As the N.C. Chapter marks its 55th anniversary this year, we'll single out April to celebrate the 55th anniversary of Earth Day. Earth Day itself is on Tuesday, April 22, but the party starts right away and lasts all month!
Chapter Director Chris Herndon will attend the Wake County Commission's meeting on Monday, April 8, to receive its proclamation designating April 22 as Earth Day.
Across the state, many of our local Groups are hosting or participating in events. There's something happening every weekend and on Earth Day itself, and we hope you'll head out to at least one event!
Cape Fear Group:
(Bladen, Brunswick, Columbus, Duplin, New Hanover, Pender, Robeson counties)
The Cape Fear Group will celebrate with the Wilmington Earth Day Alliance from noon to 6 p.m. on Saturday, April 26, at Long Leaf Park, 314 Pine Grove Dr. Fifty exhibitors will be rallying around this years’s theme, "Our Power, Our Planet." Cape Fear Sierrans will be tabling to share how the Sierra Club "explores, enjoys and protects the planet." They'll also have games for kids to teach them about animal habitats and tracks, and each family can select a free, age-appropriate science book for their children.
Croatan Group:
(Carteret, Craven, Jones, Onslow, Pamlico counties)
The Croatan Group and Carteret Community College's Conservation Committee are hosting "Earth Day: Learn and Play" from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Tuesday, April 22. The event features four classroom presentation/discussion sessions:
- Solar 101: Representatives from solar installation companies will discuss what you need to know and questions you need to ask before signing a contract for solar panels and battery storage at your home.
- Solar user experiences: Carteret County homeowners who have rooftop solar energy will talk about costs and benefits, and what they wish they'd known before they started the journey.
- The status of wind energy development, with a representative from the Southeast Wind Coalition.
- Workforce development for new energy with Perry Harken, VP at Carteret Community College.
The event will include 15-20 tables and posters from local groups and organizations, as well as opportunities to participate in a trash pickup and to help build a living shoreline. Get more information.
Cypress Group:
(Beaufort, Bertie, Camden, Chowan, Currituck, Dare, Gates, Greene, Hertford, Hyde, Lenoir, Martin, Northampton, Pasquotank, Perquimans, Pitt, Tyrrell, Washington, Wayne counties)
The Cypress Group will hold an Earth Day celebration from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, April 26, in partnership with the Eastern Carolina Village and Farm Museum at 4570 County Home Road in Greenville.
Foothills Group
(Davidson, Davie, Forsyth, Stokes, Surry, Yadkin counties)
The Foothills Group is marking Earth Day at two events.
- Saturday, April 12: The Group will join the third annual Lewisville Earth Day celebration, hosted by the Lewisville Environmental Conservation and Sustainability Committee. It's at Jack Warren Park (7788 Warren Park Drive) from 9 am to 2 pm. The event promotes sustainability, community engagement, and environmental awareness with vendors, kids' activities and more. This year, it will include a special recycling drop-off, with designated areas for various materials, so you can easily dispose of items in an environmentally friendly way.
- Saturday, April 26: The Foothills Group will be part of one of the biggest Earth Day celebrations in the region: the Piedmont Earth Day Fair. The free event, marking its 20th year, is hosted by the Piedmont Environmental Alliance and features food and music, activities for adults and kids, and earth-friendly exhibitors. It will run from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., rain or shine!
Orange-Chatham Group
(Alamance, Caswell, Chatham, Orange counties)
The Orange-Chatham Group will kick off Earth Month with an early event, tabling at Carrboro's Earth Day celebration on Sunday, April 6. The free event runs from noon to 4 p.m. at Weaver Street and Town Commons, with eco-friendly activities and outdoor fun.
Piedmont Plateau Group
(Guilford, Montgomery, Randolph, Rockingham, Richmond counties)
The Piedmont Plateau Group will participate in Greensboro's Earth Day celebration from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, April 26, in Keeley Park. Importantly, the Group will provide information about efforts to stop the construction of the Transco SSEP gas pipeline, a high priority of the Sierra Club and other environmental groups in the region. They'll have a petition you can sign to voice your opposition to the project. The Group will also share information about its other activities, and have kid-focused fun including coloring Earth Day hats, a recycling game, and planting flower seeds.
WNC Group
(Buncombe, Burke, Caldwell, Cherokee, Clay, Graham, Haywood, Henderson, Jackson, Macon, Madison, McDowell, Mitchell, Polk, Rutherford, Swain, Transylvania, Yancey counties)
Since April is also Drive Electric Earth Month, the WNC Group invites you to learn more about clean transportation at one of two events hosted by the Blue Ridge EV Club (BREV Club). Given this fall's devastating weather in the mountains, the club is focusing on "Resilience Through EVs."
- Saturday, April 5: The BREV Club will be at the Asheville Maker Faire at A-B Tech to show how EVs helped some residents cope with Hurricane Helene and provide relief to others who lacked power. The event runs from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at A-B Tech Mission Conference Center, 16 Fernihurst, Asheville.
- Saturday, April 19: The BREV Club will display a wide variety of electric vehicles at the Hendo Earth Fest in downtown Hendersonville. The event is from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Wells Fargo Bank parking lot on 301 S. Main St., Hendersonville.