The Butler County Conservation Board is inviting residents to celebrate Earth Week with a series of events focused on sustainability and outdoor exploration.
As aired on the Outdoors in North Iowa podcast, Naturalist Annette Wittrock says Earth Day, observed April 22, is about protecting natural resources, but the county is expanding that focus across the entire week.
“So, Earth Day happens every year. It’s a worldwide day dedicated to helping the Earth we live on continue to thrive and sustain us,” says Wittrock. “It always takes place on April 22. People celebrate this day by planting trees, cleaning up neighborhoods and parks, planting flowers, and taking walks in natural places, just to name a few. We like to celebrate the whole week as Earth Week because we know people are busy, and Earth Day this year is on Wednesday. So, we’re planning three activities during Earth Week for anyone who would like to be involved.”
Activities begin April 21 with a soy candle-making class at the Allan and Fayette Meyer Nature Center. Registration is required at mycountyparks.com, and the cost is $20.
A guided walk and cleanup follows April 22 at Boylan Creek Wildlife Management Area.
The week concludes April 23 with a wildflower walk at Heery Woods State Park.
Registration is not required for the April 22 and April 23 events. Anyone with questions can contact Wittrock at awittrock@butlercounty.iowa.gov or 319-346-6551. More information is available at mycountyparks.com.
