Every day should be Earth Day, but there have been annual Earth Day celebrations each year since April 1970, thanks to Gaylord Nelson, who brought special attention to the environmental challenges we face. This year, our local groups will again lead or participate in various Earth Day activities, so please join in.
CHIPPEWA VALLEY GROUP
Gaylord Nelson Earth Green Award event, Monday, April 15, 5:30 p.m., First Congregational UCC, Eau Claire. Join the Chippewa Valley Group Sierra Club to celebrate a local environmental hero, Chris Gaetzke, director of Lower Chippewa Invasives Partnership. Reception with wine and appetizers ($25 adults, $15 students) and a program. Contact Caryn Treiber at (715) 684-9374.
Explore the Tyrone Lower Chippewa State Natural Area, Sunday, April 21, 1 p.m. Meet at Tyrone parking area, 6 miles SW of Meridean on Meridean Road. Andrew Norman, Stewardship Manager, Landmark Conservancy, will lead the educational hike. Contact Andrew Norman at andrew@landmarkwi.org or (715) 235-8850.
COULEE REGION GROUP
The Coulee Group is participating in a La Crosse River Marsh cleanup effort, Saturday, April 27 by picking up trash along River Valley Drive through the marsh. Check Facebook for more details, but last year’s event was from 9 a.m. - 1 p.m. at Myrick Park in La Crosse, and lunch was provided. The event occurs rain or shine. Bring gloves.
The Coulee Region Group will participate in the La Crosse Earth Fair Step Up to Green in 2019! on Sunday, April 28 from 11 a.m. - 5 p.m. at Myrick Park in La Crosse and will have a booth covering local environmental issues. If you’d like to help, they are looking for volunteers. Watch for more info on their web page and events list, and contact Pat Wilson at pbwilson@centurytel.net regarding either of these events.
FOUR LAKES GROUP
The John Muir Chapter is again a sponsor of the UW Nelson Institute Earth Day Conference, Imagine and Adapt, at Monona Terrace in Madison on Monday, April 22. This year’s event has many noted speakers, including former Senator Russ Feingold and former Governor Tommy Thompson. More info at https://earthday.nelson.wisc.edu.
The Four Lakes Group is a sponsor of Forever Muir event with Muir’s great-great-grandson, Robert Hanna, on Monday, April 22 at the Wisconsin Historical Society, 816 State St, Madison. Registration is at https://groundswellwisconsin.org/page.asp?page=forevermuir. Hanna will provide a personal, up-close view of John Muir with unique stories and many seldom seen family images at 6:30 p.m., followed by a reception at 7:30 p.m.
FOX VALLEY GROUP
Fox Valley Group Earth Day Hike, Saturday, April 20, 9 a.m. at the Little Lake Butte des Morts Loop the Lake Trail. Start and registration is at Arrowhead Park, 355 Millview Dr., Neenah. The 3.5-mile hike will be on a flat trail accessible for kids’ strollers and people with disabilities. There will also be tabling and snacks and refreshments at Fritse Park along the loop, and a free picnic lunch for volunteers. Pre-registration encouraged at www.sierraclub.org/wisconsin/fox-valley. Rain date is April 27. Contact John Engel at johnwilliamengel@gmail.com.
GREAT WATERS GROUP
This year the Great Waters Group will again be celebrating Earth Day on two fronts, showcasing our service to Mother Earth, with a focus on water and community as part of the Milwaukee Riverkeeper’s 24th Annual River Cleanup on Saturday, April 27 from 9 a.m. - noon. Go to www.milwaukeeriverkeeper.org to sign up.
Lincoln Creek Cleanup, 35th and Congress, Milwaukee
Volunteers will clean up trash along a wild stretch of Lincoln Creek from 35th and Congress to 34th and Hampton. Contact Dan Buckler at daniel.c.buckler@gmail.com.
Earth Day Nearby Nature Community Celebration, Washington Park Urban Ecology Center, Milwaukee
A celebration of resources and the grassroots environmental movement in the Community. There will be service work in Washington Park from 9 a.m. - noon and a lunch for volunteers at noon. The keynote speaker will be August Ball, founder and CEO of Cream City Conservation, and there will be information tables. Contact David Thomas at david@thomerwald.net.
SOUTHEAST GATEWAY GROUP
Earth Day events will be held at Gateway College’s Kenosha and Elkhorn campus, Saturday, April 13 from 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. with displays, workshops, hands-on activities for people of all ages, and other environment-related activities. The Kenosha campus is at 3520 30th Avenue, and the Elkhorn campus is at 400 Hwy H. The Southeast Gateway group will have a table there. Contact Tom Rutkowski at (262) 681-2988.
These are examples of the many events our Groups regularly hold or participate in to highlight and bring attention to our love of nature and support for our environmental heritage. Don’t miss out on many more opportunities on May 11 when we’ll have events around the state to show our support for restoring the funding our State Parks need.
Photo of naturalist leading a nature walk in the Northern Highlands State Forest at Star Lake courtesy of Wisconsin DNR.