Celebrate Earth Day At Belle Isle Nature Center

DETROIT, MI — In observance of Earth Day on April 22, the Belle Isle Nature Center is hosting its third annual Green Day celebration 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday, April 20. The free event features indoor and outdoor activities, including earth-friendly crafts, nature hikes and zookeeper talks.

“To commemorate this global holiday celebrating life on our planet, we are offering our visitors an opportunity to learn about actions they can take to sustain a clean, green environment,” said Amy Greene, nature centers director for the Detroit Zoological Society (DZS).

Crafts will include seed balls – made of soil, clay and seeds – to create throw-and-grow plants. “These plants will attract and feed the local pollinators that are so vital to environmental health,” Greene said. Guests will also learn how to make no-sew tote bags from upcycled T-shirts as well as their own green cleaning products from biodegradable and natural materials.

Green Day will feature local conservation specialists who will demonstrate the benefits of green initiatives through artistic and educational presentations. An exhibit by macro photographer Joseph Ferraro will illustrate how insects are crucial to the environment and why humans should pay close attention to the earth’s smallest ambassadors. Local beekeepers will show guests how they can prepare a healthy habitat for bees in their backyards.

Members of EcoWorks Youth Energy Squad will share resources about home-based energy-saving actions that contribute to environmental health. Detroit Garden Center members will deliver a presentation on native plants and their relationships with beneficial insects.

Operated by the Detroit Zoological Society, the Belle Isle Nature Center sits on a 5-acre site surrounded by undisturbed forested wetlands on Belle Isle in Detroit. The facility features indoor animal habitats, a bee exhibit, bird observation window, outdoor native butterfly garden, outdoor classrooms, nature play area and the Blue Heron Lagoon nature trail.

Located at the east end of Belle Isle near the Blue Heron Lagoon, the Belle Isle Nature Center is open daily 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. April through October and Wednesday through Sunday 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. November through March. Admission to the Nature Center is free; a State of Michigan Recreation Passport is required for all personal vehicles to enter Belle Isle State Park.

For information, visit belleislenaturecenter.org.