Mother Earth Stars in April Events

The number of events in April and surrounding Earth Day on April 22 is off the charts this year! With so much scheduled, it’ll be easy to get your fill of environmentally-friendly activities this month when we show our love and appreciation for our favorite planet – Mother Earth!

> With the theme of Just Change!,  Community Services Unlimited’s Earth Day South LA kicks off Earth month with a festival on April 6. This event is teeming with activities for kids, craft tables, food, information booths and workshops. 

> The California State Parks Foundation sponsors the 16^th Annual Earth Day Restoration and Clean Up on April 13. There are 24 parks statewide participating this year, seven of which are located in the Southern California area. This is a great opportunity to give back just a little to one of our treasured state parks!

> You’ll find free fun and educational activities for all ages at LA County Sanitation District’s Earth Day 2013 on April 13 in Whittier. You’ll have the opportunity to tour a water reclamation plant, take a train ride that follows the journey trash or recyclables take from your home, enjoy music and create eco-friendly arts and crafts. More than 3,000 people attended last year, so you know it’ll be a lot of fun!

> The very next day, on April 14, come and enjoy the outdoors and make a difference with Heal the Bay’s Earth Month Stream Restoration at Malibu Creek State Park. Invasive plants have negative impacts on natural habitats, so removing them is vital for a healthy watershed. Soak in the sunshine while helping restore native plants along Malibu Creek and its many tributaries.

The following weekend, things really get busy!

> LA Waterkeeper’s Stand Up For Clean Water benefit event begins bright and early on April 20 at 8 a.m. and goes until 3 p.m. You know you’ve always wanted to learn how to cruise along the ocean on a stand-up paddleboard, so come on out for some demos and lessons, as well as yoga and a beach clean-up!

> How about hatching some grunion? At Cabrillo Marine Aquarium, you’ll have that opportunity! Cabrillo Marine Aquarium celebrates Earth Day with their annual Earth Day Fair and Coastal Bird Fest on April 20. The day begins with a cleanup of Cabrillo Beach at 8 a.m. After that, plan to head over to the aquarium to chat with local agencies and environmental groups and make some cool crafts and help hatch some grunion. The grunion hatchlings will need to stay at the aquarium, but you’re welcome to take your craft projects home. 

> But now, don’t forget to give something back to Mother Earth this month! Heal the Bay’s monthly Nothin’ But Sand Beach Clean Up is taking place at the Santa Monica Pier on April 20. It kicks off at 10 a.m.

> After the Nothin’ But Sand Beach Clean-Up, head on up to the pier! Our amazing planet Earth will be celebrated at Heal the Bay’s Earth Day Festival at the Santa Monica Pier on April 20. The pier promises to be bustling with activities. The Kid’s Zone at the Aquarium will keep the little ones engaged while the Market Zone will keep kids of all ages happy!

> How does your green garden grow? In Mar Vista, more than 100 proud gardeners would like to show you their amazing handiwork at Mar Vista’s free Green Garden Showcase, happening on April 20. This community-wide Earth day event showcases drought resistant and edible gardens with a special emphasis on the critical need for ocean friendly gardens.

> An outdoor extravaganza takes place on April 21 at Star Eco Station’s Children’s Earth Day Festival. This free event, which is loaded with environmental heroes, exotic foods, celebrity guests, eco-friendly games and crafts, green shopping, live entertainment and much more will be fun for kids of all ages!

Don’t forget that you can check out all of April’s events at our online calendar, and if you have an event that you’d like us to feature, drop us a line in the comments section below.

Photos courtesy of Flying Singer and DonkeyHotey.