Trees and shrubs will be given away Saturday at a Family Earth Day celebration that also includes hikes, raptor shows and animals on display.
The event will take place from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday at Cope Environmental Center, 1730 Airport Road, Centerville. It will include family-friendly activities in observance of the 54th national observance of Earth Day, focused on conservation of natural resources.
The schedule includes a session with the Indiana Audubon Society and a forest/prairie hike at 10:15 a.m.; a show by Hueston Woods State Park naturalists at 11 a.m. and at 1 p.m.; and a wetlands exploration hike at 12:15 p.m.
Along with trees and shrubs, giveaways also include metal straws, coloring books, milkweed seeds and wildflower seeds, crayons, and stickers. T-shirts will be on sale.
Trees and shrubs include black cherry, black oak, ninebark and buttonbush.
Family Earth Day has been conducted locally for more than 20 years. The organizing committee includes Teri Grossman, Penny Ausman and the Centerville Green Club, Liz Vetter, invasive specialist with Southern Indiana Cooperative Invasives Management; Jenilee Braun, Hayes Arboretum naturalist; and Stephanie McCurdy, Purdue Extension Fayette County educator.
The first Earth Day was in 1970, conducted as a nationwide teach-in about environmental issues. It has since evolved into a global campaign encouraging awareness and action around protecting and preserving planetary health.
A version of this article appeared in the April 17 2024 print edition of the Western Wayne News.