Earth Day 2014 is April 22. There are many events going on in and near Portage County that you and your family can participate in. Whether you’re looking to be educated, entertained or engaged in something hands-on, this list that will help you locate the place to suit your ‘green’ side.
Saturday, April 19
3rd Annual Plant Swap and Earth Day Celebration – Portage County Barter & Trade
2 pm
Ravenna City Park
Oakwood Street
Ravenna, OH
Free event open to the public. Events include:
- a plant swap
- science fair with prizes in three age groups (5-8)(9-12)(13-15), visual displays needed only. Projects to be at location by 1:30 pm
- a fundraiser for the APL – we will be selling paw prints where people can write their name or pet’s name on it. You can also bring aluminum cans
- free face painting
- Nintendo take back program – we will be collecting old or broken Nintendo products for the company to recycle.They will also take competitor products if you’ve recently upgraded to a Nintendo product.
- a white sock contest – a sock will be provided for exhaust. Person with the dirtiest sock wins a free tune-up!
- a sapling drive for Habitat for Humanity – please bring small decorative trees and shrubs for new constructions.
- a walking trail – this will be a short walk to pick up any litter in the area.
Let’s rally together this year and make Earth Day 2014 matter!
Visit The North Water Street Gallery
257 N. Water St Downtown Kent
View “Local Natives,” the Environmental Art Exhibit which runs through May 17.
Annual Earth Day Cleanup at West Branch State Park
5570 Esworthy Road, Ravenna, Ohio 44266
Sign in begins at 9:00 a.m
Discounted camping rates available for participating in litter clean-up!!
Buy one night of camp and receive a 50% discount off of the second night.
Valid for Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights only.
Volunteers for clean-up meet at the west boat ramp located off of Rockspring Road (access Rockspring from the south at Tallmadge Road.)
Tuesday, April 22
Growing Cities Film
6:30 – 8:30 pm
Film and Panel Discussion about “Edible Kent” at Kent Free Library, 312 Main St., Kent. FREE!
Filmmakers take a trip across country meeting city dwellers across America who are revitalizing their communities and re-imagining the food system one rooftop farm and backyard chicken at a time.
Growing Cities is a documentary film that examines the role of urban farming in America and asks how much power it has to revitalize our cities and change the way we eat.
Full description HERE.
Earth Day Breakfast, Birds and Blooms
7:30 am – 10:30 am
Ford Nature Center
840 Old Furnace Road
Youngstown, OH 44511
330.740.7107
Celebrate Earth Day with us. We’ll start with a light breakfast and some bird viewing at Ford Nature Center. Then we’ll ride the trolley to various locations in the MetroParks deemed the best for viewing the season’s birds and blooms. Brief stops for viewing may require a short walk, wear sturdy shoes. Limited seating. Pre-register/pay 36 hours in advance at Ford Nature Center. Fees: $10 resident, $12 non-resident. Visit their website.
Friday, April 25
Environmental Film Festival
6 – 9 pm
KIVA Auditorium. Projector powered by a Solar Trailer. Kent State University Student Center.
$5 General. $3 Students/Seniors
“Clean Up Kent” Day
Hometown Bank Plaza from 2-5 pm
Main Street Kent will set up a table at the Hometown Bank Plaza with supplies to share: trash bags, gloves, dustpans, buckets, brooms, etc. A limited number of “Clean Up Kent” t-shirts will be given away to volunteers on a first-come-first-serve basis as well.
This is the third event of its kind, after having two successful clean up days in April and November of 2013. All are invited to pitch in with the first clean up day of 2014. Members of service organizations, scouts, business owners, community members and anyone else who is interested in sprucing up our downtown that day is more than welcome to join us.
Please call 330-677-8000 or email heather@mainstreetkent.org with any questions.
Saturday, April 26
Main Street Block Party
Main Street between Depeyster and Water Streets in Downtown Kent
11am – 5pm
Downtown Kent’s Main Street will be closed off for Environmental Vendors, a Parade of Eco Heros, Music, Children’s Poetry, and Alternative Energy Displays. FREE!
Party for the Planet at The Akron Zoo
11am – 4 pm
Regular zoo admission rates apply
Join us to learn more about our planet and what we can do to help the environment. Exhibitors from the area will be available to offer information on green practices and preserving our environment. They’ll also provide giveaways for attendees. Crafts, activities and animal encounters, along with visits from zoo mascot, Conrad Conservation, will entertain your brain at this party. Visit their website.
Family Day: Earth Day
Akron Art Museum
1 South High
Akron, OH
Drop by and get your hands dirty with plantable art and recycled art activities using everyday objects, then feed your senses as you grow to the rhythm with our guest musicians from Tuesday Musical Association. Activities include: Soup can robots, birdseed pinecones, homemade paper pulp seed starters, crayon mobile, plastic bag bike handles, and contributions from local GOJO company to create up-cycled birdhouses from used soap and PURELL containers.
Appropriate for all ages. Free activities for families. Adults $7, Seniors $5, Children 17 and under free!
Visit their website.