A look at events around central Illinois to help raise awareness and protect our planet. All events free unless specified. Several events encourage pre-registration.
March 30-April 12
Lilly show relating to Lorax story by Dr. Suess. Luthy Botanical Garden 2520 N. Prospect Road, 309-681-3506. Peoria Park District.
APRIL 4
Horseshoe Bottoms workday at St. Mary’s Cemetery, West Peoria from 9 a.m.-noon. Outdoors, physical work. Friends of Rocky Glen. Contact 309-573-2354, www.friendsofrockyglen.org.
Horseshoe Bottoms Herbal Medicine Plant ID from 9-11 a.m. St Mary’s Cemetery, West Peoria. Outdoors, Easy walking. Contact Nicole Klinge, Herbalist, 608-438-2443
APRIL 5
Rocky Glen Park workday 9 a.m.-noon. Outdoors, physical. Friends of Rocky Glen.
APRIL 7
Upcycled Pencil Holders. 3:30 p.m. Recycle and decorate recycling cans into decorative pencil holders. Ages 6-14. Chillicothe Public Library 309-274-2719, www.chillicothepubliclibrary.org.
APRIL 12
Rock Island Trail Clean-up 1 p.m. Meet at parking lot on Pioneer Parkway. Heart of Illinois Sierra Club, www.sierraclub.org/illinois/heart-illinois/calendar
APRIL 13
Homeschool Earth Day at Chillicothe Public Library, 1 p.m. Join us to connect with other homeschoolers as we offer an Earth Day-themed activity. Explore the library resources to support family educational journeys. All ages.
Gardening for Butterflies and Moths, 7-8:30 p.m. at Mennonite Church, 805 S Cottage, Normal. Illinois Prairie Wild Ones, https://illinoisprairie.wildones.org/chapter-events/
APRIL 15
Elmwood Wildlife Preserve workday by Prairie Land Conservancy, 9 a.m.-noon. Outdoors, physical work. Contact Ed at 309-833-4747 or pc@prairiehillsrcd.org
Root Cemetery workday, 9 a.m.-noon. Outdoors, physical work. Illinois Nature Preserves Commission. Contact 309-573-2354, dvdgpittman@gmail.com
Outings in the Sierras program and meeting, 6:30-8 p.m. Universalist Unitarian Church, 2300 Richwoods Blvd. in Peoria. Heart of Illinois Sierra Club.
APRIL 18
Earth Day at Forest Park Nature Center, 11 a.m.-6 p.m. 5809 N. Forest Park Drive, Peoria Heights, 309-686-3360. Peoria Park District.
Field Trip to Splitter Woods State Natural Area in Mount Zion, 12-1 p.m. For members only of Illinois Prairie Wild Ones.
APRIL 19
Elwood Wildlife Preserve workday by Prairie Land Conservancy, 9 a.m.-noon. Outdoors, physical work.
Ellory Wildlife Park workday, will be held 9 a.m.-noon.
Donovan Park workday, 1-4 p.m. Outdoors, physical work. Friends of Rocky Glen.
APRIL 20
Clean Water Celebration, 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Peoria Civic Center. Interactive exhibits, multiple group sessions. Keynote speaker 9:30 a.m. and 11 a.m. Sun Foundation. Free admission. Call 309-246-8403.
Hike Singing Woods Nature Preserve starts at 10 a.m. 715 W Singing Woods Road, Edelstein. HOI Sierra Club.
Repurpose old paper into new characters, 11 a.m. Register at Chillicothe Public Library.
APRIL 22
Drop in to Celebrate Earth Day from 10 a.m.-1 p.m. at Forest Park Nature Center. Peoria Park District.
APRIL 23
Garlic Mustard Pull from 10 a.m.-1 p.m., Forest Park Nature Center.
APRIL 24
Music and Movement, 10 a.m. Ages 5 and under. Explore music and movement in early literacy. Earth Day-themed songs, dances and stories to develop foundational skills. Chillicothe Public Library.
MAY 2
Horseshoe Bottoms workday 9 a.m.- noon. Outdoors, physical work. Friends of Rocky Glen.
MAY 3
Rocky Glen Park workday 9 a.m.-noon. Outdoors, physical. Friends of Rocky Glen.
MAY 9
Native Plant Sale at Haddad’s Market, West Peoria, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Outdoors with more than 60 native plant varieties grown from local seed. Contact 309-573-2354. Email Friends of Rocky Glen dvdgpittman@gmail.com
MAY 11
Dayton Bluffs Preserve program, 7-8:30 p.m. Mennonite Church of Normal, Illinois Prairie Wild Ones. Outdoors, physical work. Contact Ed at 309-833-4747 or pc@prairiehillsrcd.org
May 20
Patagonia and the Yuelcho River program and meeting, 6:30-8:00 p.m., UU Church in Peoria. HOI Sierra Club.
MAY 30
Kickapoo Creek canoe float trip, 11 a.m. For more information, visit the website www.friendsofkickapoocreek.org