Earth Month Events at CALS (save the planet and your wallet)

April 22 is Earth day, but at CALS, we like to go all in and claim April as Earth Month. We’ve rounded up all the programs going on across the system and put them into one handy place. Celebrate with events all month long and find out how you can make an impact all year. The Park Passport Program is back for another year! Grab yours at any branch.  There’s a list of ten local parks, including some new entries for this year and some old favorites. Anyone who visits five of the parks during the month of April and then turns in their passport will be entered in a drawing to win parks-related prizes. Join the park clean up at Boyle Park on April 29, 9 a.m.-12 p.m.  Experience this months Legacies & Lunch at Roberts Library, featuring Brian Thompson: “Saving the Buffalo River—Again” on April 5, 2023, noon-1:00 Hybrid (Room 124 Roberts & Zoom).

Children’s Library

Naturally Arkansas: Bringing Nature to Your Yard–Saturday, April 22, from 10 am to 2 pm
The Central Arkansas Library System and Arkansas Monarch Conservation Partnership are proud to present Bringing Nature to Your Yard. Learn from experts on how to grow native plants and improve habitat for wildlife in your yard!

On Earth Day Saturday April 22, 1-2 pm, join the Children’s Library for a “Green (Open) House” tour of our greenhouse and teaching garden. Come view our pollinator garden and get ideas for how to plant a pollinator-friendly vegetable garden that will feed bees, butterflies and your family! (**following the Bringing Nature to your Yard program)

On Thursday, April 13 at 5 pm families can stop by the garden for a free tomato plant* and gardening tips from our master gardener (*supplies are limited).

Our recurring programs for kids will also focus on Earth Month topics: Kids Garden Club (Tuesday, April 4 & 18 at 4 pm) and Kids Bee Club (Tuesday April 11 at 4 pm).

Dee Brown Library

Repair Cafe will take place on April 16 from 2-4pm. Toss it? No way! Repair Café is a monthly meeting for participants and volunteers to repair household electrical and mechanical devices, computers, bicycles, and clothing. Basic supplies and tools provided. If you or someone you know is interested in volunteering as an expert in repair, please email Rachel at ToolLibrary@cals.org or call 501-568-7494 for more information.

Spring Plantstravaganza! April 15, 11 a.m., Whether you love inside or outside plants, this event is for you. Let’s get ready to get out into the garden.

Main Library

Earth Month grab-and-go. Available on 2nd and 3rd floor, this kit includes a compostable trash bag, compostable glove, and Earth Month sticker.

Composting 101 on April 14th at 3:30 pm  Getting started with gardening and composting can be challenging, make it easier by attending our Composting 101 class! Patrons will receive a brief introduction into how composting works, the benefits it provides, how to get started, the different types of composting and more.

Creating Earth’s Mighty Protectors! April 22, 10:30 a.m. Who can save the earth from pollution and destruction? Lets create our own comic hero and make a short comic of their adventures. Ages 5-12.

McMath Library

April 13 at 4 p.m. Garden Open House is open for all ages.

On April 22, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Community Swap Shop -All ages 10:00-4:00 Celebrate Earth Day by supporting circular gift giving. Bring canned goods to exchange for “garage sale” items.

Milam Library

April 5 Decoupage Easter Tin 10:00 am — We will take a recycled Christmas cookie tin and paint it and decoupage a paper napkin with an Easter bunny.

April 12 Shrinky Dink Charms 10:00 am — We will use recycled plastic containers for Shrinky Dink material to produce charms for your keychain and more.

April 19 Earth Day Wind Spinners 10:00 am — We will make wind spinners from recycled 2-liter soda bottles to hang from your porch.

April 14 Seed Bomb Grab-n-Go 10:00 am — Earth Month project using recycled paper and flower seeds.

April 25 Mushrooms: Gathering and Identification 6:30 pm — Join Angelina Boiles as she discusses identification and gathering of wild mushrooms in Arkansas.

Saturday, April 29 Eat Dirt 3:00 pm — Make a tasty treat of dirt pie in honor of Earth Month.

Millie Brooks Micro Library

“Getting to Know Your Historic Home” on Thursday April 6, 9:30 – 11:00 AM, CALS Millie Brooks Micro Library — Did you know that preserving historic structures is an eco-friendly choice? Nearly half of the carbon in the atmosphere is created by the demolition, construction, and operation of buildings. Help us preserve historic buildings and reduce our carbon footprint by learning the story your home has to tell with community outreach archivist, Danielle Afsordeh.

Terry Library

April 10 at 6 p.m., Henri Matisse Cut Paper program is Earth month themed because we’re recycling and not buying any materials. 4/6, 11 a.m.; 4/10, 6 p.m.

April 22 at 3 p.m. “The Nurserie: An Introduction to Hydroponic Gardening and a Hydroponic Produce Sampling

April 4 at 4pm – Recycled Paper Lotus Flowers (Teens, 6th-12th) Reuse paper scraps to create origami lotus flowers for the AMFA Art Garden installation.

April 6 at 4pm – Recycled Paper Lotus Flowers (Kids, K-5th) Reusing paper scraps to create origami lotus flowers for the AMFA Art Garden installation

April 13th & 20th @ 4pm – LEGO Club: Earth Month Challenge (Kids, K-5th) This month LEGO Club has an Earth Month twist! Join us for a two-part competition to save the planet with our LEGO inventions! The winner will receive a prize on April 20th.

April 15 at 10 a.m. Butterfly Release Party – We’ve been growing our Painted Lady caterpillars and we will be releasing them at the party. Come for snacks, watch the [butterfly] show!

April 18th at 4pm – Seed Papermaking (Teens, 6th-12th) -Using Arkansas native wildflower seeds and recycled paper scraps, we will make our own seed paper. Plant your seed paper and watch your flowers grow!

April 22 at 2 pm.m – Hydorponic demonstration (all ages)- The Nurserie will be on hand for a live demonstration of a hydroponic gardening demonstration.

Thompson Library

Family/General Audience:

Rahling Circle Clean-up Day | Saturday, April 15 | 11:00 AM

Children’s Programs

Earth Day Storytime, Ages 2-3 | Wednesday, April 19| 10:00 AM

Earth Day Storytime, Ages 4-5 | Wednesday, April 19| 11:30 AM

Teen Programs

STEAM Teens–Earth Science |Tuesday, April 4 & 18| 4:00 PM

Earth Month Afterschool Teen Programs | Thursdays 4:00 PM

Guerrilla Gardening & DIY Seed Balls | April 13

Upcycled Plastic Shrink Charms | April 20

DIY Upcycled Decorative Paper | April 27

Adult Programs

[Grab & go] Native wildflower seeds- exact dates TBD

Adult Art Night -Decorate your own bird house |Tuesday, April 11 | 6:00 PM

“Bird Basics” with Audubon Arkansas’ Dan Scheiman |Thursday, April 20 | 6:00 PM

Vegetarian/Vegan Cooking Night: Meat & Milk’s Environmental Impact | Tuesday, April 25th | 6:00 PM

TAGS

earth month