All events are free unless specified. Contact information for groups with multiple listings is included with first event only.

ALL APRIL

Washington Clean up and Tree Planting will be conducted the entire month of April. Simply pick up empty trash bags and return them full to any park for disposal. Contact 309-444-9413 or [email protected].

Tree campaign to plant 200 trees in Washington: $200 donation to Washington Park District. Foundation. Contact [email protected].

APRIL 2

Composting, Gardening and Canning program: 10 a.m., lunch provided. Peoria County Farm Bureau building, free to members, $15 fee non-members. Reservations required, 309-686-7070, [email protected] Build an Eclipse Viewer from recycled products, Ages 8-18. Begin at 3:45 p.m., Chillicothe Public Library 430 N Bradley Avenue, Chillicothe,
[email protected], 309-274-2719.

Eclipse Euphoria talk at 6 p.m., Chillicothe Library with Renae Kerrigan, Planetarium Director Riverfront Museum.

APRIL 4-5

Environmental story time at Chillicothe Public Library, 10:30 a.m. Ages 0-5.

APRIL 6

Horseshoe Bottoms workday 9 a.m.–noon. Outdoors, physical work. Friends of Rocky Glen. Contact 309-573-2354, [email protected].

Arcomusical live music 1:30 p.m. at Chillicothe Public Library. Listen to the berimabau, an Afro-Brazilian instrument celebrating deities of natural world. Volunteer Workday 9 a.m,-noon, at Wildlife Prairie Park. Please meet at the Train Depot. 309-676-0998, [email protected].

APRIL 7

Rocky Glen Park workday 9 a.m.–noon. Outdoors, physical work. Go to friendsofrockyglen.org.

APRIL 10

A Local Perspective on C02 Pipelines talk by Tracy Fox, 7 p.m. at Forest Park Nature Center, 5809 N Forest Park Drive in Peoria Heights. Contact Peoria Audubon Society: [email protected].

APRIL 11-12

Environmental story time at Chillicothe Public Library, 10:30 a.m. Ages 0-5.

APRIL 12

Upcycled Aluminum cans 11 a.m.- 12:30 p.m. at Chillicothe Public Library. Make plant labels from an aluminum can. Register at bit.ly/3ux9Grw or call 309-274-2719.

APRIL 13

Family Storytime: We Are Water Protectors. Begins 11 a.m. at Chillicothe Library. Story and watercolor activity.

APRIL 16

Books & Brew talk 6:30 p.m. at Chillicothe Public Library. Discussion of the book “Crossings: How Road Ecology is Shaping the Future of Our Planet” by Ben Goldfarb with various liquids.

DIY Ranch Dressing 3:45 p.m. at Chillicothe Public Library. Learn how to make ranch dressing from herbs and home ingredients. Ages 8-18.

APRIL 17

Elwood Wildlife Preserve workday by Prairie Land Conservancy, 9 a.m.-noon. Outdoors, physical work. Contact 309-833-4747 or [email protected].

Prairies to Peaks, how Illinois Moths may be Critical for Survival of Yellowstone Grizzlies A talk by Dr Anant Deshwai of Bradley University, 6:30 p.m. at Forest Park Nature Center. Heart of Illinois Sierra Club [email protected], 309-370-2575.

Bat Appreciation by Margaret and Tom Griffiths, 1-2 p.m. at Forest Hall Building, Wildlife Praire Park. Free to members, $10 for adult non-members.

APRIL 18

Life Cycle of Clothing talk by Erika Holst, Curator of History, Illinois State Museum, 6 p.m. Chillicothe Public Library. History of fashion attitudes towards mending and discarding.

Sustainability at Home 6 p.m. North Branch Peoria Public Library, 3001 N Grand Parkway. 309-497-2110 [email protected]

APRIL 18-19

Environmental story time at Chillicothe Public Library, 10:30 a.m. Ages 0-5.

APRIL 20

Earth Day Festival 11 a.m.-4 p.m. at Forest Park Nature Center, Peoria Park District. Outdoors with vendors, food, music. Contact 309-686-3360 or [email protected].

APRIL 21

Elwood Wildlife Preserve workday 9 a.m.-noon. Outdoors, physical work. Prairie Land Conservancy. Contact
309-833-4747 or [email protected].

Donovan Park workday 1-4 p.m. Outdoors, physical work. Friends of Open Space at Donovan Park, Contact 309-573-2354. [email protected].

Riverwatch Training at Bradley University 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Learn to monitor macroinvertebrates in small Illinois streams. Illinois Riverwatch Network. fee $50, scholarships available through HOI Sierra Club, 309-370-2575. Registration 618-468-2781, [email protected].

APRIL 22

Clean Water Celebration 9 a.m.-2 p.m. at Peoria Civic Center. Contact Karen Zuckerman 309-231-7451 or email
[email protected].

APRIL 23

Limestone Township Celebrates Earth Day, Alpha Park, 1605 W Garfield Avenue in Bartonville. 1-3 p.m. 309-697-3521
[email protected]

APRIL 25-26
Environmental story time at Chillicothe Public Library, 10:30 a.m. Ages 0-5.

APRIL 26

Peoria Drum Circle 6:30-8 p.m. at Forest Park Nature Center. Join in live music, all ages welcome. Contact 309-686-3360, [email protected].

APRIL 27

Mindful Morning Hike at Forest Park Nature Center. Journaling, meditation, mindfulness. Preregister at www.peoriaparks.org, Contact 309-686-3360, [email protected].

Bio Blitz Noon-3 p.m. Learn and join in inventory of native plants, birds and bugs at Wildlife Prairie Park. Meet at Forest Hall Education Center.

APRIL 29-May 4

Seedling Swap at Chillicothe Library table in foyer. Drop off and take seedlings. Please clearly label your donations.

MAY 4

Horseshoe Bottoms workday 9 a.m.-noon. Outdoors, physical work. Contact 309-573-2354, [email protected].

MAY 4

National Bird Count, early morning at various outdoor locations. Peoria Audubon Society, Contact Mike Miller 309-273-7312.

MAY 5

Rocky Glen Park workday 9 a.m.-noon. Outdoors, physical work. Go to friendsofrockyglen.org.

MAY 8

Optics for Birding 7 p.m. at Forest Park Nature Center. Peoria Audubon Society monthly meeting and discussion of binoculars.

MAY 11

Native Plant Sale at Haddad’s Market West Peoria 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Outdoors with more than 60 native plants grown from local seed. Contact 309-573-2354, [email protected].

MAY 14
Restoration Volunteer Celebration at Forest Park Nature Center 6 p.m.-8 p.m. Free food, speaker. Contact
309-363-1179 [email protected].

MAY 19

Discover Donovan Park Festival at Donovan Park, Peoria, 2-5 p.m.. Outdoors with vendors, food, music, fishing lessons, kite flying lessons. Friends of Open Space at Donovan Park Email [email protected] or call 309-573-2354.

MAY 19

Elwood Wildlife Preserve workday
9 a.m.-noon. Outdoors, physical work. Prairie Land Conservancy. Contact 309-833-4747 or [email protected].
— Compiled by Friends of Rocky Glen