming, so we can plan enough goodies! FREE.
April 16 & May 21
Nature Tykes & Little Naturalists
St. Charles: 630-444-3190 www.kaneforest.com
Creek Bend Nature Center, 37W700 Dean St. Explore the natural world through stories, nature hikes, songs, games, and crafts. Nature Tykes from 9:30-10:15am for 3-year-olds with adult. Little Naturalists from 1-2pm for 4-year-olds. Fee: $5/child. Please register.
April 18, 9am-noon
Earth Day Celebration Workday
Highland Park: 847-433-6901 hellernaturecenter.org
Heller Nature Center, 2821 Ridge Rd. Volunteer at our seventh annual day of conservation and environmental stewardship. Projects may include invasive species removal, woodchipping trails, or maintaining our Wander Woods Nature Play Space. Dress for the weather and for getting dirty! FREE
April 18, 10-2pm
Earth Day at Red Oak
Batavia: www.foxvalleyparkdistrict.org/event/earth-day-tree-planting/
Red Oak Nature Center, 2343 S River St. Celebrate Earth Day by helping plant native trees in the morning, then stick around to do some fun, nature-inspired self-guided activities. Registration required for tree planting from 10-11am; drop-in activities from 11am-2pm. Free.
April 18, 11am-4pm
Earth Day Celebration 2015
Crystal Lake: 815-479-5779 www.mccdistrict.org
Prairieview Education Center, 2112 Behan Rd. Event is indoors and outdoors and will go on rain or shine. Live music, guided nature hikes, puppet shows, games, crafts, food and beverage vendors. Free.
April 18, 10-11:30am
Fabulous Frogs!
St. Charles: 630-444-3190 www. kaneforest.com
Creek Bend Nature Center, 37W700 Dean St. Naturalist-guided search for amphibians. Learn to identify frogs by songs and physical characteristics. Come prepared to get a bit muddy and wet. Children must be with adult. FREE, please register.
April 18, 10am-1pm
Earth Day 2015 Tree Planting
Elgin: 630-232-5980 www.kaneforest.com
Fitchie Creek Forest Preserve, Russell Rd. Join the staff and volunteers to help plant hundreds of oak trees in pre-dug holes, then water and mulch. It’s easy! Great event for groups and troops.
April 18, 11am-3pm
FREE! Earth Day Celebration
Geneva: 630-232-4542 www.genevaparks.org
Peck Farm Park, 4038 Kaneville Rd. Free event features local merchants, rain barrels for sale, bicycle tune-ups, paper shredding, electronic recycling, health screenings, chair massages, games and more. Earth Day Clean-up Hike from 8:30-10:30am.
April 22, 4-5:30pm
Earth Day Hike
St. Charles: 630-762-2721 www.kaneforest.com
Creek Bend Nature Center, 37W700 Dean St. Celebrate Earth Day with a guided hike through the woods and prairie. We’ll look for wildlife and wildflowers during this special hike. There will be hands-on activities and stories along the trail. FREE
April 25, 9am-noon
Earth & Arbor Day
Northbrook: 847 664-4017 www.northbrook.il.us
Village Green Park, 1320 Shermer Rd. Over 50 Environmental exhibits, pony rides, music, free tree seedlings, and a variety of children’s activities all on the beautiful Village Green Park in downtown Northbrook.
April 25, 1-2:15pm
Earth Day Woodland Walk
River Forest: (708) 366-6530 www.fpdcc.com
njoy a guided nature walk along scenic Forest Preserve trails, to experience the many wonders of our Earth in springtime. Register by 4/23, by calling (708) 366-6530. Trails are not suitable for baby strollers.
April 25, 9:30am-noon
Spring Spruce-up
Waubonsie Lake Park: 630-966-4555 www.foxvalleyparkdistrict.org
Locations: North Aurora Island Park, Blackberry Farm/ Gilman Trail. Calling all volunteers to help spruce up our local parks by picking up litter and more. What a great opportunity to celebrate Earth Week! Free!
April 26, noon-4pm
Earth Day Celebration
Skokie:847-677-7001 www.skokieparks.org/emily-oaks-nature-center
Emily Oaks Nature Center, 4650 Brummel St. Entertaining activities along the Earth Day picnic trail will take a fun look at where our food comes from, how it is grown and processed, and how our food choices affect the planet. Plenty of earth-friendly foods will be available for sale and for sampling! Join the celebration of Earth at Emily Oaks! Annual native plant sale.
May 3, 11am-3pm
Earth Aid 2015
Bolingbrook:630-739-2600 www.bolingbrookparks.org
Hidden Oaks Nature Center, 419 Trout Farm Rd. Be one of the first 150 families in attendance and receive a FREE goodie bag. Throughout the day, patrons can enjoy free crafts, face painting, water bottle bird launching, live music, a coloring contest, tree climbing, kid’s games, local eco-friendly vendors, a native plaiting seminar, as well as food for purchase.