Earth Day 2024: Ways To Get Involved In The Arlington Heights Area

ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, IL — With a goal of reducing the production of all plastics by 2040, Earth Day organizers chose the right theme for this year's event. As it has annually since 1970, Earth Day falls on April 22, and Monday's event is being called, "Planet vs. Plastics."

According to EarthDay.org, over 1 billion people in more than 193 countries have mobilized on April 22 each year to demonstrate support for environmental protection. With the "Planet vs. Plastics" theme, organizers are advocating for "widespread awareness on the health risk of plastics, rapidly phase out all single use plastics, urgently push for a strong UN treaty on plastic pollution, and demand an end to fast fashion."

In the Arlington Heights area, local groups and residents will be volunteering in a number of ways to recognize Earth Day, with some events taking place this upcoming weekend. Here are a few events scheduled locally:

• Earth Day Field of Sunflowers, 6:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. April 22, BYO cocktail reception, followed by painting from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. at Bottle & Bodega, 1o W. Campbell St., Arlington Heights. For 18 and up. Paint a piece by a local artist at this BYOB studio. Cost is $40. Ticket price includes use of all necessary paint supplies and aprons, instruction, and a take-home canvas, glass set or wood surface. Add a DIY candle to the experience. Find out more here.
• Environmental Awareness, through April 30, First Presbyterian Church of Arlington Heights, 302 N. Dunton Ave., Arlington Heights. From the church, "Many of us took advantage of curbside pickup and carry-out this past year. Along with the ease and convenience came a lot of prepackaged plastic eating utensils that we didn’t use. Many are not recyclable and will end up in landfills or waterways. In conjunction with Earth Day, Stone Catchers will be collecting your unused plastic utensil packets to use in different ways here at church. You may drop your wrapped, unused packets in the bin outside Door 9 (near the main office) any time, or bring them to the welcome table at our outdoor worship."
• Guided tour of Prospect Heights Slough, 12:30 p.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday, April 21, 201 N. Elmhurst Road, Prospect Heights. The family-friendly event will be held in honor of Earth Day. Explore a portion of this 13-acre wetland in our backyard, guided by two commissioners of the Prospect Heights Natural Resources Commission. Registration is requested, but drop-ins are welcome. Find out more from the League of Women Voters Arlington Heights-Mt. Prospect-Buffalo Grove.
• Celebrate Earth Day, noon to 2 p.m. Saturday, April 20, Reed-Turner Nature Center, 3849 Old McHenry, Long Grove. The $5 Long Grove Park District event includes crafts and educational activities for all ages, guided hikes, games, yoga, owl demonstration (except for 2 p.m. time slot) and the inaugural Earth Day Craft Fair. Sign-ups for time slots can be found here.
• Earth Day Celebration, 10 a.m. to noon Sunday, April 21, at the Mike Rylko Community Park (near the skate park), 1000 N. Buffalo Grove Road, Buffalo Grove. The free event, put on by the Buffalo Grove Park District, will include arts and crafts, a nature walk, and the nature classroom will be open.
• Celebrate Earth Day, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sunday, April 21, at the Heritage Park Performance Center, 201 Community Blvd., Wheeling. Take a nature walk, learn about all the beautiful wildlife Wheeling has to offer, and view live animals up close at this family-friendly event. Exhibitors will be on hand to present information on the environment and answer all your questions about how to make our planet a better place. Register here.
• Order Earth Day-themed cookies at Deerfields Bakery, 201 N. Buffalo Grove Road, Buffalo Grove, and 813 N. Waukegan Road, Deerfield. Check out the cookies here. Deerfields Bakery is closed Monday, so order now.
• Evening Bird and Botany Walk, 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Monday, April 22, Edward L. Ryerson Conservation Area and Welcome Center, 21950 N. Riverwoods Road, Riverwoods. This is a free Earth Week event. Find out more here.

Find more Earth Day events here.