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Earth Day 2022: Ways to Celebrate, Invest in our Planet

Jordan Magaziner Steinfeld
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Earth Day 2022 is Friday, April 22. This year’s theme is “Invest in our Planet.” Below, find ways to celebrate Earth Day in our communities. 

City of Bellaire’s Planting Palooza

Westly Tupa, Betsy Black

Westly Tupa and Betsy Black participating in a planting project at the Evergreen Pool as part of Bellaire's Planting Palooza 2021. 

Bellaire’s Parks, Recreation, and Facilities Department is hosting Planting Palooza during the month of April in a city-wide effort to renew and revitalize the horticulture in the City of Bellaire. All month, community partners are hosting related events. Neighbors are encouraged to send photos of garden projects with [email protected]. Here’s the schedule for this week. Check the Bellaire’s Parks, Recreation, and Facilities Department's Facebook page for details on upcoming events. 

Earth Week at Houston Botanic Garden

Houston Botanic Garden offers opportunities to be immersed in nature every day. This week, there will be several Earth Week related events at HBG, including a Butterfly Walk on Weds., April 20, 9:30-10:30 a.m. and a Wellness Walk on Earth Day, April 22, 12-1 p.m. See HBG's event calendar for more.  

Earth Day Weekend with Ocean Music Action Earth Day

Ocean Music Action, a new nonprofit founded by Houston Symphony harpist Megan Conley, presents a weekend of music, dance, photography, and volunteer service. The activities begin on Earth Day, Fri., April 22, with an outdoor sunset concert at the Rothko Chapel at 6:30 p.m. Musicians from The Knights chamber orchestra perform ocean-inspired music with accompaniment by dancer Maile Okamura. The following morning, Sat., April 23, audience members are invited to join the musicians for a volunteer bayou cleanup through the Buffalo Bayou Partnership. Saturday evening brings a collaborative performance at the Moody Center for the Arts between The Knights musicians and National Geographic photographer David Liittschwager. This concert includes student composers and performers from Rice's Shepherd School of Music. On Sun., April 24 at 3 p.m., David Liitsschwager will give a lecture at the Houston Museum of Natural Science, focusing on his new book, Octopus, Seahorse, Jellyfish

Trees For Houston Giveaway 

Trees For Houston is partnering with LyondellBasell and The Astros Foundation on a giveaway of 2,500 native trees to beautify Houstonians’ yards and help the environment. On Sat., April 23, 8-10:30 a.m., Houstonians are invited to drive through Lot B at Minute Maid Park (503 Chartres St.) and receive free, three-gallon trees. Species include American Beautyberry, American Sycamore, Buttonbush, Common Persimmon, Loblolly Pine, Pecan, Sweetgum, and White Oak. Trees For Houston staff and LyondellBasell volunteers will help citizens select the appropriate species based on the unique needs of the desired location. Planting and tree care resources are available at TreesForHouston.org. Find a location map here.  

Arboretum Earth Day

The Houston Arboretum & Nature Center will celebrate Earth Day 2022 through art. (Photo courtesy of Houston Arboretum)

Earth Day Celebration at the Houston Arboretum 

The Houston Arboretum & Nature Center is celebrating Earth Day on Sat., April 23, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. with a range of creative art activities, including poetry, drawing, photography, and more. Families are invited to explore informative booths, enjoy nature hikes, view fun displays, and participate in Earth-friendly crafts and activities. The Earth Day celebration is free. 

Earth Day at Children's Museum Houston

Celebrate Earth Day with fun, nature-themed projects, demonstrations, and experiments on Sat., April 23, 10 a.m.-6 p.m. at Children's Museum Houston. Activities include: an interactive presentation about ants; animals; how to grow milkweed; a tree sapling giveaway; water treatment filtration demos; and meet "creepy crawlies."

Evelyn’s Park: Picnic in the Park, 5th Anniversary Celebration

It’s fitting that the community will celebrate Evelyn’s Park’s 5th anniversary - and the debut of its exciting Phase 2 features – this Earth Day weekend with a Picnic in the Park. Five years ago, the opening of Evelyn’s Park kicked off with an Earth Day Picnic in the Park. This year, the celebration takes place Saturday, April 23, 12-4 p.m. Bring your picnic blanket, enjoy live music, fitness classes, kids’ activities, and treasure hunts. There will be a giveaway of 5,000 seedlings donated by Trees for Houston. Phase 2 of the park includes the debut of shade pavilions, a splash pad, and two creative play areas for kids. 

Going Green with The Galleria 

The Galleria is celebrating Earth Week with events focused on sustainability and recycling. On Sat., April 23, 1-5 p.m., Houstonians are invited to join The Galleria in Going Green with family-friendly programming with Houston Health Department: Family Planning, Junior Achievement of Southeast Texas, Magpies & Peacocks, and Special Apparel Needs. In addition, The Galleria is teaming up with Give Back Box, offering the opportunity for visitors to give back to those in need. Customers will be able to reuse any cardboard box by filling it up with gently used clothing, shoes, and accessories, printing a free, prepaid shipping label and the donations will then be sent to a local charity. Events will take place on Level 1 near Nordstrom. 

Nature Discovery Center’s Spring Fling Festival

The Nature Discovery Center’s Spring Fling Festival includes nature and environmental activities, crafts, and exhibits for children, family nature hikes, live animals, and more. (Photo courtesy of Nature Discovery Center)

Nature Discovery Center's Spring Fling Festival

The Nature Discovery Center hosts a wide range of opportunities to enjoy and learn about nature daily. NDC’s annual Spring Fling Festival takes place Sun., April 24, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. for a fun, family-friendly, and educational festival. Look forward to nature and environmental activities crafts and exhibits for children, family nature hikes, live animals, and more. Staff and volunteers will set up stations focused on animals and biofacts, native wildflowers and their pollinators in the Pocket Prairie, pond wildlife in Cypress Pond, and edible plants and gardens. Plus, there will be a kid-friendly nature art project, scheduled hourly nature walks for the whole family (from 10:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m.), and a chance to make wildflower seed balls. 

More Ways to Honor Earth Day

Throughout the year, there are countless ways to invest in our planet and communities, at our homes and throughout the Houston area, including ongoing volunteer opportunities at Houston-area parks. If you’re looking for some inspiration on going green, read these past Buzz articles on “Going Green” by Tracy L. Barnett: 

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