Earth Day Family Friendly Activities in Chicago!

Go Green – Chicago Area Earth Day Activities!

April 14, 2010 by Cindy

Click here for our 2011 list!

As part of my Go Green series in honor of the 40th anniversary of Earth Day on April 22nd, I’ve compiled a list of family friendly Earth Day events happening around Chicago this month. Like all special events and holidays, there is no shortage of fun things to do with your kids to help celebrate the Earth and inspire them to preserve it. I’ve listed events by date and then by cost (FREE first). I also listed some further afield activities that looked like they would be worth the drive.

Check out my other Go Green posts, Where to buy used Children’s books in Chicago and Do you want to be “greener” on the go?

Earth Day in the Parks – Celebrate Earth Day by cleaning up our parks and learning more about our planet and its resources. Join in with a couple hundred volunteers to celebrate Earth Day at various park locations throughout the city.

Where – More than 75 parks and preserves. Click here for a complete list.
When – Saturday, April 17 from 9am-noon
Cost – FREE

Irish American Heritage Center’s Green Family Festival – The festival will feature experts, celebrity chefs, demonstrations and exhibitors all focused on the importance of raising children in a balanced, holistic way. The day will be filled with entertainment, live music, family activities and food.

Where – Irish American Heritage Center (4626 N. Knox)
When – April 17 10am-6pm and April 18 10am-5pm
Cost – FREE

Eco Expo/Earth Day Celebration - Want to make your life a little greener? Want your family to learn more about recycling, energy efficiency and organic foods? Join ChicaGO Green at Lincoln Park Zoo to celebrate the 40th anniversary of Earth Day. This free event will feature fun activities for kids and information for everyone about carbon footprints and solar power.

Where – Lincoln Park Zoo (2200 N. Cannon Dr.)
When – April 17 & 18 at 10am – 5pm
Cost - FREE

Celebrate the Earth with Lakeshore Learning Store – Hands-on activities, crafts and plant our own flower seed. Plus, buy one get one at 50% off sale.

Where – Lakeshore Learning Store (2255 W. 95th St.)
When – April 17 from 11am-3pm
Cost – FREE

North Lake Shore Community Earth Day 2010 - Join in the various workshops, presentations and panels and hear about neighborhood food policy, making stock from vegetable scraps, making your own baby food, and learning the basics of edible landscaping. Children will have fun as they learn about seed planting, nature’s creatures, eating organic, yoga, collaging and composting and a full day of additional activities at State Representative Harry Osterman’s Kid’s Corner.

Where – Layola University, Quinlan Life Science Building (1050 W. Sheridan Rd.)
When – April 17 from 9am-4:30pm
Cost – FREE

Lurie Garden Family Workshop: Re-Purpose Planters – Learn how to turn a Ziploc bag, pop bottle and newspaper into a fun and functional planter. Then add seeds to make your own home garden.

Where – Chicago Cultural Center (78 E. Washington St.)
When – April 17 from 2-4pm
Cost – FREE, Advance registration required.

Super Family Earth Day Dance Party at Eugene Park - Bring your kids under five for music, Earth Day-themed crafts and exhibits, and face painting.

Where – Eugene Field Park Field-house (5100 N. Ridgeway)
When – April 17 from 3-4:30pm
Cost – $5 per family

Celebrate Earth Day with Miss Candy at Walker Library – Join our Earth Day celebration with folksinger Candy Heitner. Families with young children will have fun singing and playing interactive musical games about our earth and how we care for it. All participants will make a colorful rainbow while sharing with each other the things they love about our earth.

Where – Walker Library (11071 S. Hoyne Ave.)
When – April 20 at 6:30pm
Cost – FREE, call to register – 312.747.1920

Celebrate Earth Day at The Beverly Library - Earth Day stories and activities

Where – Beverly Library (1962 W. 95th St.)
When – April 21 from 3:30-4:30pm
Cost – FREE

Earth Day, Our Way – Children’s Potting Workshop – Let kids get their hands dirty while having some good, clean fun. They’ll help spread the gardening bug to your budding botanist!

Where – Anthropologie (3532 N. Southport Ave.)
When – April 22 from 10am-12pm
Cost – FREE, reservations suggested 773.935.2693

Celebrate the 40th Anniversary of Earth Day at Chicago Lawn Library – Listen to stories and songs about the Earth. Each child will start their own plant to take home.

Where – Chicago Lawn Library (6120 S. Kedzie Ave.)
When – April 22 from 6-7pm
Cost – FREE, to register call 312-747-0639

Celebrate Earth Day with Miss Candy at Mount Greenwood Library - Join our Earth Day celebration with folksinger Candy Heitner. Families with young children will have fun singing and playing interactive musical games about our earth and how we care for it. All participants will make a colorful rainbow while sharing with each other the things they love about our earth.

Where – Mount Greenwood Library (11010 S. Kedzie Ave.)
When – April 22 at 3:30pm
Cost – FREE, call the library to register

Kids in Action: Earth Day, Every Day – With this “Kids in Action” interactive program, you can celebrate Earth Day 2010 with Sue Black, Queen of Green Tales, and learn to teach Melbourne and others how to share and make this Earth a better place for everyone every day. For children ages 4 to 10 years old.

When – Harold Washington Library Center Children’s Program Room (400 S. State St.)
When – April 22 at 11am
Cost – FREE

Earth Day Celebration at Pottery Barn – Earth-friendly giveaways, activities and storytime througout the day.

Where – Pottery Barn Kids (2111 N. Clybourn Ave.)
When – April 22 at 11am and 3pm
Cost – FREE

Celebrate Earth Day at the Notebaert Nature Museum

Where – Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum (2430 N. Cannon Dr.)
When – April 22 from 9am-4:30pm
Cost – Free with admission (adults $9, children $6, under 3 free)

Green Sprouts Earth Day Family Workshop – Bring your toddler for this hands-on green workshop for both baby and parent. While your toddler enjoys story time with local author, Jennifer Murphy, join the other parents for an informative workshop on making natural body products for your baby, lead by local green expert Eleanor Riley.

Where – Greenheart Shop (1911 W. Division)
When – April 22 from 10-11am
Cost – $15 per parent, RSVP at info@greenheartshop.org or call 312-264-1625.

Green & Growing Fair – Kick off the growing season, and celebrate Earth Day, at the 18th Annual Green & Growing Fair at the Garfield Park Conservatory. This urban gardening fair plunges into spring by hosting a variety of vendors, workshops, demonstrations, and family activities to get your rusty green thumb up and running. Family take-home planting activities, such as rot pot seed starting activities, and grow a pizza garden! Live music in the Green Cafe.

Where – Garfield Park Conservatory (300 N. Central Park Ave.)
When – April 24 from 10am-3pm
Cost – FREE

Chicago 5K for Earth Day/Green Living Expo – Family friendly 5k run/walk, the race will culminate at the Humboldt Park boat house with a free Green Living Expo. All runners, walkers, and their families are envited to the green living expo and farmers market steps from the finish line. The expo will include various health and environmental organizations as well as local farmers with organic produce.

Where – Humbolt Park Boat House (14oo N. Sacramento)
When – April 24 at 8am
Cost – $35 adult, $20 youth, kids under 10 are FREE

Earth Day Story Time at REI - Join REI and guest Author Helen Foster James for a wonderful eco-conscious story time to celebrate earth week! Event is located upstairs on our second floor. A big tent will be set up for the kids to play in!

Where – REI (1466 N. Halstead St.)
When – April 25 from 1-2:15pm
Cost – FREE

FURTHER AFIELD

Celebrate the Earth with McHenry County Conservation District -Event includes special performance by Green E , the environmental Elvis; Square Drum Circle and Off Square Music. Your family can also enjoy a guided nature hike, puppet show, games and crafts.

Where – Prairieview Education Center (18140 US Highway 14, Woodstock)
When – April 17 from 11am-4pm
Cost - FREE

Heritage Prairie Farm Earth Day Dinner - Earth Dinner is a new way for family and friends to come together to appreciate the remarkable role food plays in our lives, in our family histories, and on our planet. Heritage Prairie Farm’s Earth Day Farm Dinner is intended to connect people to the earth, their food, and each other. Bring the kids! We will be offering free babysitting in the farmhouse. Kids can watch a movie, play games & have a kid-friendly dinner!

Where – Heritage Prairie Farm (2N308 Brundige Rd., Elburn)
When – April 23 at 6pm
Cost – $65 per person and can be purchased online, or call 630-443-8253.

Olmstead Nature Shack Earth Day Celebration - Connect with nature at this wonderful and wild event. Camp under the stars, catch and release fish, frogs and insects, climb a tree, plant a flower, play in the mud. There will be cold blooded reptiles to see and touch. Dress for a mess. You have had a good time if you come home dirty.

Where - Olmstead Nature Shack (920 Cypress Lane, Elk Grove)
When – April 24 from 1-4pm
Cost - FREE

Morton Arboretum Earth Day Necklaces & Substainable with Style - Celebrate Earth Day by making a mini greenhouse inside a necklace and get ideas on how to live a green lifestyle with a showcase of eco-friendly products and services, from landscape architecture to eco-fashion to cleaning products. Event also includes free garden lectures from local vendors.

Where – Morton Arboretum 4100 Illinois Route 53, Lisle (Necklaces -Children’s Garden, boutique Visitor Center)
When – April 24 & 25 from 11am-4pm
Cost – Free with admission (adults $11, kids $8, under two FREE)

Party for the Planet featuring the ChicaGO Green Expo - The Chicago Zoological Society’s mission is to inspire conservation leadership by connecting people with wildlife and nature, and what better way to do this than at Brookfield Zoo’s Earth Day extravaganza! Celebrating the 40th anniversary of Earth Day, the event will have everyone thinking “green” with Earth-themed activities.