Skip to main content

Discover 10 family friendly Earth Day activities

This Earth Day, celebrate 47 years of eco-advocacy by volunteering to clean up a stream, recycling your big items, planting trees, going to an Earth Day Fest or visiting a sustainable vineyard and winery.

All events listed here are on Earth Day, Saturday, April 22.

Overland Park Recycling Extravaganza 

8 a.m. – 2 p.m.

Black & Veatch parking lot, 11401 Lamar, Overland Park, KS

Recycle almost everything at this annual event. Accepted items include: documents for shredding, usable building material, housewares, small appliances, toys, electronics, bicycles, up to 10 fluorescent bulbs, garden tools, pet supplies, eyeglasses, mattresses and box springs. See details at Overland Park’s website.

Lawrence Earth Day Parade & Celebration 

11 a.m. Parade; 11:30 a.m. – 4 p.m. Celebration

South Park, 11th & Massachusetts streets

The 17th Annual Lawrence Earth Day Parade & Celebration will feature environmental exhibits, live music, yoga, local food vendors and children’s activities. Attendees can learn about waste reduction, recycling, composting, alternative fuels and vehicles, energy conservation, land preservation, wildlife and habitat preservation. The free event is sponsored by the city of Lawrence Solid Waste Division.

Kansas City, MO Earth Day Recycling Event

8 a.m. – Noon

Manuel Career and Technical Center, 1320 Truman Road, Kansas City, MO

The city of Kansas City, MO has partnered with several local recyclers to accept the following items:

  • SURPLUS EXCHANGE: Cell phones, printers, scanners, modems, CD drives, cables, keyboards, computer mouse, televisions, VCRs, DVD players, camcorders, cameras, game players and joys sticks, telephones, pagers, answering machines, typewriters, calculators, adding machines, fax machines, copiers. All CRT based products are $20; i.e. tube TVs and tube monitors
  • DISABLED VETERANS: Clothing, accessories, books, footwear, toys, linens, housewares, small appliances that are in good working condition
  • RIPPLE GLASS: All glass food and beverage containers of any color, including mason jars and drinking glasses, such as wine glasses
  • CITY OF KANSAS CITY, MO: Yard waste, batteries, washers, dryers, refrigerators
  • REVOLVEKC: Bicycles

  • TRUMAN HERITAGE HABITAT FOR HUMANITY RESTORE: Building materials, gently used furniture
  • AVENUE OF LIFE: Mattresses, furniture
  • DOCUMENT RESOURCES: On-site document shredding of documents in paper bags or boxes

For more information, contact John Baccala, Neighborhoods and Housing Services Department communications/community liaison, at 816-513-3202.

Heartland Tree Alliance tree planting

9 a.m. – Noon

Central Presbyterian Church, 3501 Campbell St., Kansas City, MO

Volunteer to plant trees at the Hyde Park Street Tree Planting in Kansas City, MO. No prior tree planting experience is necessary and all tools will be provided. Register in advance at Heartland Tree Alliance.

or call Sarah Crowder at 816-561-1086.

Jowler Creek Vineyard & Winery Earth Day Celebration 

11 a.m. – 9 p.m.

16905 Jowler Creek Road, Platte City, MO

Take a tour of Missouri’s first green vineyard and winery and see how the owners use sheep to control weeds and chickens to control pests. The winery uses solar energy and electric vehicles. Visitors can get a test ride in an all-electric Tesla and Nissan Leaf and check out the electric charging stations. Electric car owners who drive their EV to the event will receive two free wine tasting, and there will be grapevines, sustainable sangria and food for sale. Local bands, Two Bricks Shy and Soular, will perform from 2 – 9 p.m.

Textile Recycling

8 a.m. – 2 p.m.

8010 Conser, Overland Park, KS

Reduce the amount of textile waste in area landfills by donating old clothing to be reused by SafeHome Growing, Shawnee Mission Schools and Textiles and Fabrics for Stitching Change. Towels and blankets will be donated to Unleashed Pet Rescue & Adoption and Wayside Waifs.

Gibbs Road Farm Transplant Sale

8 a.m. – 3 p.m.

4223 Gibbs Road, Kansas City, MO.

Heirloom tomatoes, chard, eggplant, herbs and many other starter plants will be available at the annual Gibbs Road Farm Transplant Sale.

Turkey Creek Watershed Litter Cleanup

10 a.m. – 1 p.m.

Chatlain Park, 6300 Carter Ave., Merriam, KS

Volunteer with Bridging the Gap to clean up litter along the Turkey Creek watershed. Learn about the watershed, receive a volunteer t-shirt and a chance to win a 44-gallon rain barrel. Litter grabbers, safety vests, trash bags and gloves will be provided. Register in advance at Bridging the Gap.

Lakeside Nature Center Earth Day

10 a.m. – 2 p.m.

Lakeside Nature Center, 4701 E Gregory Blvd, Kansas City, MO

Celebrate ecology with wildlife interpretations, informational booths, crafts and StoneLion Puppet shows at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. at the Lakeside Nature Center Earth Day.

Excelsior Springs Earth Day Spring Cleaning

9 a.m. – Noon

Various locations

Volunteer to help Excelsior Springs, MO clean up several sites at this community spring cleaning event on Earth Day. The Downtown Excelsior Partnership, Excelsior Springs Area Chamber of Commerce, Excelsior Springs Parks & Recreation and Excelsior Springs Rotary Club are partnering to host this first-time event. Each group is hosting a clean-up effort. For more information on locations, contact Lyndsey Baxter, Downtown Excelsior Partnership at [email protected].

 

0 0 votes
Article Rating
guest

0 Comments
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments