Wednesday marks the 40th Earth Day, and volunteers with the Sierra Club, Illinois Chapter, which is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year, are marking the occasion at with park cleanups, habitat restoration projects, and public education events around the state. All the events are open to the public.
This Earth Day we are celebrating the big difference that each of us can make for the planet. We face big problems, but we also have made big progress in 50 years of protecting the Prairie State. Sierra Club invites anyone with a couple hours to spare this week to join us as we get our hands dirty to make Illinois just a little cleaner and greener.
The list of Illinois projects includes:
SATURDAY, APRIL 25TH
BARRINGTON HILLS - 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Event: Earth Day Celebration at Spring Creek - Ecological Restoration of Woodlands and Prairies
Spring Creek is an ecologically diverse, large forest preserve that offers native plants and animals a protected oasis of 3,900 acres of land where they can nest, reproduce and live. We are working to restore this land as quickly as possible. The more volunteer hands we have, the more area will get cleared. Whole Foods will be providing lunch. Guest Speakers and Educational Tours of the Area. No need to RSVP, just bring your spring clearing spirit and wear gloves, long pants, work shoes, bug and tick repellent. We supply the rest.
Location: Barrington Hills, north of I-90 on Rt. 72 (W. Higgins Rd.) 1 mile west of Rt. 59 Turn north on Wichman Road to the Headwaters parking lot
Contact for More Information: Donna Hriljac 847-967-7835 or email misky272000@yahoo.com
ELGIN - 9 A.M. - 5 P.M.
Event: Exhibiting at the Elgin ECCO
Bringing families and businesses in the community together to become better educated on the effects of global warming and to make us a more sustainable community. Find out how our Midwest neighbors, community non-profits and city departments are working together to make our cities healthier places to live, work and play.
Location: Elgin Community College Fox Valley University and Business Center Building
1700 Spartan Drive ~ Elgin, Illinois 60123
AURORA - 11 A.M.
Event: Annual Earthday Celebration and Big Woods Forest Preserve Cleanup
Big Woods Forest Preserve is a neglected preserve and struggling to stay healthy, as it has been bookended with urban sprawl and the wetlands and prairies are filthy with plastic bags, garbage, and styrofoam. Lunch provided after the cleanup.
Location: Meet at 2651 Prairieview Lane South, Aurora
Contact: Terri at 630-585-9212
PEORIA - 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Event: Display and tabling at the Forest Park Nature Center Earth Day Festival.
The Dirty Truth about Coal" photos of mining impacts, handouts of health impacts and environmental costs of using coal.
Location: 5809 Forest Park Drive, Peoria, 61614
Contact for More Information: John Wosik, 309-243-2230
SUNDAY, APRIL 26TH
SPRINGFIELD - 5:00 pm and 7:00 pm
Event: Green Jobs Sunday - Earth Week Film Fest Double Feature
Location: Hoogland Center for the Arts, 420 South Sixth in Springfield
Contact for More Information: Will Reynolds - willinois@gmail.com
MONDAY, APRIL 27
CHAMPAIGN - 7:00 pm
Event: Geen Business Earth Day Forum
Presenting business owners discussing how they are incorporating environmentally sound practices into their business, including: The local Coca Cola Bottling Co, Ippatsu Hair Salon, McKinley Presbyterian Church (Presby Hall LEED certified building), Prairie Rain Harvester's Austin Grammer (sells rain barrels, compost tumblers and other green garden products), and B. Lime, a new green store in downtown Champaign
Location: Champaign Public Library
MAY 2 & 3
CARBONDALE
Event:Shawnee Energy Fest
Over 30 workshops on Energy Conservation, Renewable energy, permaculture, organic gardening, living off the grid, geothermal systems, local food panel, greening the city panel, kids activities, bands, food, and more!
Location: Green Retreat - 3 miles west of Carbondale on Chautauqua Rd. & Rt. 127
Contact for More Information: Barb McKasson at babitaji@aol.com
SATURDAY, MAY 30TH
SPRINGFIELD - 10:00 am to 4:00 pm
Event: Earth Awareness Fair and GreenFest
Location: Prairie Capital Convention Center, One Convention Center Plaza in Springfield
Contact for More Information: Wynne Coplea at Wynne.Coplea@cwlp.com
More details, including directions to many sites, are available at http://illinois.sierraclub.org. Each site will feature excellent visuals of Sierra Club volunteers working at these sites. Advance interviews may be possible at some of the sites.
