If you and your family haven’t participated in or volunteered for any Earth Month activities yet, there is still time and still lots of opportunities. And you can attend many celebrations on Earth Day itself, Saturday, April 23rd.
Columbus Green Walks
When: Anytime during park hours
Where: Whetstone Park, 3932 N High St, Columbus, OH 43214
Description: Columbus Green Walks are a unique way to get active while learning about the environment in one of Columbus’ premier parks. These plotted paths are great for nature buffs and offer educational lessons for students — all centered around one of the greenest activities – walking! For more information click here.
SWACO Webinars
When: Wed April 27
Where: Anywhere
Description: SWACO routinely offers free educational webinars on best practices for reducing waste, reuse, recycling, composting and safely disposing of unwanted materials both at home and at work. Visit the website to learn more about upcoming webinars and topics, including Recycle Right at Home (April 13) and the Earth Month Spring Cleaning and Donation Webinar (April 27).
Whetstone Park Adena Brook Cleanup
When: Fri April 22, 3pm
Where: Whetstone Park, 3932 N High St, Columbus, OH 43214
Description: Join Earth Day Columbus for cleaning up the waterway of Adena Brook at Whetstone Park. Adena Brook is commonly played in by dogs, adults and children. The waterway directly feeds the Olentangy River and accumulates trash from street runoff, uncovered trash cans and litter. For more information click here.
Remove Invasive Honeysuckle at Sawmill Wetlands
When: Sat April 23, 9am – 12pm
Where: 2674 Sawmill Pl Blvd, Columbus, OH 43235
Description: FLOW needs help removing invasive honeysuckle at Sawmill Wetlands. All supplies will be provided.
Grove City Earth Day Event
When: Sat April 23, 10am – 2pm 43123
Where: Fryer Park, 3899 Orders Rd
Description: Join SWACO staff, the city of Grove City, Keep Grove City Beautiful and other community members for some family fun! There will be exhibitors to answer your sustainability questions, fishing, a scavenger hunt, giveaways and food trucks!
Hilliard Styrofoam Recycling Drive
When: Sat April 23, 10am – 12pm
Where: Hilliard Community Center, 3800 Veterans Memorial Dr, Hilliard, OH 43206
Description: In 2021, SWACO provided a $30,000 grant to the City of Hilliard to purchase a new Styrofoam densifier which can compact Styrofoam 50 times smaller than its original size and make it easier to recycle into other products. Click here for information and to learn what is and is not accepted.
Bexley Earth Day Event
When: Sat April 23 11am – 2pm
Where: Schneider Park, 2130 Astor Ave, Columbus, OH 43209
Description: Join SWACO for the annual Green Bexley Fair – a fun, hands-on festival to celebrate the Earth and sustainable living. Schneider Park, a former landfill, is now part of a long trail system and houses the Bexley Community Gardens. Click here for information.
Earth Day Celebration
When: Sat April 23 12 – 7pm
Where: Genoa Park, 303 W Broad St, Columbus, OH 43215
Description: Join Earth Day Columbus at Genoa Park for their annual Earth Day Celebration! This family-friendly event will feature local music, food, and drinks from a diverse array of vendors. For more information click here.
Earth Day Celebration Weekend at the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium (Ticketed event)
When: Sat April 23 9am – 5pm; Sun April 24 9am – 5pm
Where: Columbus Zoo and Aquarium, 4850 W Powell Rd, Powell, OH 43065
Description: Join CZA to celebrate Mother Earth while rethinking how we use our natural resources and learn how to make choices that are better for the planet. Activities include Conservation Stations, Keeper Talks, Columbus Zoo Character Ambassador Rolling Celebration, and more! For more information click, here.
Native Planting at Kempton Run
When: Sun April 24, 1pm – 3pm
Where: Northwest Church of the Nazarene, 5707 Olentangy River Rd, Columbus, OH 43235
Description: Come and help FLOW plant native trees and shrubs along Kempton Run. Supplies will be provided.
Prescription Drug Take Back Day
When: Sat April 30,
Where: Visit link below
Description: When you’re done with prescription medicine, it’s easy to forget about it as it sits unused in a drawer or medicine cabinet. But keeping unneeded medicine in the house can harm children, pets, teens and adults if accidentally ingested or misused. Proper disposal is also imperative for the protection of our environment. The best option for safely disposing of prescription medicines is at a prescription drug drop-off site. SWACO partners with communities in Franklin County to make permanent collection sites available year-round. Visit the website to learn more about the types of medications accepted and to access the locations of drop off sites throughout Central Ohio.
Cleaner Columbus Community Clean-Up
When: Sat April 30, 9:30am – 1:30pm
Where: Around Columbus
Description: Registration is required for this event. To register, visit: www.cleanercolumbus.org
Remove Invasive Honeysuckle along the Olentangy Trail
When: Sat April 30, 1pm – 4pm
Where: Mirolo Community Pavilion, Worthington, OH 43085
Description: Help FLOW remove invasive honeysuckle along the Olentangy Trail. All supplies provided. Parking is available at the Mirolo Building at the Thomas Worthington High School
“Shred Hunger” Event
When: Sat April 30, 1pm – 4pm
Where: St. Stephen’s Community House, 1500 E 17th Ave, Columbus, OH 43219
Description: Join the Franklin County Auditor’s Office, SWACO, and a variety of community partners for this free event to safely shred documents, recycle electronics, and donate household and nonperishable food items to St. Stephen’s Community House. Click here for information on what’s accepted.
Check Earthday.org’s Events page as well as Earth Day Columbus’ website to find more Earth Day celebrations such as cleanups, teach-ins, activism, and more!
You can find this and all the Creation Care blogs for the church website I have written at my consolidating blog: ststephenscreationcare.blogspot.com
Thanks for your commitment to caring for God’s creation!
