Celebrate Earth Day with MCCD, Environmental Defenders

Celebrate Mother Earth from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, April 22, at Prairieview Education Center, 2112 Behan Road in Crystal Lake, with the Environmental Defenders of McHenry County and the McHenry County Conservation District.

More than 20 environmental booths on sustainable practices as well as a variety of activities are planned including kids' crafts, games and activities, puppet shows at 11:15 a.m. and 1:45 p.m., guided nature hikes at 12:15 and 3 p.m., and a household recycling drop-off.

Food and beverage vendors - Toasty Cheese mobile eatery and AJs Kettlecorn Company - will be on hand or bring your own "no waste" picnic lunch. Live music by Anna Stange at 11:30 a.m. and 2 p.m. whose performance and well-crafted songs exude a wit and charm that entertains all ages.

Learn how you can take measures closer to home to help protect, restore, and make an impact. Activities are both inside and outdoors; the event goes on rain or shine.

As you begin your spring cleaning drop off your unwanted items: electronics including computers and accessories, TVs, stereos, etc., small appliances, microwaves must be clean, clean polystyrene, packing peanuts, reusable Bubble Wrap, Christmas lights, fluorescent tubes, VHS tapes, CDs, cassettes, and household batteries. Also accepted will be also accepting clean shoes, purses, belts, and fiber such as clothing, towels, etc.

Donations are requested for large TVs or monitors to offset recycling costs at 50 cents per pound not to exceed $40. No smoke detectors, medical devices, console TVs, car batteries or paint cans will be accepted.

Donations and membership to Environmental Defenders of McHenry County are encouraged and are tax-deductible as charitable contributions. For more information, visit www.mcdef.org or www.facebook.com/Environmental Defenders or call (815) 338-0393, 10:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.