Numerous activities to celebrate Earth Day are on tap across northern Michigan this coming week. They include:

> The Grand Traverse Conservation District will host its Peepers Program on April 18 and 25 from 10-11am at the Boardman River Nature Center. GTCD’s Peepers Program is an adult-accompanied program for early learners ages 3-5 years old of all experience levels with the natural world which include stories, crafts, music, and discovery activities. April program themes will focus on “Earth Day” and “Lifecycles”. The program cost is $5/child per session.

> On Friday, April 21 and Saturday, April 22 from 10am-2pm, the Grand Traverse Conservation District will host two special Earth Day planting events. The community can get involved in the large-scale restoration effort following Michigan’s largest dam removal project in state history by helping plant native seedlings on the Natural Education Reserve.

> On Saturday, April 22, Grand Traverse County’s Natural Education Reserve and Grand Traverse Conservation District will partner with the MSU Science Festival to present BioBlitz, a collaborative effort to document species within a given location over a certain period of time. The community can participate by exploring the outdoor world at the Grand Traverse Natural Education Reserve and posting observations of animals, plants, fungi, insects, and more to the iNaturalist app. Through identifications and with the help of iNaturalist, GTCD and MSU Science Festival hope participants gain a greater appreciation for biodiversity and the natural world while contributing to scientific research.

> On Saturday, April 22, numerous community organizations will partner with Grand Traverse County to present a free Earth Day Celebration at the Civic Center from 11am to 3pm. Activities will include live music with Seth Bernard and Chris Good from 12-2pm, a butterly exhibit, a scavenger hunt with prize drawings, make-and-take eco crafts, a balance bike library and helmet/bike fitting, opportunities to meet Smokey Bear and Woodsy Owl, an interactive display of mattress recycling, a display of a Ford Lightning all-electric truck, active composting demonstrations, face painting, and free paper shredding (drop off only, limited to one box per household, resident only). 

> The Leelanau Conservancy is hosting a series of free events this week to celebrate Earth Day. Events include trail workbees, a 35 Miles for 35 Years trail challenge, a hike and conservation easement talk at 45 North Winery, and a docent-guided hike at DeYoung Natural Area. The week culminates with a free all-ages Earth Week Celebration Concert with Jack Pine at Tandem Ciders at 3pm on Sunday, April 23. Find the full schedule of events here.