Patch Picks: Earth Day Activities

Patch Picks highlights editor and reader picks for great local businesses, destinations, services, organizations, ways to spend a day off and more.
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Today’s list is a list of great local ideas for celebrating Earth Day.

1. Lewis University: Lewis University’s Environmental and Energy Conservation Council are hosting an event to remove invasive plant species from the nature trail and replace the invasive species with native trees.  Volunteers are welcome at both events. All volunteers will receive a “going green” T-shirt for helping to make the university a more sustainable campus. Volunteers are needed from 2 to 4 p.m. Wednesday, April 27, at the university, 1 University Parkway, Romeoville. For more information, visit http://www.alumni.lewis.edu/green.
2. Comcast Cares: Join Comcast employees, members of the Exchange Club of Joliet and Big Brothers Big Sisters of Will and Grundy Counties for brush clearing, picnic table painting, wood chipping and assisting with trail maintenance in trails throughout Joliet. Volunteers will meet from 8 a.m. to noon Saturday, April 30, at St. Sava Church, 3457 Black Road, Joliet. The volunteer efforts will benefit the native plants, animals and the community. To volunteer, contact Renee Gauchat at 815-722-7364 or at rgauchat@fpdwc.org.
3. Plainfield Public Library: The Plainfield Public Library will celebrate Earth Day with a host of activities for the family. From 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Friday, April 22, families can explore how worms work, make treasure from trash, add a book leaf to the Go Green Tree and see what floats or sinks at the “Four Elements Science Stations.” Attendees can also participate in the Recycling Raffle by bringing old batteries, flags, eyeglasses, cell phones and ink cartridges to the lower-level lobby.
4. Naperville Park District: The Naperville Park District is looking for volunteers to make the community a better place to live by sprucing up local parks. Volunteers are needed through Sunday, April 24, to pick up litter, weed and remove fallen twigs from one of 16 local parks. Contact Lynnette Hoole at lhoole@napervilleparks.org or 630-848-3606 to sign up.
5. Conservation Foundation: Support the work of the Conservation Foundation by attending anEarth Day Benefit Dinner at 5:30 p.m. Thursday, April 28, at Bobak's Signature Events in Woodridge. The event serves as the foundation’s largest fundraiser of the year. This year’s event will unveil a new campaign to “protect the lands and rivers you love.”  Tickets are $100 each. The evening will feature dinner, a silent auction, cash raffle and video  Registration is available online at www.theconservationfoundation.org.