April 22, known as Earth Day, is a global day devoted to celebrating and sustaining the natural world. The event is a tradition that began in 1970 and helped give rise to the modern environmental movement. According to the Earth Day Network, the event was started by Gaylord Nelson, a U.S. Senator from Wisconsin, who came up with the idea as response to a huge oil spill in Santa Barbara, California in 1969.
Environmentalists and others who wish to honor Earth Day 2013 in Metro Detroit will have plenty of opportunities to learn more about the state of our planet and let loose with their love of nature this week. Here's a list of green-friendly things to do around the D:
Green Living Science Detroit Earth Day
Green Living Science is an organization that provides recycling and environmental education to students in the Detroit Public Schools. This Saturday, they're sponsoring a whole bevy of family-friendly activities for earth enthusiasts, including garden bed plantings, rain barrel paintings, a tour of the Recycle Here! recycling center and more. The event takes place April 27 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Lincoln Street Art Park. See website for details.
Earth Day Detroit
Those interested in learning more about growing a garden, food science or genetically modified organisms can find out more at this Earth Day event taking place at 5900 Michigan Ave. in Detroit. The day of activities will also include films, a forum and community actions. It takes place on April 22 between 2-9 p.m. See Facebook page for details.
Oakland County Recycling Center Tours
Ever wonder what happens to the recyclable products after they're dropped off at a recycling center? The Southeastern Oakland County Resource Recovery Authority (SOCCRA) will give residents of its member communities a free first-hand look this week in commemoration of Earth Day. They'll be giving free tours of their Material Recovery Facility to show how recycled items are sorted and baled. The tours take place April 22-27 at 955 Coolidge Highway in Troy. Call Karen Bever at (248) 288-5150 to schedule a tour.
Heritage Park Earth Day Celebration
The Heritage Park Nature Discovery Center in Farmington Hills will be opening a new trail and offering a variety of family-friendly activities for their Earth Day festivities. Kids will be able to take part in archaeological digs, rock painting, face painting, story-telling sessions, marshmallow roasting and more. Heritage Park is located on Farmington Road between Ten and Eleven Mile Roads in Farmington Hills. The free event takes place Monday, April 22, between 5-7 p.m. Call (248) 477-1135 to find out more.
Rain Gardens for the Rouge River Discussion
Sustainable landscapes, rain gardens, and rainwater recycling will be the Earth Day topic of discussion at the Bloomfield Township Public Library on Monday. Donald Carpenter of Lawrence Institute of Technology and Lillian Dean SOCWA (Southeastern Oakland County Water Authority) Healthy Lawns & Gardens Program will be the evening's speakers. The talk will take place between 6:30 pm and 8:30 pm on April 22 at 1099 Lone Pine Rd in Bloomfield Township. Pre-registration is encouraged. See website for details.
Ferndale Fracking Town Hall Meeting
Those interested in finding more about the controversial practice of fracking can learn more by attending a town hall meeting in Ferndale on Tuesday. They'll provide information about state oil and natural gas drilling leases that have been issued for Oakland County. It takes place between 6 to 8 p.m on April 23 at Ferndale City Hall. Contact Craig Covey at (248) 858-1404 or Ryan Cook at (248)975-9707 for more information.
Earth Day Fest
MI Earth Day Fest bills itself as "one of the largest Earth Day gatherings on the planet." The event will feature a variety of speakers, including local beekeeper Rich Wieske who will talk about the dying out of bee colonies around the globe and environmental advocate and video producer Peter Sinclair who will talk about the current status of the climate crisis. There will also be dozens of green products and service exhibits, informative displays, music, kids' activities and more. The festival is hosted by the MI Green Team. It will be taking place April 26-28 on 3rd and Water Streets in downtown Rochester. See website for details.
Arbor Day in Novi
What would Michigan be without trees? The City of Novi will be holding its annual Arbor Day event on Saturday, April 27. Volunteers will have the opportunity to lend a hand planting and mulching trees. Equipment, gloves and snacks will be provided. The event takes place at Lakeshore Park, 601 South Lake Drive, in Novi. For more information, call 248-347-0400.
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