The Town of Chapel Hill invites you to celebrate earth day all month long. We’ve curated a month-long guide of fun (and COVID-friendly) activities, workshops, and challenges to inspire love for our local environment. Called April is for the Earth, residents are invited to get outside, appreciate natural spaces, and learn about local sustainability efforts. Read further for the full schedule of programming and visit chapelhillarts.org/earthday to see the entire event.
DO IT FOR THE EARTH
Clean Your Local Stream | through Saturday, April 17 Every spring, Chapel Hill and Carrboro Stormwater team up for a community creek cleanup. Win prizes by logging your trash cleanup efforts through April 17. Help us beat last year’s total of 5,280 pounds of trash removed from local watersheds! Learn more here.
Invasive Species Removal | Saturday, April 24, 9:30 a.m.-12:00 p.m. Pritchard Park Join Chapel Hill Public Library staff for a volunteer workday at Pritchard Park. Help create a healthier ecosystem and promote diversity of native plants. Sign up here.
Recycle Your Old Goods | Saturday, April 24, 2:00-5:00 p.m. Sponsored by Orange County Solid Waste Management at Chapel Hill Public Library Lower Lot. Save the date to easily recycle your old bulbs, batteries, bits and bob. Learn more about recycling in Orange County here.
WORKSHOP WITH NATURE
Terrarium Workshops | Saturday, April 18, 12:30-2:30 p.m. & 3:30-5:30 p.m. Chapel Hill Community Center Create and assemble terrarium homes for our newly returning gnomes, fairies and other magical folk. More details can be found in the Chapel Hill Parks & Recreation Spring Programming Guide, and you can register online.
Let’s Talk Trash | Tuesday, April 20, 6:30-8 p.m. Zoom Join us to learn about the future of solid waste in Chapel Hill by listening to our panel of experts as they discuss policy in Orange County. Whether you’re operating a small business, living as a student at UNC, or wanting to start a composting program in your neighborhood, this panel is here to answer your questions about compost and solid waste reduction. Register here.
Looking At Lichens | Thursday, April 22, 6:30 p.m. Zoom Did you know that lichens are useful signs of air quality and can make vibrant natural dyes? Hosted by Chapel Hill Community Arts & Culture, join artist Ayla Gizlice for a free virtual class all about lichens! You’ll learn how to sustainably collect, prepare, and dye with lichens using the ammonia fermentation method. Register here.
Art In The Park | Saturday, April 24, 11:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m. Chapel Hill Community Center Join Chapel Hill Parks & Recreation for a variety of fun, family oriented arts and craft activities as we welcome Spring. Register online here.
ENJOY THE GREAT OUTDOORS
Visit Public Art: Chapel Hill’s own Southern Community Park boasts over 5 pieces of public art inspired by nature! Installed in 2009 by artists Laura Haddad & Tom Drugan, the landscape art pieces reveal and surround different elements of earth, air, water, and flora. Visit the park and discover them all. Learn more here.
Greenway StoryWalk: Visit the Chapel Hill Public Library and check out their temporary StoryWalk featuring One Earth by Eileen Spinelli.
Be Among The Trees: During the week of April 18-24, head to the Bolin Creek Trail to see and collect images of Ents. Win a prize by sending a photo of you and the Ents to goch@townofchapelhill.org.
April is for the Earth is being planned by several Town Departments including Parks & Recreation, Chapel Hill Public Library, Community Arts & Culture, Stormwater, Public Works, and Sustainability. Learn more about the month-long celebration at chapelhillarts.org/earthday.