5 Plus Ways to Celebrate Earth Day

What better way to celebrate Earth Day than by enjoying spring as it is in full bloom either giving back at area parks or learning about conservation and nature through programs around the area.

What began as Earth Day on April 22, 1970 has turned into a month of programs to celebrate Mother Earth. A number of programs and promotion are being held locally in honor of Earth Day.

Riverwalk Cleanup

The is seeking volunteers who are ready to spend time at area parks either weeding, picking up litter or twigs and other tasks.  Volunteers are encouraged to join others at the Clean-Up Day  Saturday from 9 a.m. to noon. Or, volunteers may schedule a project at another park any time during Earth Week (through April 22) by contacting Lynnette Hoole at lhoole@napervilleparks.org or 630-848-3606.

Settlement Celebration

The  and the Naperville Heritage Society will hold an Earth Day Celebration this weekend. Visitors to the Naper Settlement will be able to learn more about the new interior roads and how they help the DuPage River watershed. The celebration will be held from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and 1 to 4 p.m. Sunday. Naperville residents will have free admission. The event will also included guided tours of rain gardens and a variety of activity stations and demonstrations. For more information, visit www.napersettlement.museum.

Forest Preserve Fun

Several programs will held though the Forest Preserve District of DuPage County on Sunday.

Visitors to the Fullersburg Woods Nature Education Center can participate in “Go Green! A Celebration of Conservation.” The celebration of conservation will include hands-on activities, crafts and games, and allow kids to discover ways to “go green” and be eco-friendly. Activities will be ongoing Sunday afternoon from noon to 4 p.m. The Fullersburg Woods Nature Education Center is located at 3609 Spring Road in Oak Brook. All ages are welcome and admission is free, though there are fees for some activities. Registration is not required. To learn more call 630-850-8110. 

Learn about beekeeping equipment and the important role that bees serve in our food supply at the Kline Creek Farm. Beekeepers will be available to answer your questions about honey and bees. Demonstrations will be ongoing. The event will be from 1:30 – 3:30 p.m. Sunday at the Kline Creek Farm, 1N 600 County Farm Road in West Chicago. The event is for all ages and is free. No registration required. Learn more by calling 630-876-5900.

After learning about bees, watch and learn about the process of sheep shearing. Once the sheep are sheared, visitors will learn how washed wool is turned into spun yarn. The activities will be ongoing throughout the day Sunday from 10 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. at Kline Creek Farm, 1N 600 County Farm Road in West Chicago. The program is free and open to all ages. Registration is not required. For more information call 630-876-5900. 

Coffee freebie

In honor of Earth Day, announced that it will be offering customers free coffee those who bring in a reusable mug on Earth Day, Sunday. In January, Caribou announced that it was 100 percent it is Rainforest Alliance Certified, which means that its farmers, as well as their families and communities, receive decent wages, access to education and medical care, and that beans are harvested responsibly to protect the environment, according to . In addition to the free coffee offer, Caribou is partnering with Project 7 to plant a fruit tree for every pack of Project 7 gum or mints purchased at Caribou Coffee through April 30. As part of this, Project 7 will plant trees in Haiti and El Salvador in August 2012