April 22nd is Earth Day, an international celebration of Mother Nature, and a day where anyone can become an activist for the environment. Senator Gaylord Nelson, Congressman Pete McCloskey, and Denis Hayes are credited with the institution of the April 22nd Earth Day Celebrations when they announced plans for a national environmental teach-in on that date in 1970. The event soon spilled out of the classroom and onto the streets of many major cities as activists hit the pavement in protest against pollution and for environmental change. Since that first Earth Day in 1970 people have used the day to plan events around cleaning up their local communities.
Now here is your chance to take part! Great Lake communities throughout Michigan have planned events to celebrate the 43rd Annual Earth Day. Help clean up your local lake shore, or stop in and visit one of the several Earth Day Festivals or Expos being held across the state. Check out the list below to see which events are closest to you!
Thursday & Friday April 11-12, 2013
SNRE Capstone Conference
University of Michigan School of Natural Resources and Environment
Dana Building 440 Church Street, Ann Arbor, MI
www.snre.umich.edu/capstone
A celebration of graduate student research at SNRE
Saturday- April 13th, 2013
Adopt-a-Park Cleanup
Michigan Department of Natural Resources
Holly Recreation Area 8100 Grange Hall Rd, Holly, MI
hollyfriends.org
10 am; Free
Be Out There at Red Oaks Nature Center in Madison Heights
Red Oaks Nature Center
Red Oaks Nature Center 30300 Hales St., Madison Heights, MI
www.destinationoakland.com
2pm-3:30pm; $5 per person
Saturday – April 20th, 2013
Monroe County Earth Day Expo 2013
Monroe County
Loranger Square Downtown, Monroe, MI
www.co.monroe.mi.us/recycling
10am-2pm
Keep it Clean for Earth Day at Indian Springs Metropark in White Lake
Indian Springs Metropark
Indian Springs Metropark Environmental Discovery Center, 5200 Indian Trail, White Lake, MI
www.metroparks.com
1 pm; Free; Pre-register
8th Annual FREE Earth Day Expo
Local Environmental Groups
Midland Center for the Arts, 1801 W. Saint Andrews Rd, Midland, MI
(989)-631-5930
10 am-2 pm; Free
Wetland Wake-Up Day
Michigan Department of Natural Resources
Bay City Recreation Area, 3582 State Park Drive, Bay City, MI
(989)-667-0717
9 am-4 pm
Earth Day Extravaganza
Fenner Nature Center & MSU Fisheries and Wildlife Club
Fenner Nature Center, 202 East Mount Hope Ave, Lansing, MI
www.mynaturecenter.org/EarthDayExtravaganza
7 am-3 pm
23rd Annual Earth Day Cleanup Day at Lake St. Clair Metropark
Lake St. Clair Metropark
Lake St. Clair Metropark, 31300 Metropolitan Parkway, Harrison Twp, MI
www.metroparks.com
9 am-2 pm; Free; Pre-register
3rd Annual Grand River Green Up
West Michigan Environmental Action Council & Grand Haven Area Jaycees
Harbor Island Fair Grounds
www.grandrivergreenup.com/
9 am-12 pm; Pre-register
Monday – April 22nd, 2013
Earth Day Cleanup
Michigan Department of Natural Resources
Keith J. Charters Traverse City State Park, 1132 U.S. 31, Traverse City, MI
(231)-922-5270
11 am; Beach cleanup & Water quality monitoring
Muskegon Area Earth Week: Earth Fair
Muskegon Area Sustainability Coalition
MAREC in Downtown Muskegon, 200 Viridian Lane, Muskegon, MI
www.muskegonasc.org/pages/EarthWeek.aspx
1 pm-4 pm
Friday & Saturday April 26 & 27, 2013
The St. Clair County 2013 Earth Fair
St. Clair County
Goodells County Park in St. Clair County County, Park Dr., Wales, MI
www.earthdayfair.com
Friday: 9 am-5 pm Saturday: 10 am-4pm; FREE
Friday, Saturday & Sunday April 26-28, 2013
MI Earth Day Fest in Downtown Rochester
MI Green Team
Downtown Area Rochester, MI
miedf.org
Friday: 4-8pm; Saturday: 10am-8pm; Sunady: 10am-4pm; FREE