Crafts and critters offer Earth Day fun at Crabtree Nature Center

Fun outdoor and indoor activities were part of the Earth Day and Nature Play event Saturday at Crabtree Nature Center in Barrington.

Kids made giant bubbles, built structures out of cardboard, created art using natural materials and “planted” flowers into small containers they could take home for replanting.

Ambassador animal specialist Sammy Cabindol showed a different trio of animals during each of three hourly time slots. The first was attended by more than a dozen children and adults, and Cabindol started off the presentation with a three-toed box turtle named “Bruno.”

Cabindol told the group that turtles like Bruno eat a varied diet that includes vegetables, fruit, fish, worms and insect larvae.

Earth Day falls on Wednesday, April 22.