Saturday, April 22, 2023
10 a.m.-1 p.m. (Pike Creek Clean-Up begins at 9 a.m.)
Kenosha Campus - 3520 30th Ave., Kenosha
Celebrate Earth Day on the Kenosha Campus with environmentally focused exhibitor and vendor booths located in the Pike Creek Horticulture Center and the Center for Sustainable Living, hands-on children’s activities (including the return of the popular kids’ tree climb!), electronics recycling, food trucks, an opportunity to participate in a clean-up of Pike Creek, and more! Each family will have an opportunity to enter to win a door prize.
On The Grounds
Pike Creek Restoration - 9:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. Meet at the Pike Creek Horticulture Center before heading to the Pike Creek to plant a variety of natives on the creek bed. This will help promote greater biodiversity in the area and stabilize the bed to help prevent erosion. The restoration will benefit local wildlife and help preserve Pike Creek for years to come. Digging and planting help from volunteers is crucial for success. Some soil augers will also be in use to help expedite the hole digging process. Sign up for this volunteer opportunity here.
Electronics Recycling -- Madrigrano Conference Center Parking Lot (Lot B). Gateway’s IT Project Management class will host electronics recycling as a service learning project. They will have tools available to wipe or destroy computer hard drives upon request. View a list of accepted items here. (TVs and CRT monitors are NOT accepted)
Electric Vehicle Display by the Wisconsin Electric Vehicle Association - Drive Electric Earth Day. Enjoy an electric vehicle car show with displays of Battery Electric Vehicles (BEV) and Plugin Hybrid (PHEV) Vehicles. Lots of information from actual EV drivers that are showing off the cars of the future.
Pike Creek Horticulture Center
Visit the Pike Creek Horticulture Center to purchase house plants and early season flowers, explore booths from local environmental experts, enjoy hands-on activities for kids and more!
Explore booths from exhibitors, including:
- Anarchy Acres. Learn about this sustainable homestead in Racine County and the heritage bread wheat that is grown and sold.
- EDD Designs. Educating about microplastics and displaying sea glass and wampanoag stone necklaces.
- Friends of Island Park. Learn about pollinator gardens in public parks in the City of Racine, and pick up seed packets and everything needed for children to start a garden of flowers and two vegetables.
- Hawthorn Hollow Nature Sanctuary and Arboretum. Explore field trips and events at Hawthorn Hollow, and try (and buy!) maple syrup.
- Kenosha Community Sailing Center. Learn about Lake Michigan and water safety, including how to have fun on the lake and where to learn to sail.
- Kenosha Green Connections. Educating about alternatives for household paper products made of old growth timber.
- Mahone Middle School Eco Club. Environmentally themed games, crafts, and presentations in the Center for Sustainable Living conference room.
- Pringle Nature Center. Learn about the center’s programs, events and initiatives, and pick up free giveaways including tree saplings.
- Racine/Kenosha Beekeepers Association. Explore the benefits of pollinators such as honeybees, and learn about the life cycle, management and benefits of honeybee colonies.
- Richard Bong State Recreation Area. Find park maps, learn about Master Naturalist Class in July, and play Biodiversity Jenga.
- Wild Ones, Root River Area Chapter. Learn about the importance of native plants and biodiversity.
Children’s Activities
- Hands-on projects in the Pike Creek Horticulture Center
- Kids’ tree climb with Gateway’s Arboriculture and Urban Forestry program, located up the hill towards the Center for Sustainable Living.
- Fun, educational activities in the Center for Sustainable Living’s Bee Barn.
- Games, crafts and more with the Mahone Middle School Eco Club inside the Center for Sustainable Living.
Arboriculture/Urban Forestry Activities
Located up the hill toward the Center for Sustainable Living.
A Children's Tree Climb (weather permitting) - Guided by Gateway’s Arboriculture and Urban Forestry experts and hosted by the Wisconsin Arborist Association, children will be harnessed into professional tree climbing safety gear and hoisted into the more than 200 year old oak tree on the west side of campus, up the hill towards the Center for Sustainable Living.
Free tree saplings: Free swamp white oak, bur oak, red oak and shagbark hickory saplings will be available for visitors while supplies last.
Center For Sustainable Living
Visit the eco-friendly Center for Sustainable Living house, environmental Nature Discovery trail and fabulous kids' activities in the Bee Barn. Come see the center’s sustainable energy systems, enjoy bird walks conducted by Hoy Audubon's Rick Fare throughout the day, and learn about the importance of bats and butterflies by viewing the Bat House and Butterfly Gazebo!
Food Trucks
Stop by the Madrigrano Conference Center parking lot to purchase food from Rocket Tacos and Kona Ice.
Special Thanks!
Special thanks to Snap-on Incorporated for their continued support of Celebrate Earth Day. Snap-on is a founding sponsor of Celebrate Earth Day and has supported the event since its creation.
Thank you to the Whyte family and Mahone Middle School for providing crafts and volunteers for the children’s activities.