The Springfield Museums will celebrate Earth Day with the annual Earth Day Festival on April 18 followed by “Honor the Earth,” a week of Earth-friendly school vacation week activities from April 19-23. Activities are free with museum admission unless noted.
Sunday, April 18 – Earth Day Festival, 11 a.m.-4 p.m.
· Environmental songs by the Blue Grass band known as “The Boys of the Landfill”
· Live owls, hawks and other majestic birds of prey presented by Tom Ricardi of the Massachusetts Bird of Prey Rehabilitation Program
· Renewable energy and solar power demonstrations
· Free tree seedling give-away by the Springfield Forestry Division
· Demonstrations of environmental projects by students from the Springfield Renaissance School
· Free ice cream from Friendly’s
· Live animal demonstrations
· Environmental exhibits and demonstrations by ECOS, Friendly Ice Cream Corporation, Keep Springfield Beautiful, Massachusetts Bird of Prey Rehabilitation Program, Massachusetts Wildlife Angler Education Program, Pioneer Valley Aquarium Society, Restore Home Improvement Center, Springfield Dept. of Public Works, Springfield Forestry Division, Springfield Renaissance School, Springfield Water and Sewer Commission, Suncrafts, United Water, and The Zoo in Forest Park and Education Center.
The Earth Day Festival is sponsored in part by Friendly Ice Cream Corporation and GZA GeoEnvironmental, Inc.
April 19-23 – Earth Week: Honor the Earth
Performances, 1 p.m.
Monday, April 19 – Go Green and Make a Scene, mime and comedy by Robert Rivest.
Tuesday, April 20 – Lean, Green Clean-up Machine, an interactive concert by Jay Mankita.
Wednesday, April 21 – Wild and Furry Puppet Adventure, a fun lesson in conservation by Lesley Smith’s Theatre of Life Puppets.
Thursday, April 22 – Recycle Rangers Magic Show, tips on how to reduce, reuse and recycle from Team Magic.
Friday, April 23 – Wild About Weather, tornado generators, hot air balloons, soap bubbles and other experiments presented by Keith Michael Johnson.
Daily Activities
· Family Science Adventures: Investigate the solar system, examine animal characteristics, and explore the world of science through hands-on activities, 10 a.m.-1 p.m.
· Visit the special exhibit Black Holes: Space Warps and Time Twists. Get your Explorer’s ID card and pilot your excursion pod to the edge of a black hole. Record your discoveries on a personalized website that you can share with family and friends at home, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. ($3 per person special exhibit fee for ages 3 and up)
· Scavenger Hunts: Discover items invented in Springfield at the new Museum of Springfield History and go on an “I Spy” search through the D’Amour Museum of Fine Arts, 11 a.m.-3:45 p.m.
· Family Fun Café: Have a quick lunch, 11 a.m.-2:30 p.m.
· Make your own Earth Day photo frame or color and “I Love the Earth” canvas bag, 11:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m.
· Design a recycling chart in the Art Discovery Center, noon-3:45 p.m.
· Explore the cosmos in our original planetarium shows; 11:15 a.m., noon, 1 & 2 p.m. (additional fee)
· Pan for gems and minerals at the “Museum Mining Company,” noon-3:45 p.m. (additional fee)