For over 50 years, people have celebrated Earth Day on April 22 to acknowledge and support environmental preservation.
Former Wisconsin Senator Gaylord Nelson first created Earth Day in 1970, according to the Environmental Protection Agency. The EPA’s website said Nelson spread the movement to “force the issue onto the national agenda.”
On the first Earth Day, 20 million Americans, 10% of the total U.S. population, organized in support of the environment and in protest of the impacts of pollution.
Here’s a list of some ways to celebrate in Bloomington throughout April and May:
Understand the Land: History, Ethics and Preservation workshop
IU Outdoor Adventures will host this free event from 6:30-7:30 p.m. April 16 in Eigenmann Hall. Attendees can learn about preserving historic artifacts, “Leave No Trace” principles, outdoor ethics and the history of Hoosier National Forest. The seven Leave No Trace principles all focus on leaving minimal impact on the outdoors.
The workshop will “dive into the concept of cultivating a sense of place—understanding the deeper meaning of the land around us and how we can be responsible stewards,” according to the event description. Participation requires a waiver and registration prior to the event.
Campus river restoration and cleanup
Rewild IU, Landscape Services, Environmental Health and Safety and IU Sustainability will host an event to add a native plant buffer to the campus riverbank, plant trees and clear debris from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. April 18 at the riverbank near the East Parking Garage. All tools and supplies will be provided.
The volunteer project does not require an RSVP and is flexible for participants who want to drop in throughout the event.
City of Bloomington Earth Day celebration
The city of Bloomington will host its third annual Earth Day celebration with live music, local vendors and free giveaways noon to 4 p.m. April 19. The event is at Switchyard Park; it is free and does not require registration.
Some events include: a welcoming address from Mayor Kerry Thompson, lawn games, craft stations, a food waste collection demonstration by GardenQuest and autographs from IU athletes. GardenQuest is a sustainable urban gardening education nonprofit.
Winners for the Eco-Heroes Art Competition will be awarded for their work based on the theme “Bugs in Bloom: How Native Insects are Important to Bloomington”. Winners will be awarded from four K-12 grade groups and one 18+ group.
The event will also host an Art for Earth sale. Art for Earth artists donate a portion of their sales to environmental nonprofits.
Earth week creek cleanup
Bloomington’s volunteer network will host an event from 1-3 p.m. April 20 at Jackson Creek at Rogers Family Park. Volunteers will help clear debris and invasive species along the creek. The organizers will provide trash bags, gloves and training.
Volunteers under the age of 18 are required to have a parent or guardian complete a waiver, and volunteers under the age of 14 must be accompanied by an adult. Those interested can register here.
Drop-in Fix-it clinic
From 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. April 21 at the Herman B Wells Library, local Fix-it coaches will help attendees fix items in need of repair. Some examples of repairable items include clothing, jewelry, sunglasses and shoes and keyboards that need cleaning. All attendees will receive a free pocket sewing kit.
Outside of the library, employees from the bike shop, Revolution Bike and Bean, will do free bike repairs alongside Little 500 mechanics.
IU Sustainability Symposium
The IU Sustainability Symposium commemorates accomplishments from students and researchers from the Bloomington and Indianapolis campuses.
The honored organizations students and researchers may be part of include Integrated Programs in the Environment, Environmental Resilience Institute and McKinney Climate Fellows.
Integrated Programs in the Environment are joint degrees between the College of Arts and Sciences and the School of Public and Environmental Affairs. The Environmental Resilience Institute collaborates with organizations to prepare for environmental change. McKinney Climate Fellows connects students with organizations to offer solutions-based sustainability expertise.
The event is from 3-5 p.m. April 22 in Presidents Hall at Franklin Hall. The symposium requires registration, and it will feature speakers and the recognition of the Campus Catalyst Award recipients. These awards honor people who have contributed to campus sustainability efforts in these categories: excellence in teaching, staff innovation, student leadership and outstanding mentor.
Earth Day house plant giveaway
Hilltop Garden and Nature Center will give out free plants while supplies last from 3-6 p.m. April 22. The Hilltop Garden and Nature Center is hosting the event with the IU Office of First Year Experience Programs.
Bloomingfoods EarthFest
Bloomingfoods Co-op Market will host several events as a part of its EarthFest celebration from April 22 to May 10. The first event is a vintage clothing pop-up shop from Hoosier A1 Vintage from 1-3 p.m. April 22. at Bloomingfoods’ Near West location. On the same day, both Bloomingfoods locations will host environmental education activities from noon to 6 p.m.
On April 26, both locations will participate in the Sycamore Land Trust Native Tree Giveaway. While supplies last, attendees can receive one free tree seedling per person.
Earth Day Craft Night: Sip, Sew and Celebrate at Gather
From 6-9 p.m. April 23, Gather will host a night for attendees to create their own animal plushies out of sustainable materials. There will be a variety of design options and Earth-inspired cocktails. Tickets are $22 and can be purchased on its website.
Leave No Trash Challenge
On April 23 and 26, volunteers can gather at Eigenmann Hall with IU Outdoor Adventures to participate in the Leave No Trace challenge and pick up as much trash as they can. The event will take place from 6:30-7:30 p.m. April 23 and from 1-2 p.m. April 26. RSVP at beinvolved.indiana.edu.
Arbor Day tree planting
From 1-3:30 p.m. April 24, volunteers can join IU Sustainability and Landscape Services in celebration of Arbor Day to plant trees. The group will meet in the grass lot on 17th Street and Woodlawn Avenue by the entrance of the Orange Lot. Tools, supplies and light refreshments will be provided. No RSVP necessary.
“The Need to Grow” documentary showing
At 7 p.m. May 2, the Buskirk-Chumley Theater will offer a free showing of the “The Need to Grow” documentary. This documentary was originally released in 2018 and “offers an intimate look into the hearts of activists and innovators in the food movement,” according to Buskirk-Chumley's website. The theater will hold a remote Q&A session with documentary director Rob Herring after the showing.
