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Earth Week Naperville 2023
April 22, 2023 marks the 53rd anniversary of the first Earth Day.
The 2023 theme was INVEST IN OUR PLANET.
Invest in the future of our home by acting now!
Support climate and environmental literacy!
Reduce plastic pollution!
Plant trees!
Make your Vote Count! (Local Voting)
Organize a Clean Up!
Support Sustainable Fashion!
Share your thoughts and actions at #InvestInOurPlanet and #EarthWeekNaperville
Volunteer
Contact Us
2023 SPECIAL EVENTS:
MARCH
One Earth Film Festival
Watch films and discussions from the 2023 One Earth Film Festival
When: March 3-12
Who: All ages
Where: Online/virtual What: View specially selected films and shorts highlighting Earth Day and sustainable practices
How: Watch recordings
Arbor Day Tree Sale
City of Naperville
How: Order online/Drive-thru pick up
When: Order: March 20 - April 14 (or until all trees are sold, whichever comes first) & Pick up Sat April 22 Time: 8 am - 1 pm
Where: Drive-thru pick up: Naperville Public Works Service Center, 180 Fort Hill Dr., Naperville
What: Select tree(s) for your yard or property; residents limited to 6 trees
APRIL
Earth Day Safari
Forest Preserve District of Will County
When: April 1 - 30, see website for hours
Who: All ages
Where: Hidden Oaks Nature Center, 419 Trout Farm Rd, Bolingbrook, IL 60440
What: Pick up a free self-guided adventure pack backpack including safari hats, binoculars, critter containers, magnifying lenses, journals, reference books and more.
How: Free with ID
Spring Native Plant Sale
The Nature Foundation of Will County
How: 2 options - Preorder &/or In Person
When: Online orders: April 1 - April 30; Online Order Pickup & Spring Pop-Up Sale: Saturday, May 20 & Sunday, May 21
Time: Sat from 9 am - 2 pm; Sun from 9 am - 12 pm
Where: Isle a la Cache Preserve, 501 E. Romeo Road (135th Street) in Romeoville
What: Native plants
Recycle Your Bicycle
Forest Preserve District of Will County
When: April 1 - 30, see website for hours
Who: All ages
Where: Hidden Oaks Nature Center, 419 Trout Farm Rd. in Bolingbrook
What: Any bike, any condition, plus bike parts
How: Free collaboration with Working Bikes
Shred Event
Naperville Police Department and Naperville Park District
When: Saturday, April 15
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 of documents to be shredded and recycled; up to 10 lb boxes
How: Free
Earth Week Mini Film Festival
One Earth Film Festival & the City of Chicago
When: April 19 -23
Who: All ages
Where: Online/virtual
What: View specially selected films and shorts highlighting Earth Day and sustainable practices
How: Get Tickets; Free or $8 Donation
2023 Spring Campaign Sign Recycling Event
DuPage County Government
When: April 21st & April 22nd
Time: Fri: 3 pm - 5 pm; Sat: 9 am - 12 pm
Where: DuPage County Government campus, 421 N. County Farm Rd., Wheaton {Follow Recycling Event Signage}
What: Recycle political and other corrugated plastic and cardboard signs for recycling plus the metal stands
How: Free service through Lakeshore Recycling Systems
Earth Day Festival
Forest Preserve District of Will County
When: Saturday, April 22
Time: 12 am - 4 pm
Who: All ages
Where: Hidden Oaks Nature Center, 419 Trout Farm Rd in Bolingbrook
What: Live music, local artisan demonstrations on how to shrink your carbon footprint, meet some bees, visit with live animals, shop with vendors, explore hands-on exhibits, make S'mores at a campfire, create a nature craft, pick up a sustainable giveaway.
How: Free, no registration required
Earth Day Fair
Naperville Park District and Earth Week Naperville committee
When: Sunday, April 23, 1 pm - 4 pm
Who: All ages
Where: Fort Hill Activity Center, 20 Fort Hill Dr. in Naperville
What: Visit with local business/organizations to learn about their sustainable initiatives & how you can be "green"
How: Free; Stop by any time during the event hours
For an Earth Day Fair exhibitor's request form click here.
MAY
McDonald Farm Annual Plant Sale
The Conservation Foundation
How: 2 options - Preorder Plant Kits &/or In Person
When: Preorder Plant Kits: May 5-7; Online Order Pickup & In Person Sale: Friday, May 12 & Sat. May 13
Time: Fri from 3 - 7 pm; Sat from 8:30 am - 1 pm
Where: McDonald Farm, 10S404 Knoch Knolls Rd in Naperville
What: Plant kits, organic vegetables and herb starts, rain barrels, and organic compost
Naperville Community Gardeners Plant Sale
Naperville Community Gardeners
When: Saturday, May 13
Time: 7 am - 1 pm
Where: Ron Ory Community Garden Plots, 811 S. West St. in Naperville
What: Free gardening advice - Plants from Members' gardens - Seedlings grown by members
32nd Annual DuPage River Sweep
The Conservation Foundation
When: Saturday, May 20
Time: 9 am - 12 pm
Where: County-wide (DuPage)
What: Self-coordinated stream cleanup held each spring
How: Free; Register here
Ongoing Local and Online Environmental Resources
Earth Day and Nature Related ParkTalk Podcasts
The Conservation Foundation's Environmentally Focused Videos
Earth Week Naperville Partners
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Earth Week Naperville Sponsors
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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.
