Wednesday, April 18, 2012

Earth Day Celebrations Provide Plenty of Family Fun!

Party for the Planet at Beardsley Zoo

Earth Day, originating in 1970 has continued to grow and evolve throughout the United States.  This movement lead to the creation of the United States Environmental Protection Agency and the Clean Air, Clean Water and Endangered Species Act. Today, Earth Day is an important focal point for people world-wide to demonstrate their commitment to the environment.  In Connecticut there are many Earth Day events to choose from.

Celebrate Earth Day on Sunday, April 22 with a visit to Bartlett Arboretum & Gardens and view their beautiful grounds and listen to some incredible jazz from 2PM to 4 PM.   This concert will feature a performance by four renowned Jazz performers; guitarist Gene Bertoncini and special guests drummer Joe Corsella; violinist Sara Caswell and bassist Michael Moore.  Tickets are $25 for members and $30 for non-members; space is limited. Call 203-322-6971 or visit www.bartlettarboretum.org.

The Sharon Audubon Center on 325 Cornwall Bridge Rd. in Sharon CT is hosting a free session at 2:00 PM on Rain Gardens and why every drop of water counts.  Participants will learn why you should plant a rain garden and how one can help your property and the environment. To register for this event, or for more information call 860-364-0520 or visit www.sharon.audubon.org.

The Darien Nature Center located on 120 Brookside Rd. will celebrate Earth Day with the Opening Reception of Earthworks, a collaborative exhibit by area artists Heidi Lewis Coleman, Lucy Krupenye and Nancy Woodward and curated by Ann Hart. The reception will be held on Earth Day, Sunday, April 22 from 3:00 – 5:00 p.m. and will be on view through June 8th in the Nature Center’s Wetherstone Gallery.  In this stunning exhibit inspired by nature, each artist pays homage to the beauty of the current, the remnants of the past and the wonder of the unknown future. The assembled works are a celebration of nature’s simplicities and complexities. For more information call 203-655-7459 or visit www.dariennaturecenter.org.



 At the Institute for American Indian Studies on 38 Curtis Rd. in Washington, visitors are invited to celebrate Earth Day with Atka, a live artic gray wolf at 1PM. Atka is being welcomed back from the Wolf Conservation Center of South Salem, N.Y. and is their oldest and most traveled ambassador wolf.  The center staff will share facts, history and dispel many misconceptions about wolves and our role in protecting the future of wolves. There is limited seating so reserve and pay in advance. The fee is $10 for adults and $6 for kids. For information, call 860-868-0518 or visit www.iaismuseum.org.

Connecticut’s Beardsley Zoo located on 1875 Noble Ave in Bridgeport is celebrating Earth Day by throwing a Party for the Planet! As part of the 42nd anniversary of Earth Day, the Zoo is offering environmental education activities, amazing animal encounters, and fun for the whole family. This conservation themed bash will take place on Saturday, April 21 and Sunday, April 22 from 9:00 am until 3:00 pm and will shine a light on initiatives that make our planet a more sustainable place to live. This event is FREE with paid admission to the Zoo. For more information visit http://www.beardsleyzoo.org.

Stepping Stones Museum for Children on 303 West Ave. in Norwalk, is celebrating Earth Day on Sunday, April 22, with drop-in activities in the Community Garden 10 am – 1 pm. Go on a nature scavenger hunt, experiment with tools to measure weather, paint en plein air and plant seeds to take home and watch grow. At 11 am the museum presents The Attainable Sustainable Energy Show, a wacky, action-packed live science show that will inspire excitement in renewable energy. Free with $15 museum admission. For more information, call (203) 899-0606 or visit www.steppingstonesmuseum.org.


Celebrate Earth Day on the front lines of global warming at The Maritime Aquarium at Norwalk, as new IMAX® movie “To the Arctic” takes you to one of the most hostile, and beautiful, places on earth. Opens Friday, April 20th on the Aquarium’s six-story-tall screen. Follow a mother polar bear and her twin baby cubs as they struggle to survive, coping with diminishing pack ice and changes in seasons. Also includes amazing footage of walruses and migrating caribou. A MacGillivray Freeman film by Academy Award Nominee Greg MacGillivray. Narrated by Meryl Streep with songs by Paul  McCartney. Shows daily at 11 am and 1, 3 & 5 pm. Tickets are $9 adults, $6.50 child. Call 203-852-0700 or visit www.MaritimeAquarium.org for more.

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