Bringing green back to Earth
Arbor Day and Earth Day technically fall on the same day, April 22, but folks tend to celebrate both days throughout April and even into May. Here are some ways you can celebrate the Earth in the Northwest suburbs.
See a painting
The Artists Association of Elk Grove Village has been hosting an annual "Trees" exhibit in honor of Arbor Day. Go by the Elk Grove Village Public Library at 1001 Wellington Ave. to check it out. Through April 25. Call (847) 439-0447.
Restore nature
How better to celebrate Earth Day than to work the Earth? Area volunteers, including the Citizens for Conservation, Sierra Club and the Spring Creek Stewards, will host a day of activities Saturday, beginning with restoration work and seed planting from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Free lunch follows, with music by Windy City Tom and guest speakers U.S. Rep. Melissa Bean and Stephen Packard. Guided tours will follow lunch. CFC volunteers meet at the silo across from Good Shepherd; others may call Donna Hriljac at (847) 967-7835 for more information or show up at the Spring Creek Forest Preserve in Barrington Hills (from Route 72, turn north on Wichman Road to Headwaters parking lot and follow signs). Dress in layers; wear long sleeves and sturdy shoes; bring gloves.
Open a nature shack
Elk Grove Park District will host a grand opening of its new Olmstead Nature Shack from 1 to 4 p.m. Saturday in honor of Earth Day. The shack is on Cypress Lane, just off J. F. Kennedy Boulevard, across from Rainbow Falls Waterpark in Elk Grove Village. Learn about the benefits of going green, recycle a variety of household items and enjoy many earth-friendly entertainers. Schedule also includes animal demonstrations and kid-friendly workshops. No cost; includes collection of cell phones, gym shoes, plastic bags and electronics to recycle. Call (847) 437-9494 or visit www.elkgroveparks.org.
Get a free bag
Wal-Mart is giving away free reusable shopping bags at all locations beginning at 8 p.m. Saturday. The bags are normally sold for $1, The giveaway coincides with an earth-friendly marketing campaign.
Commune with nature:Œ
The Bartlett Nature Center and Bartlett Parks Foundation will celebrate Earth Day from noon to 4 p.m. Saturday at the James "Pate" Philip State Park, 2054 W Stearns Road, Bartlett. The MIX Road Crew, from 101.9FM, will be on hand from noon to 3 p.m.; Big Run Wolf Ranch will give a presentation at 1 p.m. There will be opportunities for personal encounters with wolves, coyote and other wildlife. Critter Skitter run will have participants moving like animals on a half-mile trail, beginning at noon. Participants can see a hand-thrown pottery demonstration, kids will be able to build a bird house and the DuPage Birding Club will demonstrate bird-watching. Make your own kite, then fly it at 3 p.m. (847) 608-3100 or visit bartlettparks.org.
Clean up a park:
Mount Prospect hosts Clean Up the Parks Day Saturday by encouraging residents to select any park to help get it ready for summer activities. Register by calling Friendship Park Conservatory at (847) 298-3500.
Sunday
Commune with farm life
It's not technically an Earth Day event, but Springtime on the Farm at the Volkening Heritage Farm in Schaumburg will be the place to check out what it was like to live off the land, just like Schaumburg's German ancestors did in the 1880s. The hands-on event, from noon to 4 p.m. Sunday, is for the whole family and includes tilling fields and planting crops, along with other activities, games and hayrides. Admission is $2; free for 3 and younger. Call (847) 985-2100.
Crafts, drama
An afternoon of fun and learning, including drama, craft and recycling, from 1 to 4 p.m. Sunday at Arndt Park Field House, 1990 White St., Des Plaines. To register, call Mary (847) 803-6912.
Tuesday
Clean an alley
Tribal Expressions, along with its neighbor, Earth Friendly Choices, will host an Alley Rally. Business owners Rob Brooke and John Guilfoil invite friends and neighbors to join them with brooms, dust-pans and garbage bags as they take to the streets and alleys of downtown Arlington Heights. The urban cleanup is intended to gather trash, debris and recyclables. Begins at 2 p.m. Tuesday behind Tribal Expressions on Dunton Avenue and Earth Friendly Choices on Evergreen Avenue in downtown Arlington Heights. Gloves, brooms and dust-pans available to volunteers through 4 p.m.; refreshments at Tribal Expressions and Earth Friendly Choices. Call (847) 590-5390.
Green up your home
Celebrate Earth Day by learning how to go green on your next home-improvement project from 7 to 9 p.m. April 22 at the Prospect Heights Public Library, 12 N. Elm St. Experts from the home building and interior design communities will offer advice and strategies for building and remodeling using high-performance and energy-efficient products. Register by calling (847) 259-3500, ext. 35, or going online at www.phpl.info.
April 25
Dedicate a maple:
Prospect Heights will dedicate two Crimson King maple trees with local officials attending at 11 a.m. April 25 at Rosemary Roth Park, Hawthorne and Chester streets, Prospect Heights.
Plant a tree:
The Arlington Heights Park District and village of Arlington Heights will plant a tree in celebration of Arbor Day at Raven Park at 9:30 a.m. April 25. Village and park district officials preside over the event with a special event sponsored by the Poe Elementary School. Refreshments will be served. (847) 577-3000.
Replace damaged trees:Œ
Students at Saint Thomas School are raising money to help replace trees destroyed recently by vandals at Oak Park, near Clark and Anderson drives in Palatine. In honor of Arbor Day and their efforts, Palatine Park District will host a tree-planting ceremony at 10 a.m. April 25. The students will be joined by park district and village of Palatine staff, the mayor, village council members, park district commissioners and neighbors. Public invited. Call (847) 705-5140.
Trees and songs
The Salt Creek Park District Preschool hosts its annual Arbor Day Celebration at noon April 25 at the Twin Lakes Recreation Area, 1200 E. Twin Lakes Drive, Palatine. Preschool children will plant a tree and sing songs. (847) 259-6890, or e-mail at pfiedler@saltcreekpd.com.
April 26
Free tree seedlings:
Free program for the family will be from 10 a.m. to noon April 26 at the Arlington Heights Historical Museum, 110 W. Fremont St. Activities include a tree planting, free tree seedlings, a special presentation by arborists, and nature-related arts and crafts. (847) 255-1225.
Eco-friendly tips:
Hill Street Nature Center, Hill Street and Rand Road, Mount Prospect, hosts kids activities, recycling tips, recipes for making eco-friendly household cleaning products and hints on trees and planting from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. April 26. (847) 298-3500
Cuddle a lamb
Cuddle a lamb in a petting zoo, examine owl pellets, see pioneer re-enactors and more at the River Trails Park District Earth Day celebration from 1 to 4 p.m. April 26 at Weiss Community Center/Woodland Trails Park, 1500 E. Euclid Ave. Mount Prospect. Dan from Bartlett Park District will be back with his critters at 3 p.m. Bring a cell phones and electronic devices to dispose of through the EPA. (847) 255-1200.
April 27
Earth Day Fair:
Local villages, park districts, garden clubs, etc., will share information on environmental topics at the second annual Earth Day Fair hosted by Vernon Area Public Library District, 300 Olde Half Day Road, Lincolnshire, from noon to 2 p.m. April 27. Enjoy organic snacks from Trader Joe's, green giveaways and raffles, an animal exhibit, worm bin exhibit, the Field Museum Soil Adventure Mobile, Bubba the Art Bus, an Earth Day Scavenger Hunt at 1 p.m. and the library's Second Annual Tree Planting Ceremony at 1:30 p.m. Registration is not required. (847) 634-3650 or visit www.vapld.info.
May 4
Buy a plant
The Backyards for Nature Fair and Native Plant Sale is a celebration of Earth Day/Arbor Day, but it won't happen until May 4, at Spring Valley Nature Center, 1111 E. Schaumburg Road, Schaumburg. From 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. peruse the plants that can turn your back yard into a haven for birds, butterflies and beneficial wildlife while learning all types of gardening tips. Children can build a birdhouse, participate in a planting or take in a puppet show. Adults can learn about natural pesticides, soil improvement tips and planting and landscaping techniques. For information and downloadable order form, visit www.schaumburggardenclub.com, or call Spring Valley at (847) 985-2100.