E-News Signup
I Want To
Earth Month Naperville 2026
April 22, 2026 marks the 56th anniversary of the first Earth Day.
This year's EARTH DAY theme is: Our Planet, Our Power
Volunteer Opportunities
2026 SPECIAL EVENTS:
This list is provided as a courtesy; please verify dates and times with each hosting organization
JANUARY
Seed Swap and Demonstration
University of Illinois Extension Office - Kane County Master Gardeners
When: January 25
Time: 9 am - 12 pm
Where: Kane County Extension office, 535 S. Randall Rd.
What: Wide variety of FREE vegetable, flower, and herb plant seeds. No need to bring seeds to participate.
Kendall County Master Gardener Seed Swap
University of Illinois Extension Office - Kendall County Master Gardeners
When: January 31
Time: 9 am - 12 pm
Where: Kendall County Extension Office, 7775B IL Rt. 47
What: Wide variety of FREE vegetable, flower, and herb plant seeds. No need to bring seeds to participate. Master Gardeners and Master Naturalists will be available to answer questions.
Seed Swap with Aurora Public Library
University of Illinois Extension office - DuPage Count Master Gardeners
When: January 31
Time: 10 am - 12 pm
Where: Aurora Public Library, 101 S. River St.
What: FREE seeds available! The DuPage County Master Gardeners will be available to answer questions.
FEBRUARY
The Great Seed Event 2026
University of Illinois Extension office
When: Saturday, February 7
Time: 10 am - 2 pm
Where: McHenry County College, 8900 Northwest Hwy #14
What: Vendors, demos, speakers and a seed swap
How: Get tickets
MARCH
Seed & Houseplant Exchange
Darien Garden Club
When: Sunday, March 8
Time: 1:30 - 3:30 pm
Where: Indian Prairie Public Library
What: Bring your extra vegetable, annual and native plant seeds, houseplant cuttings, or potted plants to exchange with others
How: Free but registration required
The Great Gear Swap
Accelerate Climate Solutions & Naperville Park District
Equipment Drop Off:
- Monday-Wednesday, March 16-18 from 8 - 11 am & 4 - 7 pm
- Fort Hill Activity Center lobby
Swap/Sale Event:
- Friday, March 20 from 8 - 11 am & 4-6 pm
- Multipurpose Rooms 1-3
- Donations/drop offs not required to attend
What: Don't Need It? Swap It! Keep your unwanted sports equipment out of the landfill. Drop off your gently-used sports equipment during one of the collection dates above and receive a credit towards items available at the swap/sale event!
Arbor Day Tree Sale
City of Naperville
How: Order online
When: March 23 at 8:30 am - April 22 at 5 pm
Where: Pick up Saturday, April 25 at Public Works Service Center, 180 Fort Hill Drive, 8 am - 1 pm
What: Preview the trees
APRIL
Celebrate Earth Month Naperville
Knoch Knolls Nature Center
When: April 6 - April 30
Time: Nature Center Open Hours
Where: Knoch Knolls Nature Center, 320 Knoch Knolls Rd, Naperville, IL 60565
What: Month-long Earth Day exhibits and activities featuring Conservation Success Stories
How: Free
Shred Event
Naperville Park District & Naperville Police Department
When: Saturday, April 11
Time: 8 am - 11 am (will end earlier if trucks fill up)
Where: Centennial Beach Parking Lot, 500 Jackson Ave. in Naperville
What: Drop off up to two boxes (17" x 13" x10") of documents to be shredded and recycled; up to 10-lb per box; no previously
shredded paper accepted
How: Free service; pull up to trucks and volunteers will unload your boxes
35th Annual DuPage River Sweep
The Conservation Foundation
When: Saturday, April 18
Time: 9 am - 12 pm
Where: County-wide (DuPage)
What: Self-coordinated stream cleanup held each spring
How: Check their website to register
One Earth Film Festival
Watch films and discussions from the 2025 One Earth Film Festival
When: April 22-28
Who: All ages
Where: Online/virtual
What: The Midwest’s premier environmental film festival with award winning films.
How: Free, donations welcome. Visit https://www.oneearthfilmfest.org
Arbor Day Plant Sale
The Morton Arboretum
When: Timed Entry Tickets go on sale to public, Wednesday, April 15
Date: Onsite Sale: April 23 - 25
Where: 4100 Illinois Route 53, Lisle
What: Thousands of plants; expert Plant Geniuses onsite
How: Please visit www.mortonarb.org
MAY
McDonald Farm Annual Plant Sale
The Conservation Foundation
When: Saturday, May 9
Time: tbd
Where: McDonald Farm, 10S404 Knoch Knolls Rd in Naperville
What: Farm-grown organic vegetable and herb seedlings, organic compost, Mother’s Day gift options, and rain barrels
How: Online presale ordering option, with pick up on May 9 or In Person Plant Sale - May 9
Ongoing Local and Online Environmental Resources
In the spring of 1970, Senator Gaylord Nelson created Earth Day as a way to address the dangerous environmental issues facing Americans and the environment. On April 22, 20 million Americans protested on college campuses and in city streets across the country, demanding an end to air pollution, rivers that burned, ocean oil spills and loss of wildlife species. This first Earth Day launched the passing of numerous environmental laws to protect air, land and water and prompted the creation of the U. S. Environmental Protection Agency in December of 1970. The holiday grew significantly over the years to the point that in 2009, the United Nations adopted a consensus resolution designating April 22nd as International Mother Earth Day.
Arbor Day was founded in 1872 as a day set aside to plant trees by J. Sterling Morton, who later served as Secretary of Agriculture to President Grover Cleveland. Today, most states celebrate Arbor Day on the last Friday in April. Morton's son, Joy Morton, is the founder of the Morton Salt Company and the Morton Arboretum, a 1,700-acre tree museum in Lisle, which is a leading center of tree science. "Plant Trees" was the Morton family motto.
