How to Celebrate Earth Day 2018 In Boston

Clean up the Charles River, party with the animals at Franklin Park Zoo, and more.


earth day

The Iranian-American of Massachusetts group at the Charles River Earth Day Cleanup / Photo provided by Charles River Watershed Association

Charles River Cleanup 

Join 3,000 volunteers on April 28 for a day of giving back to the community by cleaning up Boston’s beloved “dirty water.” Throughout the day, pick up litter, remove invasive species along the riverbank, and assist with park maintenance. Who knows—maybe if the river is cleaned enough, we’ll be able to jump in for a swim again.

Free, April 28, 9 a.m.-12 p.m., various cleanup locations, crwa.org.

Boston Harbor Islands Clean Up 

Part of the MassPark annual statewide Park Serve Day, a day of improving parks around Massachusetts, celebrate Earth Day at Spectacle Island of the Boston Harbor Islands. Volunteers will get to clean up the park, work on trail maintenance, weed out pesky plants and patch up flower beds. Those interested will meet at the Boston Harbor Center at Long Wharf North, where a ferry will be provided for transportation both ways.

Free, April 28, 8:30 a.m.-2 p.m., Boston Harbor Center, 66 Long Wharf, Boston, public.dep.state.ma.us.

 

Boston Public Library: Stories, Crafts and More

Several branches of the Boston Public Library will celebrate Earth Day this year between April 10-25. The Chinatown branch will have a day to “Celebrate the Earth With Stories and Craft,” where children are invited to listen to stories and sing songs about the environment. Afterwards, there will be a plant project where each participant will get to go home with a seedling to watch it grow. Other activities include an Earth Day workshop with musician Sagit Zilberman at the Codman Square branch, a crafting “Water Cycle in a Bag” project at Uphams Corner, and multiple story times in various locations. Be sure to check the BPL calendar for your local branch.

Free, various dates, various times, multiple locations, bpl.org.

Earth Day Lecture: The Sacred Balance 

Join author David Suzuki for a free lecture on his bestselling novel, “The Sacred Balance.” The novel touches on how humankind should work to fulfill meaningful lives, all while remaining conscious of how to best preserve the planet.

Free, April 28, 11 a.m.-1 p.m., Acropolis Boston, 2000 Mass. Ave., Cambridge, eventbrite.com

Franklin Park Zoo Party for the Planet

An Earth Day party at the zoo, complete with a meet-and-greet with Dr. Seuss’s the Lorax? What’s not to love? In addition to storytime from the Lorax, meet representatives from local conservation organizations such as the Massachusetts Water Resources Authority and the Massachusetts Clean Cities Coalition. There will also be animal enrichment activities and zookeeper chats with animals such as the tiger, red panda, and more.

$12+, April 21, 10 a.m.-3 p.m., 1 Franklin Park Rd., Boston, zoonewengland.org

Kitika the lemur at Franklin Park Zoo / Photo by Christina Demetrio