Events for the environment in South Bend and Elkhart before Earth Day
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- Several events celebrating Earth Day and Arbor Day will take place in the South Bend and Elkhart areas.
- Organizations participating in the events include Unity Gardens, Fernwood Botanical Garden, and the Izaak Walton League.
- Events will include workshops, cleanup opportunities, and the giving away of tree seedlings.
Before Earth Day arrives on April 22 and Arbor Day on April 25, the community is offering some early ways to learn about and do something for the environment.
Call it Earth Month, if you will.
Mark your calendars, too, for major Earth and Arbor days celebrations April 26 at the following three spots. Watch for more details in a future story.
∎ From 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Suite 100 of the Technology Resource Center, 1165 Franklin St., South Bend.
∎ From 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Unity Gardens, 3701 Prast Blvd., South Bend.
∎ From 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Elkhart Environmental Center, 1717 E. Lusher Ave., Elkhart.
Now, here are details on the early events.
Saving stuff from the trash bin
Bring broken or unused items and learn how to reimagine them for another use in a workshop from 6 to 7 p.m. April 11 at Unity Gardens, 3701 Prast Blvd., South Bend.
Symposium on environmental issues
A symposium and forum will explore questions about local environmental issues, insights and research findings April 12 at the St. Joseph County Public Library.
This first-ever symposium by the Environmental Research Coalition will run from 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., with the panel discussion at 10:30 a.m., in the library’s Community Learning Center, 305 S. Michigan St.
Keynote speakers include Gary Sieber of WNDU and Evie Kirkwood, former St. Joseph County Parks director who hosts the WNIT program “Outdoor Elements.”
The panelists include Briannah J. McCall, environmental health specialist for the St. Joseph County Department of Health; Sara Stewart, executive director of Unity Gardens; and Clara Ross, a 2024 climate action ambassador.
In the afternoon, local college students will present findings from their research projects.
Fernwood work and fun day
Fernwood Botanical Garden in Niles will host a cleanup, wildflower walk and kids chalk art contest on April 12.
The cleanup, from 10 to 11:30 a.m., will focus on various areas from the St. Joseph River to the road. If you have them, rubber boots and waders are recommended. Gloves, nets, trash grabbers and recycling/trash bags will be provided, along with water and snacks.
The guided walk, from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m., will seek out and identify spring woodland wildflowers.
The children’s chalk art contest, from 2 to 4:30 p.m. is for kids in kindergarten through 12th grade. Each kid will be assigned a four-by-four-foot section on the paved garden paths to decorate on the theme “Pollinator Power.” All art materials will be provided. The winner will receive a one-year membership to Fernwood, which covers four people.
Stewardship day at preserve
Chikaming Open Lands will host a stewardship day where you can help to remove Oriental bittersweet, an invasive species, from 10 a.m. to noon on April 12 at the Grand Beach Marsh Preserve just southwest of New Buffalo. Email [email protected] let them know you’re coming. Learn more at
Free trees, open house at Izaak Walton
The Izaak Walton League will hold an open house with tours and the giving away of tree seedlings from 1 to 3 p.m. April 13 at its wooded property, 20400 Darden Road, South Bend. The tree seedlings will include eastern redbuds, white dogwoods, sugar maples, Fraser firs, lilacs and sycamores.
Free trees from the Lions
To honor Arbor Day, the Clay-Granger Lions Club will give out 200 dogwood and 100 flowering plum tree from 9 to 11 a.m. April 19 at the Martin’s Super Market at Heritage Square in Granger — or until the trees are all given out.
Find Outdoor Adventures columnist Joseph Dits on Facebook at SBTOutdoorAdventures or 574-235-6158 or [email protected].
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