DIY & Green Parenting

We hear often about Earth Day (April 22) and Arbor Day (April 24), but did you know April is actually recognized as "Earth Month?" My parents instilled a love of the outdoors in my brother and I early on in our lives and it has remained an important lesson for me to pass on to my own kids. I'm always on the hunt for wonderful nature-inspired activities, so the April Earth Month is especially exciting. Here are some of the fabulous activities going on around the city to celebrate! {As with all events we publish, we recommend contacting the venue to confirm final details. Events appear in chronological order.} Learn how 'Every Day Is Earth Day' in Avon. The Avon Outdoor Learning Center plays host to a special Earth Day celebration including a family hike in the woods, a gardening demo and other fun activities. FREE. Date/Time: Saturday, April 18. 9am-3pm Location: Avon Outdoor Learning Center, 7237 E. US Highway 36, Avon More info: facebook.com/events/644126722383263 Participate in the Green Family Fair and Great Cloth Diaper Change downtown. The Green Family Fair was introduced this year to support the Great Cloth Diaper Change, an event challenging attendees to help break the Guinness Book Of World Records "Most Cloth Diapers Changed." Date/Time: Saturday, April 18. 9am-12pm Location: Center For Inquiry at IPS School #2, 725 N. New Jersey St, Indianapolis More info: tiny.cc/Green-Family-Fair Enjoy the Perennial Premiere at the IMA. This isn't specifically labeled as an Earth Day event, but it sure fits the bill: It's the IMA's annual salute to Spring with live music, a gardening activity for kids, speakers on topics like urban gardening, food trucks and more. Plants and trees available for purchase as well as nature and gardening-related goods. FREE. Date/Time: Saturday, April 18 (12-5pm) and Sunday, April 19 (12-4pm). Location: Indianapolis Museum Of Art Madeline F. Elder Greenhouse and Lilly House Grounds, 4000 Michigan Road, Indianapolis More info: imamuseum.org/special-event/perennial-premiere Plant for the planet at Pottery Barn Kids. At this event, children will learn the importance of pollination, decorate a biodegradable flowerpot and plant seeds in celebration of Earth Day. Space is limited so registration is required. FREE. Date/Time: Tuesday, April 21. 11am Location: Pottery Barn Kids, Fashion Mall at Keystone, 8702 Keystone Crossing, Indianapolis More info: (317) 569-9144 Make a stop at Holliday Park on Earth Day. Holliday Park will celebrate April 22 – Earth Day! – in style with family activities, a take-home craft, hikes with park naturalists and tours of the newly-renovated Habitat Hall inside the Nature Center. No registration required. FREE. Date/Time: Wednesday, April 22. 2:30-4:30pm Location: Holliday Park, 6363 Spring Mill Road, Indianapolis More info: hollidaypark.org/calendars/programDetails/EarthDayCelebration.html or (317) 327-7180 Turn Arbor Day into a flamingo family-affair. As a recognized Tree City USA, Fishers pulls out all the stops to celebrate Arbor Day. Pick up a flamingo now-thru April 23rd and decorate as a family. Drop your creation off in time for voting on April 24th when the Nickel Plate Amphitheater shows Gnomeo and Juliet, a sweet, environmentally-based family film. FREE. Date/Time: Now-Thursday, April 23. Location: Fishers Park & Recreation Office – City Hall, 1 Municipal Drive, Fishers More info: fishers.in.us/index.aspx?NID311 or (317) 595-3150 Go for an earthy Exploration Celebration in Carmel. This afternoon of nature exploration with Carmel Clay Parks & Recreation will include hands-on learning about plants and bugs, a scavenger hunt in the woods and nature-themed crafts. Registration requested. FREE. Date/Time: Saturday, April 25. 2-4pm Location: Central Park East Woods, 1235 Central Park Dr E, Carmel More info: carmelclayparks.com/ccpr-events/exploration-celebration or (317) 848-7275 Don't miss the annual Earth Day Indiana Festival. The state's largest celebration of environmental protection, conservation of natural resources and sustainable living is always packed with informational booths and more. A special Children's Tent featuring local performers and activities rounds out the fun. FREE. Date/Time: Saturday, April 25. 11am-4pm Location: White River State Park, 801 W. Washington St. Indianapolis More info: earthdayindiana.org or (317) 721-6526 And there's also the Earth Day Community Celebration at the JCC. This is one of our favorite family events each year – a hands-on community event which the organizers say is "designed to inspire environmental stewardship and reconnect people with nature." Each year this Celebration features a huge array of local green organizations, activities for kids, food trucks and more. FREE. Date/Time: Sunday, April 26. 1-4pm Location: Arthur M. Glick JCC, 6701 Hoover Road, Indianapolis More info: jccindy.org/community/earth-day or (317) 251-9467 Here's an excuse to visit Anthropologie – a Kids Craft Workshop. They don't offer these very often but the Kids Crafting Workshops at Anthropologie are a secret favorite activity of our family. Anthro pulls out all the stops to provide lots for little ones to do, all within their whimsically bohemian store environment. The theme for this activity will be "Earth Day Our Way." Recommended for ages 4 and up. Space is very limited for this event and RSVPs are required. FREE. Date/Time: Sunday, April 26. 11am-12pm Location: Anthropologie at the Fashion Mall, 8702 Keystone Crossing, Indianapolis More info: Call (317) 574-0803 Take on a wonderful kind of project: The Indiana Tree Project. Grow your love not only for Arbor Day but our state with this incredible reforestation program by the Indiana Natural Resources Foundation and the Department of Natural Resources Division Of Forestry. The Indiana Tree Project "helps a greener Indiana take root" by accepting $10 donations throughout the year and then using those donations to plant a forest's-worth of tree saplings each Spring. And all plantings are open to the public! DNR Forestry experts will take time to explain how plantings work, what the life cycle is for a new forest and demonstrate tractor-pulled and manual tree planters. This event is perfect for families, Scout troops and homeschool groups. FREE. Date/Time: TBD for Early May. Check the Indiana Tree Project Facebook page for an official announcement. Location: TBD More info: indianatreeproject.org or facebook.com/pages/The-Indiana-Tree-Project/198875016841627 Know of other must-do Earth-y themed activities we missed? Please share them in the comments OR tweet us at @indyschild and @themomista. {Out enjoying them as a family? Tag us in your Instagram photos at @indyschild and @themomista1 and you might be featured in an upcoming post or article!}

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