FreeEarth Day event at Irons Oaks

By Southland Savvy

Southland residents are invited to celebrate the Earth at a new, free event this year: Earth Day @ the Oaks. Earth Day @ the Oaks will be Saturday, April 17, 11 a.m.-3 p.m., at the Irons Oaks Environmental Learning Center in Olympia Fields.

Activities will include nature hikes, art projects, qi gong, a native landscaping workshop with Possibility Place Nursery of Monee and outdoor challenges, such as climbing up the 30-foot Climbing Tower (waiver required). Demonstrations will be held by the University of Illinois Extension, and Bloom High School will present its Bio Diesel Bus. Indoor activities include exploring the new Irons Oaks Discovery Center Museum and meeting with local, green exhibitors, including the Izaak Walton Preserve.

Entertainment will be provided by David Stokes, a naturalist and humorist from Wisconsin. Stokes uses songs, stories and hands-on materials to get kids actively engaged in learning. Live animals will also be included in his show. Catch him at noon, 1 or 2 p.m. The Illinois Raptor Center — a non-profit wildlife and environmental education center located near Decatur — will present Raptors 101, which includes meeting four different types of birds, at 1 p.m. A hot-dog lunch — compliments of Whole Foods — will be served until 1 p.m., and campfire s’mores will be served around 2:30 p.m.

The first 200 guests at the event will receive green giveaway items, compliments of Walt’s Food Center and the Irons Oaks Foundation. A raffle will be held for green prizes, including a rain barrel from Coyote Run Golf Course and a family picnic backpack from REI.

This free event is sponsored by Irons Oaks, the Homewood-Flossmoor Park District and the Irons Oaks Foundation with support from Whole Foods and Walt’s Food Center. Irons Oaks is a 40-acre nature preserve and a joint project of the Homewood-Flossmoor and Olympia Fields Park Districts.

For more information, call (708)481-2330 or visit ironsoaks.com.