PRESS ROOM

ROYAL OAK, Mich., 

In observance of Earth Day (April 22), the Belle Isle Nature Center is hosting its third annual Green Day celebration on Saturday, April 20, 2019, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. The free event features indoor and outdoor activities, including earth-friendly crafts, nature hikes and zookeeper talks.

“To commemorate this global holiday celebrating life on our planet, we are offering our visitors an opportunity to learn about actions they can take to sustain a clean, green environment,” said Amy Greene, nature centers director for the Detroit Zoological Society (DZS).

Crafts will include seed balls – made of soil, clay and seeds – to create throw-and-grow plants. “These plants will attract and feed the local pollinators that are so vital to environmental health,” Greene said. Guests will also learn how to make no-sew tote bags from upcycled T-shirts as well as their own green cleaning products from biodegradable and natural materials.

Green Day will feature local conservation specialists who will demonstrate the benefits of green initiatives through artistic and educational presentations. An exhibit by macro photographer Joseph Ferraro will illustrate how insects are crucial to the environment and why humans should pay close attention to the earth’s smallest ambassadors. Local beekeepers will show guests how they can prepare a healthy habitat for bees in their backyards.

In addition, members of EcoWorks Youth Energy Squad will share resources about home-based energy-saving actions that contribute to environmental health. Detroit Garden Center members will deliver a presentation on native plants and their relationships with beneficial insects.