April is Earth Month and Wood County and Bowling Green agencies are collaborating to provide multiple events geared toward conservation, education and family fun. The Seventh Annual Community Earth Day Celebration will be the culminating event held on Sunday, April 24th, 2016 from 2-4 pm at the Montessori School of BG, 515 Sand Ridge Road. This free family event has nature science education stations including: a giant Earth Ball, archery, a power-generating bicycle, bookmobile, art projects and crafts, nature walks, various giveaways including live saplings and much more.
There is a Passport for the Community Earth Day Celebration that can be picked up at the welcome table on the day of the event. Have the passport stamped at each booth and once complete, turn in the passport to be registered for great giveaways.
For a list of the activities during April, please visit www.communityearthday.com.
Community Earth Day Celebration booths include the following participants and family-friendly interactive activities:
The City of Bowling Green Utilities Division will be providing attendees with the opportunity to generate electricity using the Energy Bike. This stationary bicycle is connected to an electric motor that produces energy to power light bulbs, a radio, a fan and a heater. Through the resistance created by the motor, riders get direct feedback on the energy required to operate each appliance.
BG Parks and Recreation will have both an interactive booth and naturalist-led nature walks that are fun for the whole family. Nature walk times are 2:30 and 3:30 pm.
Ohio Department of Natural Resources activity:
The Maumee State Scenic and Recreational River is an important resource for aquatic organisms and people. At the ODNR, Scenic Rivers table, families will have an opportunity to see the types of critters that live in the river and how they function as water quality indicators.
The Wood County Park District will have multiple activities including: an archery range, pet rock making, a water filtration activity, free program guides and a hands-on craft giveaway.
The Wood County District Public Library will have stories, a craft and the earth-friendly bookmobile that runs on compressed natural gas. On the bookmobile, books and media can be checked out using a WCDPL library card. There will also be a special storybook walk of The Earth Book by Todd Parr
The Wood Soil & Water Conservation District will have a fun ring toss games and prizes.
More April Community Earth month events:
April 2nd Greenhouse Kids; 10:00- 11:15 am at Reuthinger Preserve. Kids learn about gardening fun and plant a seed in a recycled pot to take home. Register at www.wcparks.org.
April 9th Recycle your old electronics for FREE!; 10:00 am – 1:00 pm at BGSU Ice Arena. Recycle old electronics (no TVs, CRT monitors, or large appliances are accepted). Contact greenbg@bgsu.edu with questions. www.bgsu.edu
April 12th, 16th, 19th and 26th Garlic Mustard Removal; various times and parks. Learn about invasive plant species while you help pull and dispose of this invasive plant before it goes to seed. No experience is needed and we need all hands on deck. Register at www.wcparks.org.
April 14th “Trashed” Documentary Screening; 7:00 – 9:00 pm at BGSU Psychology Building room 108. Watch this free screening of a powerful documentary that sheds light on our consumption of resources. http://www.bgsu.edu/campus-sustainability/earth-month.html#sthash.RXfhXeb2.dpuf
April 15th Woodcock Watch; 8:15 – 9:00 pm at Baldwin Woods Preserve. Hike with a naturalist to discover this little shorebird and their amazing flying maneuvers. Register at www.wcparks.org.
April 16th Earth Day Family Seed Planting; 9:00 am at Wintergarden Nature Preserve. Families will distribute seeds in the Bordner Meadow. The program is free to the first 8 families. Register at www.bgohio.org.
April 18th “Good COP, Bad COP: The Paris Climate Accord” Guest Lecture; 7:00 – 8:00 pm at BGSU Bowen-Thompson Student Union Theater room 206. Dr. Henry Pollack, a professor emeritus of Geophysics at the University of Michigan, will be presenting a blend of climate science and policy in a lecture sharing his research on how to move forward with public policy even though there is scientific uncertainty. – See more at: http://www.bgsu.edu/campus-sustainability/earth-month.html
April 20th BGSU Eco Fair; 11:00 am – 2:00 pm outside of the Bowen-Thompson Student Union. Head outside & celebrate the Earth at BGSU’s annual Eco-Fair! Environmental organizations, groups, and initiatives from all across the region will be in the Union Oval from 11am -2pm. Come find out about all sorts of ways to get involved while meeting other individuals who have a passion for change-making! http://www.bgsu.edu/campus-sustainability/earth-month.html
April 20th Wildflower Wednesday; 6:30 – 7:30 pm at Cedar Creek Preserve. Journey on a naturalist-led walk looking for trout lily, trillium and more. Register at www.wcparks.org.
April 21st Bike for a Better BG; 5:15 pm at the BGSU Bowen Thompson Student Union (outside). In a collaborative effort between BGSU students & community members, this critical mass bike ride will encourage people to ride their bikes, raise awareness for the need of bike lanes in the city, and to have fun riding our bikes with our neighbors! More information here: http://www.bgsu.edu/campus-sustainability/earth-month.html
April 21st Living Green: Your Dream Home; 6:30 – 8:00 pm at W.W. Knight Nature Preserve. Save money and energy by learning about the Dream Green Home. Register at www.wcparks.org.
April 22nd Cache-In-Trash-Out (CITO) International Weekend Cleanup; 1:00 – 3:00 pm at William Henry Harrison Park. Help clean up the park while embarking on a modern day treasure hunt – Geocaching. All volunteers are welcome, limited GPS devices for program-specific caches. Dress to get dirty and be prepared for brief self-guided trail exploration. Bring drinking water. A change of clothes and shoes are recommended. Register at www.wcparks.org.
April 22nd After-School Vermicomposting; 3:30 – 4:30 pm at Way Public Library. Composting is cool!
April 22nd BG Earth Fest Concert 2016; 8:00 – 11:59 pm at Grounds for Thought. Join BGSU students & members of the community at Grounds for Thought Coffee Shop for musical performances by multiple artists. This collaborative concert will focus on raising awareness for environmental issues, promoting sustainability, and encouraging students to get involved. http://www.bgsu.edu/campus-sustainability/earth-month.html
April 23rd Preschool Story Time; 10:00 – 10:45 am at Way Public Library, 101 E Indiana Ave, Perrysburg, OH 43551.
April 24th Community Earth Day Celebration 2:00 – 4:00 pm at Montessori BG, 515 Sand Ridge Road. FREE community event with interactive educational stations and so much more! No registration needed; all are welcome.
April 27th Nature Tech: iNaturalist 7:00 – 8:30 pm at W.W. Knight Nature Preserve, 29530 White Road, Perrysburg. Help the Park District photograph and identify the plants and animals of Wood County. The list of species is approaching 200! Join the search for new creatures to add to the list. Register at www.wcparks.org.
April 29th Arbor Day Celebration 2:00 – 3:00 pm at Bicentennial Park, 200 Mark Lane Perrysburg, OH. Families welcome to participate in the annual event of planting an Arbor Day tree and learning about the past history of trees in our area. No registration needed; all are welcome.
April 30th Wood County Master Gradener Plant Exchange 9:00 – 11:00 am at
Wood County Fairgrounds, Home and Garden Building 13800 W Poe Rd, Bowling Green, OH 43402. Sponsored by: Master Gardener Volunteers and the Ohio State University Extension Office. Schedule of Events: 9 – 10 am – Plant Drop Off, 9 – 10 am – Get your gardening questions answered, 10 – 11 am – Plant Exchange area opens with Information booths, demonstrations, and much more. Two free plants (subject to availability) to everyone who attends. Receive one additional plant for each plant you bring to exchange. We are now using numbered wristbands. No long lines! For more information, contact OSU Extension Office (419) 354-9050
May 1st Northwestern Water and Sewer District Open House 1:00 – 4:00 pm at 12560 Middleton Pike (St. Rt. 582) Bowling Green, OH 43402. Join in the free family fun with: free grilled lunch & drinks, free slushes from Mr. Melon, free giveaways & door prizes, inflatables, kids pedal tractor pull, fishing derby with prizes, building tours, employee operations challenge, interactive booths, free water shed water dispensing, meet the board & employees who serve you and a short program at 2:00 pm. Register by calling (419) 354-9090 x196, or emailing district@nwwsd.org.
May 7th Recycle Roundup 9:00 am – 12:00 pm at Perrysburg Township Office Complex 26609 Lime City Rd., Perrysburg, OH 43551. This service opportunity is open to residents of: City of Perrysburg, Perrysburg Township, Middleton Township and the City of Rossford. HHW collection, document destruction and small electronics recycling Check www.ci.perrysubrg.oh.us for detailed information.
May 9th Pollinators Workshop 7:00 – 8:00 pm at Way Public Library, 101 E Indiana Ave, Perrysburg, OH 43551. Lecture on the role of bees and other pollinators and how to plant for pollinators. Adult program, no registration required.
