Celebrate the 40th anniversary of Earth Day in Cass County Thursday, April 22.

The Naturally Celebrate Earth Day in the Park program will be hosted at Dr. Lawless Park between Vandalia and Jones.  The afternoon is packed with activities.  More than 20 organizations will have booths set-up sharing information about the environment and actions you can take to become better stewards of the land, air and water.  There will be hands-on activities for youth, the trails will be open for hiking in this wonderful 820-acre park, help pick the invasive garlic mustard as a service project, bring books and electronics for the special recycling collections, plus enjoy a Magic Show and Bluegrass Music too.

Schedule
• 3 p.m. – Opening of special exhibits, booths & hands on activities
• 3:30 p.m. – Mobile tours with Scott Wyman, parks director, highlighting the future Nature Center and Master Plan for the Park (repeats)
• 4 p.m. – Magic Show with John Dudley. The comic magician brings some lightness and fun to the day with his funny magical antics.
o 5:30 p.m. – Walking tour with Bill Westrate, farmer and entomologist, highlighting bugs, flora and other natural history tidbits
• 6 to 8 p.m. – Bluegrass music with the Lost Road Ramblers
• 6:30 p.m. – Mobile tours with Scott Wyman, parks director,  highlighting the future Nature Center and Master Plan for the Park (repeats)
If it’s a clear night they will stay after dark to look at the constellations through a powerful telescope and call in the owls.

Earth Day recycling details
• Reduce – Bring your own mug to the Friends of the Parks vending booth
• Reuse – Books will be collected by Better World Books for Reuse
o Recycle – Electronics will be collected by Bridges to Digital Excellence. Fees:  Monitors, $4 each; TVs up to 27 inches, $4 each; more than 27 inches and consoles, $10 each. All other electronic devices free of charge. All items will be recycled or refurbished for reuse.
The Naturally Celebrate Earth Day in the Park is sponsored by the Earth Day planning committee, the Friends of the Cass County Parks and the Cass County Parks Department. The event will be held rain or shine.
For more information, to register your organization or to volunteer, contact Korie at (269) 506-8334 or bluegreener@gmail.com.