Skip to content Skip to navigation

Gateway hosting annual popular Celebrate Earth Day event

Bee activities, children’s climb added new this year to Kenosha Celebration

Gateway Technical College will once again spotlight the environment with its annual Celebrate Earth Day, featuring fun, hands-on activities for all ages to learn how to be stewards of the environment.

Celebrate Earth Day will be held 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. April 22 on Gateway’s Kenosha Campus, 3520-30th Ave. and Gateway’s Elkhorn Campus, 400 County Road H, Elkhorn. This year marks the 10th anniversary of the annual event in Kenosha which has drawn thousands over the years.

“Gateway is proud of this community event that demonstrates Gateway’s commitment to sustainability, as well as adding to community learning about sustainable practices,” said Gateway Marketing director Jayne Herring.

“The event offers a wide array of hands-on activities and ways to gain environmental knowledge in areas such as recycling, re-purposing, alternative energy, gardening and organic food. The event also offers children many fun opportunities to learn, through an assortment of hands-on activities and games.”

New this year to the Kenosha event is a children’s climbing activity directed by Aaron Schauer, Gateway’s program director for its new Arboriculture/Urban Forestry program, as well as children’s bee-related activities and games in the Joseph and Kathy Madrigrano-supported Bee Barn on the college campus.

The event features many earth-friendly activities, informational booths and children’s crafts across the campus. For a full guide to all activities for the day, please go to www.gtc.edu/earthday. The event is free and open to the public.

A few of the many the events and features on the Kenosha Campus include:

  • Demonstrations. Electronics recycling; composting and vermicomposting; common gardening questions answered; beekeeping demonstration; question-and-answer opportunities with experts in such areas as gardening, beekeeping, “green” vehicles, green and sustainable energy systems and trees.
  • Children’s activities. Many children’s activities will be held at the event, including the Technical Building, Center for Sustainable Living and the Pike Creek Horticulture Center.
  • Horse and carriage rides. Sign-up is necessary for the limited number of slots available.
  • Informational booths. Environmentally-focused businesses and groups will be on hand for a number of areas, including Monarch butterfly preservation, fish of the Great Lakes, household item repurposing and reusing and many sustainable-related businesses.
  • Recycle
    • Electronics, computers, printers, VCR and DVD players.

A few of the many events and features on the Elkhorn Campus include:

  • Workshops such as canning produce, native birds of Wisconsin and car care.
  • Green/farmers market with items such as plants, apple cider, apple sauce, kettle popcorn, naturally made beauty products, artwork and other assorted products.
  • Demonstrations
  • Children’s activities such as the Kohl’s Wildlife Theater, a petting zoo and the kids’ fitness challenge – with prizes!
  • Informational booths.
  • Nature hike on the nature trail.
  • Plant sale
  • Recycle center
    • Electronics, computers, printers, athletic shoes, prescription eye glasses, VCR and DVD players.

For more information on the events at both campuses, please see www.gtc.edu/earthday or contact Jayne Herring, (262) 496-0016.