Earth Day 2024 Events In Skokie: Community Combats Plastic Pollution

SKOKIE, IL — With Earth Day 2024 approaching on Monday, the Skokie community has planted the seeds of a series of environmentally conscious events and celebrations this weekend.

This year’s theme, "Planet vs. Plastics," calls for global effort to rapidly phase out single-use plastics, push for a United Nations treaty addressing plastic pollution and cut the production of all types of plastics by 60 percent by 2040.

Organizations around Evanston are hosting a variety of activities emphasizing community involvement and sustainability catering to all ages.

Here’s a rundown of the some of the events happening in and around Skokie this Earth Day weekend:

Earth Day Celebration
This year's celebration from noon to 5 p.m. Saturday at the Emily Oaks Nature Center, 4650 Brummel St., will recognize the lifestyles of the imminently returning 17-year cicadas and other local animals. Activities are planned along the nature center's trails with opportunities to learn more about the "weird and wonderful lifetimes" of other living creatures on earth. The free, all-ages Skokie Park District event will feature opportunities to purchase sustainable foods, native wildflowers and grasses for local gardens.

Forest Preserve Earth Day Cleanup
Supplies will be available to participants in a free cleanup event from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. in Busse Woods. Check out cleanup materials at Grove 25 at the Busse Lake Boating Center at East Higgins Road and Route 72.

Beach Clean-Up
The weekend kicks off at 8:30 a.m. Saturday at Clark Street Beach, 1811 Sheridan Road, where the city's lakefront team will be on-hand for coffee and doughnuts before taking to the beach to clean up the Lake Michigan shoreline. Call 847-866-2913 for more information.

Earth Day Family Event & Eco Art Supply Sale
Families are invited to the Evanston Art Center, 1717 Central St., from 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. on Sunday to engage in creating collages from recycled materials, with resulting artwork to be displayed in Central Street business windows until May 4. The center is also hosting an "eco" sale of gently used art supplies.

Planting for Pollinators
Oakton College naturalist Amanda Krause will present an introduction to the role of pollinators at the Skokie Public Library, 5215 Oakton St., at 1 p.m. before attendees can walk together to Oakton College's campus to view its pollinator garden space. By the end of the session, participants will have planted hundreds of new plants. All supplies other than clothes and garden gloves will be provided, but the event is capped at 15.

Looking to add another event? Post it to the Skokie Patch Calendar or email Skokie@Patch.com