Happy Earth Day!

FORT WAYNE, Ind. (ADAMS) – Happy Earth Day, Fort Wayne! Each year Eco Fest compiles a list of local Earth Day events to help our community stay engaged with organizations that are working to make a difference right here in Northeast Indiana.

Here are ways to get in on celebrating our planet this week:

TUESDAY 4/22 (EARTH DAY)

ACRES Land Trust
Earth Day Java Jaunt
425 Lane 201, Ball Lake, Hamilton, IN 46742
6:30 am – 8 am

Take a casual sunrise hike through the fields and along the top of a forested ravine. After, join us for a “treat yourself” caffeine stop at The Green Bean Coffee & Sweet Shop in Hamilton, IN. FREE, no registration required.

Eco Fest Recycle Right Workshop
ACPL downtown branch, meeting room A
5:30 pm – 7 pm
Register at ecofestfw.com

Whether you are skeptical about recycling, hopeful, or just have a lot of questions, you are invited to attend “Recycle Right!”, a public workshop offered by Eco Fest, hosted by Jacob Stevens of GFL and Betsy Perry Patton of Allen County Department of Environmental Management (ACDEM). The workshop is free but donations are encouraged. Registration is required as space is limited.

And if you’re wondering why a recycling workshop is being hosted by our trash company, Eco Fest board member Jodi Leamon explains: “The recycling contract with GFL is so exciting because they have a really good facility that can sort materials very efficiently. They can accept a wide variety of materials; and if you have ever had the question of whether something actually gets recycled, I am confident in this case that yes, the vast majority of things do. The key is knowing what to put in the bin- which is another great new perk because GFL has staff dedicated to outreach and education.”

Participants are encouraged to bring pictures of items, or items themselves that they are unsure about. Local experts will be on hand to answer questions and offer guidance.

Pilgrim’s Progress CDC – PBC Green Team
1331 Gay Street, Fort Wayne, IN 46803
10 am – 1 pm
$35, register by emailing ppcdc@pbcgreenteam.org

This event marks the official kickoff of Labyrinth Park Project—a unique green space rooted in healing,culture, and environmental stewardship. This event features a speaker from Midwest Building Decarbonization Coalition, and will focus on sustainability, community engagement, and youth development. Lunch will be provided. All proceeds support Summer Youth Jobs and green workforce development in the 46803

From This Day Forward
Formal Sale
14625 Lima Rd, Fort Wayne, IN 46818
2 pm – 6 pm

We will be offering “Mystery Material Boxes” available for purchase for just $25 beginning April 22nd. Each box will consist of 1 wedding gown, 1 formal gown, and 1 mystery item. These could be designer gowns but may have broken zippers, stains, rips, or other imperfections. We want to give these gowns the opportunity to be repaired, recycled, or repurposed versus sitting in storage! Available during our regular hours while supplies last.

ACRES Land Trust
Liminal: Indiana in the Anthropocene Screening
437 E Berry St # 1, Fort Wayne, IN 46802
7 pm
FREE Earth Day Screening of the meditative aerial film that illustrates our state as a microcosm of this new planetary epoch.

After the film, stay for a panel discussion with ACRES Land Trust, local filmmaker Zach Schrank, and local film composer Nate Utesch. Learn about ACRES mission to protect natural areas, and the filmmaker and film composers’ experience with the film.

WEDNESDAY APRIL 23

ACRES Land Trust Cleanup: Hanging Rock National Natural Landmark
4552 E. Hanging Rock Road, Lagro, IN 46941
4 pm – 6 pm

Help beautify our preserves during a special series of cleanups to celebrate Earth Day! All supplies and snacks are provided. FREE, no registration required.

SUNDAY APRIL 27

First Presbyterian Church e-reycling Event
300 West Wayne Street, Fort Wayne, IN 46802
11 am – 2 pm

If you can plug it in, we’ll take it–hair dryers, toasters, coffee makers, desktop computers, stereos, curling irons and even TVs will all be accepted. For this special event, it’s FREE to drop items off! No batteries or bulbs.

Little River Wetlands Project
Earth Day Fort Wayne
6801 Engle Rd, 46804
1 pm – 5 pm $3 for adults, children are free

This event will feature 30+ vendors, nonprofits, and educational booths, including photography of the marsh, native plants, local honey, artisan jewelry, and more. Educational booths teach about wetland ecology, and local conservation groups will share their current projects. Food trucks will be present.

Click HERE for more