Earth Day is Saturday, April 22nd! If you’re looking for some activities to do in the Stateline to celebrate the beautiful planet we live on, and our local ecosystem, we’ve got you covered.
Check out this list of Earth Day events in the greater Rockford, Illinois area.
Tree Sapling Giveaways
Oak Sapling Giveaway at Nature at the Confluence
306 Dickop Rd., South Beloit, IL
When: Friday, April 21st from 12 pm – 4 pm
Saturday, April 22nd from 9 am – 11 am
Cost: Free
Pick up a free bare-root oak or hickory sapling to take home and plant. There will be red oak, burr oak, white oak, and hickory saplings and you can take up to three per household. Saplings will be available while supplies last. Don’t forget to walk around Nature at the Confluence while you’re there.
Annual Tree Giveaway at Nicholas Conservatory and Gardens
1354 N. 2nd St., Rockford, IL
When: Saturday, April 22nd from 10 am – 2 pm
Cost: Free
Get a free red oak, swamp white oak, or shagbark hickory sapling while supplies last.
Hikes and Nature Walks
Soiled Soil: A Walk and Talk at Nature at the Confluence
306 Dickop Rd., South Beloit, IL
When: Saturday, April 22nd from 11 am – 12 pm
Cost: Free
Kids ages 12 and up and their families can learn about the land, participate in a discussion about human impact and pollution, and walk the trails.
Spring Frog Walk at Atwood Center
2685 New Milford School Rd., Rockford, IL
When: Saturday, April 22nd from 7:30 pm – 9 pm
Cost: Free
Enjoy a night hike at Atwood Center to search for frogs. Bring your own flashlights or headlamps. Register here.
Outdoor Nature Events
Nature Journaling at Boone County Conservation District
603 N. Appleton Rd., Belvidere, IL
When: Friday, April 21st from 11 am – 1 pm
Cost: Free
Meet at the Roger Gustafson Nature Center, wear hiking shoes, and bring your sketchbook and pencil.
Earth Day Guided Walk at Beckman Mill Park
11450 S. County Rd. H., Janesville, WI
When: Saturday, April 22nd at 9 am
Cost: Free
Learn about the nativa flora and fauna and other features of the park.
Pollinator Palooza at Severson Dells Nature Center
8786 Montague Rd., Rockford, IL
When: Saturday, April 22nd from 10 am – 3 pm
Cost: Free
Learn about pollinators and how to design a pollinator garden. There will be games, craft stations, live music, and presentations. New for 2023 is an interactive butterfly enclosure!
Public Night at Lockwood Park Observatory
5201 Safford Rd., Rockford, IL
When: Saturday, April 22nd from 8 pm – 9 pm
Cost: Free
Families can participate in a free viewing session to look at the stars and moon at the observatory.
Indoor Earth Day Events
Earth Day at EARTH Zero Waste
327 W. Jefferson St., Rockford, IL
When: Saturday, April 22nd from 10 am – 5 pm
Cost: Free
Celebrate Earth Day with activities including kids making planters out of TP tubes, learning how to compost, henna tattoos and more. There will be free totes while supplies last.
Earth Day Free Print at Rockford Art Deli
402 E. State St., Rockford, IL
When: Friday, April 15th from 10 am – 5 pm
Cost: Free
Bring your own t-shirt for a special Earth Day print. There will not be blank t-shirts for sale.
Wolves in Wisconsin at Milton Public Library
430 E. High St., Milton, WI
When: Saturday, April 22nd from 10:30 am – 11:30 am
Cost: Free
Learn about wolves in Wisconsin from local experts. Call 608-868-7462 to register.
Earth Day at Discovery Center Museum
711 N. Main St., Rockford, IL
When: Friday, April 22nd from 10 am – 4 pm
Cost: $10 per adult / $10 per child / free to members and kids ages 1 and under
Celebrate Earth Day with eco-friendly activities and crafts. The museum is also offering ½ price admission for families that bring in a bag of recyclable items. Just one bag filled with certain items will get the whole family in for ½ price!
Recycled items accepted include:
- Old Toys (Broken is fine)
- Electronics (Small, battery powered, nothing dangerous)
- CDs
- Fabric
- Thread
- Buttons
- Paper Towel Tubes
- Egg Cartons
- Cereal Boxes
Earth Day with Zoozort at Rotary Botanical Gardens
1455 Palmer Dr., Janesville, WI
When: Sunday, April 23rd from 10 am – 2 pm
Cost: $5 per person
Enjoy a day exploring the gardens, doing games and projects, and watching an animal show from Zoozort. The animal show will be presented at 11 am, 12:3 pm, and 2 pm. Tickest are required for the animal show. Get tickets here.
MOMS NIGHT OUT!
Earth Day Succulent Workshop at Kishwaukee Brewing Company
1900 Dillard Ct., Woodstock, IL
When: Saturday, April 22nd from 2 pm – 4 pm
Cost: $55 per person
Ring in Spring with a succulent in a teacup or wide bowl fairy garden. Tickets include a $8 cocktail of your choice. Get tickets here.
The Secret Life of Butterflies at Nicholas Conservatory and Gardens
1354 N. 2nd St., Rockford, IL
When: March 17 – June 4, 2023
Hours: Mondays: Closed
Tuesday – Friday: 10 am – 4 pm
Saturday and Sunday: 10 am – 3 pm
Cost: $8 per adult (resident), $10 per adult (non-resident)
$6 per kid age 5-7 (residents), $8 per kid age 5-7 (non-resident)
$4 per kid 3-4 (residents), $5 per kid 3-4 (non-resident)
Kids ages 2 and under are free
Deals: Tropical Tuesdays: $4 for residents, $5 for non-residents
Nothing says spring like new life! To get into the Earth Day spirit, check out the butterfly exhibit at Nicholas Conservatory & Gardens! Enjoy being surrounded by live butterflies in the tropical conservatory, and see the whole butterfly life cycle in action as you view butterflies emerging from their chrysalis in the emergence area.
Other Ways to Celebrate Earth Day
If none of these activities work for you, try playing at a local park or taking a walk outdoors at one of these spots!
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