Earth Day is officially celebrated April 22 but dozens of events in Colorado in the days before and after have popped up, all intended to encourage folks to love Mother Earth. Organizers of the big-deal global celebration say Earth Day 2010 represents the opportunity to advance climate policy, energy efficiency, renewable energy and green jobs.
Here’s how the locals are responding to the challenge:
THURSDAY April 22
Earth Day fair The City and County of Denver is hosting a free Earth Day Fair from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on the west lawn of Civic Center Park (weather permitting). There will be activities for kids accompanying their parents on “take your child to work” day and Earth-friendly table exhibits and displays by various non-profit organizations, private companies and City agencies. Info: denvergov.org/EarthDay/.
THURSDAY (April 22)Earth Day B-Cycle event Denver B-Cycle members can pick up a B-cycle from conveniently located B-stations around the city and drop it off after using it at any other B-station. It’s an affordable, clean way to get around town that’s also good for the environment. The Denver B-Cycle Kick-off Event starts at 8:30 a.m. with a press conference at Webb Municipal Building, 201 W. Colfax Avenue. There will be a music celebration at 9 a.m. at Civic Center Park followed by a bike parade around the park led by Mayor Hickenlooper at 9:45 a.m. At noon, the Denver B-Cycle System will be turned on and fully operational. To become a B-Cycle member, go to https://denver.bcycle.com/JoinNow.aspx.
THURSDAY (April 22)Earth Day celebration and sustainability fair The annual free Earth Day Celebration and Student Sustainability Fair will be from 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. on the Lory Student Center Plaza at Colorado State University, Fort Collins. The event features more than 100 student organizations, local green non-profits and businesses and green career booths along with live music. Rattan Lal, professor of soil physics and director of the Carbon Management and Sequestration Center at the Ohio State University, will be the featured speaker during the Gary A. Peterson and Dwayne G. Westfall Annual Lecture at 3 p.m. in the Lory Student Center North Ballroom. The lecture, “Soils, Climate Change and Global Food Security,” is free. Info: green.colostate.edu/earth-week.aspx.
THURSDAY (April 22)Earth Day expo A “Down to Earth Expo” will be from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Lakewood’s Civic Center Plaza, 480 S. Allison Pkwy. There will be live music, informational lectures, demonstrations and exhibitors from local “green” businesses and nonprofits showing how to incorporate sustainable practices into daily activities. Take a canned food or pet food donation to support a local food bank or pet shelter and receive a biodegradable pot with planted seeds. Info: lakewood.org/green or 303-987-7431.
THURSDAY (April 22)Earth Day display Tallulah Jones, 1122 E. 17th Ave., Denver, has an Earth Day display set up. The display emphasizes educating children in both being green and loving nature. They are also offering an Earth Day special: if you take in a reuseable bag, you can receive 10 percent off of your whole purchase. Info: 303-832-1230.
THURSDAY (April 22)Tree/wildflower seed giveaway A “Tree and Wildflower Seed Giveaway,” by Lakewood’s Urban Parks Division, will be from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Whole Foods Market in Belmar, 444 S. Wadsworth Blvd., Whole Foods will donate 5% or the day’s store sales to Lakewood’s Surfside facility. Info: lakewood.org/green or 303-987-7431.
THURSDAY (April 22)Whale lecture and book signing Captain Paul Watson, star of Animal Planet’s show “Whale Wars,” will give a free lecture on the importance of saving the ecosystem as it supports the planet at 6 p.m. at Colorado College, Armstrong Theater, inside Armstrong Hall, 14 E. Cache La Poudre St., Colorado Springs. A book signing will take place prior to the lecture; Watson will sign copies of “Earth Force” and “Seal Wars” from 5-5:45 p.m. in Armstrong Hall. Info: coloradocollege.edu/news_events/ or 719-389-6607.
THURSDAY (April 22)Earth Day “lunch and learn” event “Eating for the Environment,” a lunch-time presentation, will be from 12:11 to 12:49 p.m. at the Colorado Springs City Administration Building, 30 S. Nevada, Ste. 102. In honor of Earth Day, attendees will get samples of earth-friendly foods and information to take with them. Take a sack lunch to enjoy during the presentation if desired. Attendees will also have the opportunity to win a door prize tote bag made from recycled City banners. Info: contact City of Colorado Spring Sustainability Coordinator Carrie McCausland, 719-385-2746 or cmccausland@springsgov.com.
THURSDAY (April 22)Earth Day electronics recycling event The Associated Students of Aims Community College in partnership with Schaefer Enterprises will sponsor an “E-Cycle” event from 9 a.m. to noon at the Greeley campus in the General Services parking lot, 5401 W. 20th St. Aims students, employees and Greeley residents are invited to drop-off the following electronic items for recycling: computers, televisions, electronics, cellphones, batteries and old diskettes. Greeley residents must show proof of residency at the drop-off site. Info: contact Student Vice President of Campus Life Trev Starr at 970-339-6225.
THURSDAY (April 22)Earth Day concert “Earth Day-Ja Vu,” a dance concert featuring Dan Rose, Seismic Shift and Friends, will be from 7:30-11 p.m. at the Nederland Community Center, 750 N. Hwy. 72. Doors open at 7 p.m. Cost is $15; proceeds benefit Carousel of Happiness. Info: contact Janette Taylor at 303-258-3586 or e-mail janette.taylor@forethought.net.
THURSDAY (April 22)Earth Day/environmental film screening “Food, Inc.” a film by Robert Kenner exploring our nation’s food industry and the “highly mechanized underbelly that has been hidden from the American consumer with the consent of our government’s regulatory agencies, USDA and FDA,” will be shown at 7 p.m. and 9 p.m. at the Mayan Theater, 110 N. Broadway in Denver. Free. Info: 303-744-6883.
THURSDAY (April 22)Car battery recycling opportunity AAA Colorado is supporting Earth Day by sponsoring a car battery recycling effort. From April 22 through April 24, consumers can take used car batteries to Grease Monkey, 7181 N. Pecos St., Denver or to Mike’s Conoco, 4880 Federal Blvd., Denver. A battery pick-up service is also offered for Denver metro residents. Call 303-753-8800, ext. 8196 to schedule battery pick-up from your home or business. A complete list of AAA Colorado Great Battery Round-up sites throughout Colorado can be found at AAA.com.
FRIDAY April 23
Earth Week program on birding Meet at 9 a.m. at Lakewood’s Heritage Center, 801 S. Yarrow St., for “Birding in Belmar Park,” a free, guided bird walk through the park. Check for space availability by calling 303-987-7420.
SATURDAY April 24
Earth Day fair A free Earth Day fair, with interactive booths, activities, guided bird walks, information about composting and using water wisely and more, will be from 9 a.m. to noon at Morrison Nature Center at Star K Ranch, 16002 E. Smith Road, Aurora. No registration is required. Info: 303-739-2428.
SATURDAY (April 24)Earth Day fair An Earth Day Fair will be from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Evergreen Lake House, 29614 Upper Bear Creek Road. There will be over 50 federal, state and local agencies, nonprofit organizations and businesses presenting up-to-date information on critical issues. There are numerous activities planned for children. HawkQuest will present live raptors. There will also be speakers and presentations. Shuttle parking is available at the Wulf Recreation Center. Admission is free. Info: evergreenaudubon.org, 720-219-7165 or visit Earth Day & Beyond on Facebook.
SATURDAY (April 24)Earth Week volunteer restoration event Volunteers are needed to do trail work, habitat restoration and litter cleanup from 8 a.m. to noon at Bear Creek Lake Park, 15600 W. Morrison Road. Lunch will be provided, courtesy of REI, Whole Foods and Vitamin Water. Info: Lakewood.org/green or 303-987-7431.
SATURDAY (April 24)Earth Day event Pikes Peak’s Earth Day event will be from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the LEED Certified Art Center at Colorado College. The 2010 theme is “40 Years of Earth Day: ReVision — RePurpose — ReNew.” The event features green businesses, children’s activities, entertainment, environmental presentations, food, art and more. Info: pikespeakearthday.org.
SATURDAY (April 24)Home energy sweep The Boulder Green Building Build needs volunteers for a 475-home energy sweep on April 24 in Longmont. The door-to-door initiative provides low and moderate income households with the free installation of energy conservation measures and energy efficiency advice. There is also a home energy sweep planned for Fall of 2010. Info: 303-441-3912 or e-mail dhatchimonji@bouldercounty.org.
SATURDAY (April 24)Earth Day neighborhood energy efficiency push The Neighborhood Action Partnership is pooling its resources for a neighborhood energy efficiency push in the Five Points and Swansea neighborhoods. Groundwork Denver will lead collaborative partners and hundreds of volunteers on a door-to-door canvas to change Denver’s incandescent porch light bulbs to compact fluorescent light bulbs and provide residents with information on energy conservation. For info or to register to volunteer, call Reggie at 303-455-5600, e-mail reggie@groundworkdenver.org or visit GroundworkDenver.org.
SATURDAY (April 24)Open house and Earth Day celebration The Garbage Garage Education Center at the Larimer County Landfill, 5887 S. Taft Hill Road, Fort Collins, is having an open house event and Earth Day celebration from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Register: 970-498-5772 or e-mail rwatson@larimer.org.
SATURDAY (April 24)Earth Day park cleanup event The City of Boulder’s Parks and Recreation Department is co-sponsoring an Earth Day cleanup from 10 a.m. to noon at Thunderbird Lake in Admiral Arleigh Burke Park, 430 Mohawk Drive. Volunteers will be picking up litter, planting trees and plants near the wetland and providing ideas for a future interpretive kiosk providing wetland ecology information about the lake. A short interpretive program will start off the event. Volunteers are asked to take gloves, water, a snack and wear appropriate clothing for the weather. Info: contact Shelly Ruspakka at 303-413-7214.
SATURDAY (April 24)Earth Day celebration Naturalist Jill Parker will lead an Earth Day program at 1 p.m. in Roxborough State Park, 4751 N. Roxborough Drive, Littleton. The program explores the impacts upon the fragile “web of life” that envelops and sustains our planet. Can we “reweave” the web? Look for answers taking on the case study of the reintroduction of wolves to Yellowstone National Park. See how these predators reshaped an entire ecosystem in unforeseen ways. The study will be related to the balance at Roxborough State Park. A $6 daily State Parks pass is required for all vehicles entering the park. Info: 303-973-3959.
SATURDAY (April 24)Earth Day event Bluff Lake Nature Center, on the eastern edge of Stapleton, is hosting a “Recycling and Reusing” event from 9 a.m. to noon. Take in electronics, baby gear and more to Bluff Lake for free (or low cost) recycling. Recycled art from or inspired by the Art Students League of Denver exhibit, “Used: Mixed Media, Recycled,” will be on display. Bluff Lake educators and volunteers will work with families to assemble small compost worm bins and reused crafts. Take in the following items to be recycled: books, CDs, DVDs, video games, baby and children’s gear, small amounts of personal documents for on-site shredding, and electronics such as toasters, printers, laptops, monitors, phones, computers, televisions, etc. Info: 303-344-0031 or visit bufflakenaturecenter.org.
SUNDAY April 25
Earth Day celebration Earthfest Boulder is a free community celebration featuring music, sustainable food and drink, farmers market, speakers, Dirt Days outdoor activities, an expo of green businesses and more. The event will be from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. in Downtown Boulder; the festival area will include Central Park, the Bandshell and the Farmer’s Market Area. Info: earthfestboulder.net.
MONDAY April 26
Rocky Mountain Land Series Presentation and booksigning Bill McKibben, author of “The End of Nature,” “The Deep Economy,” and “Eaarthcq: Making a Life on a Tough New Planet,” will give a presentation and sign books at 7:30 p.m. at the LoDo Tattered Cover, 1628 16th St., Denver. Info: 303-436-1070.
MONDAY (April 26)Environmental film screening “The Garden,” a film following the plight of farmers on a 14-acre community garden, the largest of its kind in the US, will be shown at 6 p.m. at Denver Public Library, 10 W. 14th St. Tickets are free. Info: 720-865-1472.
FRIDAY April 30
Tree giveaway Local Ace Hardware stores are giving away 16,500 free trees to consumers on April 30 in recognition of Arbor Day. Varieties may vary by location but will include Blue Spruce, Norway Spruce and Fraser Fir. Free trees are available while supplies last at participating stores; each store will have 500 trees to give away. Customers must present a coupon to receive a free tree. Coupons and a video with tree planting instructions are available at myhelpfulace.com.
