Geneva Park District’s Peck Farm Park will be the location for the community’s annual Earth Day celebration on April 22.

Hundreds of people are expected to turn out Saturday, April 22 for the 10^th Annual Earth Day event held at Geneva Park District’s Peck Farm Park.

The free, family-friendly event is a collaborative effort between the Geneva Park District and the all-volunteer led Natural Resources Committee of the City of Geneva.

Sponsored by the PrivateBank and Firehouse Pizza, Traci Wicks with the Geneva Park District said there also will be opportunities for kids to play games and participate in activities.

Natural Resource Committee has worked to bring together different groups to provide an opportunity for families to learn about different green initiatives and also educating people about the environment, according to its Chairman Jay Womack.

“And, that one person can definitely make a difference,” he added.

Visitors can purchase rain barrels, receive a bicycle safety check, learn best green practices from vendors, shred documents for free, drop off clean No. 6 Styrofoam, and pick up a free tomato plant.

“Throughout the day, we typically have a steady line of cars dropping off bags and boxes that are shredded for free,” Womack said.

Electronics recycling also will be available through the Kane County Recycling Program for a fee of $25 to $35 (cash only) depending upon size.

Old shoes are being collected by Jolly Old Soles, a local nonprofit that collects shoes and repurposes them, Womack said. US Again will accept old textiles excluding rugs or carpets.

Geneva Public Library is sponsoring a “take a book or leave a book” program at the event. Gently used books can brought to the event and exchanged for another used book.

Vendors will discuss native plants and why they are important to the environment and a great addition to residential landscaping, he added.

Food and beverages will be available for purchase.

Money raised from the event is used to help fund the Geneva’s Natural Resources Committee Greening Geneva Initiative—a plan to reforest Geneva’s parkway tree canopy that was impacted by the loss of Emerald Ash Borer trees.

On Thursday, April 20, the Forest Preserve District of Kane County is hosting an all-day event that will include activities for both kids and adults from stories and crafts in the Nature Center to a habitat restoration activity out in the LeRoy Oakes Forest Preserve.

On Saturday, April 22, volunteers are needed to assist Forest Preserve District of Kane County staff in planting native trees and shrubs.

The District’s staff will take on the arduous job of digging the holes, while volunteers are needed to plant, tamp-down dirt, add water, and mulch native trees and shrubs.

In Elgin, State Representative Anna Moeller, Friends of the Fox River, and the Sierra Club are sponsoring a Fox River Clean-Up on Saturday, April 22.

Garbage bags, gloves, snacks, and water will be provided.  Sturdy shoes, hat, and sunscreen are recommended.

A signature of a parent or guardian is required for participants who under the age of 18.

On Saturday, April 22, the Elgin Sustainability Commission will be hosting its 4^th Annual Earth Day Celebration at the Hawthorne Hill Nature Center in Elgin.

Families can enjoy live music, kids’ activities, photo booth, and crafts while learning about the environment.

Waubonsee Community College will be offering a weekly long series of events to celebrate Earth Day.

All events will take place on the college’s Sugar Grove campus, are free, and open to the public.

Other Earth Day events around the county include:

Aurora

STEM Earth Day is Saturday from 10 a.m.-noon at Cowherd Middle School, 441 N Farnsworth Ave., Aurora. For more information:  call 630-897-1808

Elgin

Fox River Clean-Up is Saturday from 9 a.m. to noon. Meet at the Gail Borden Library Parking Lot, 270 N. Grove Ave., Elgin. Preregistration is recommended, but not required. To register, email StateRepMoeller@gmail.com.  For more information, contact Rep. Moeller’s constituent service office at 847-841-7130.

Fourth Annual Earth Day Celebration, 1-4 p.m., Hawthorne Hill Nature Center, 28 Brookside Drive, Elgin. Free celebration featuring family fun including hikes, seed planting, healthy snacks, face painting, giveaways, nature play, crafts, live music and a photo booth sponsored by the Elgin Sustainability Commission.

St. Charles

Earth Day Open House, Thursday, 10 a.m.-6 p.m., Forest Preserve District of Kane County, LeRoy Oakes– Creek Bend Nature Center, 37W700 Dean St., St. Charles. Events include nature stories for children, nature crafts, an interactive presentation on wild animals in your back yard and a discovery hike and naturalist-led trail activities. 10 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. Tales for Mother Earth – nature stories for children. Advance registration is required. Call 630-444-3190 or email programs@kaneforest.com​

South Elgin

Forest Preserve District of Kane County plans  tree and shrub planting, on Saturday from 10 a.m.-1 p.m. at Kenyon Farm Forest Preserve, 8N700 Barry Rd., South Elgin. For more information call (630) 208-8662 or e-mail volunteer@kaneforest.com

Sugar Grove/Waubonsee Community College

Wednesday’s Earth Week events include Ground Water Study presented by Jerry Elliot
Elliot’s team organized the National Ground Water Monitoring Network and he will discuss their findings., 11 a.m. – Bodie Hall, Room 150. A Sustainability Student Fair runs from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. A trail and habitat walk led by Joe Zappia and Andrew Maltas, Waubonsee Grounds Department will feature the different habitats that exist within the campus borders and begins at 12:30 p.m.  at the Student Center main entrance.

An electronics recycling event is set for Thursday from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. at the Student Center parking lot. TVs will not be accepted. A workshop on Native Landscaping and Yard Conservation is scheduled for 11 a.m. at Bodie Hall, Room 11 a.m.

On Friday, Kyle Lambert, Perennial Manager, The Growing Place, will talk about “Welcoming Native Plants to Your Landscape” at 11:30 a.m. – Student Center, Room 106. A commemorative tree planting and presentation is scheduled for 2 p.m. on the west side of Building A. Attendees will receive a small tree purchased from the Arbor Day Foundation.
 

— Geneva’s 10th Earth Day highlights week focusing on sustainable living —