A guide to events and cleanups slated around the Lehigh Valley
Earth Day is an annual event on April 22 to demonstrate support for environmental protection.
Here’s a local guide to activities and cleanups for you to help protect the planet and to get involved this year
Trails Day with the Quest for the Golden Grabber:
Delaware & Lehigh National Heritage Corridor (DLNHC) is hosting the Quest for the Golden Grabber, a trash collection contest along the D&L Trail, April 20 through April 28. The contest will serve as a fundraiser for DLNHC’s 165 Fund, with proceeds going towards the development of the D&L Trail and programming. Participation in the contest is free and open to everyone.
To participate in the Quest for the Golden Grabber, individuals must join or host a local cleanup along a section of D&L Trail. Spur sections and D&L Trailheads count as D&L Trail sections for the purpose of this contest. Participants must then submit their results with trash collection amounts and pictures before noon on April 29. Prizes will be awarded for various levels of collection, including most trash collected, most tires collected, most electronics collected, and the most interesting items ( judge’s choice).
For interested individuals wanting to host their own cleanup, contact TCAssociate@delawareandlehigh.org to get connected with the local trail landowner, find out where to leave trash for pick up, and to get access to clean up tools and trash bags stored at the National Canal Museum in Easton.
Winning groups will be announced May 3 through delawareandlehigh.org. The group that wins the most trash collected category will receive a DLNHC branded “Golden Trash Grabber.”
Info: delawareandlehigh. org/volunteer/trail-tenders/ quest-golden-grabber
1-5 p.m. April 18, The Quad. Food, activities, giveaways, more. https:// ourcampus.lafayette.edu/SLF/ rsvp_boot?id=2137214
Lafayette College Earthfest, 5K Earth Day Hippie Run/Walk on the D&L Trail,
8:30 a.m. April 20, Lehighton Outdoor Center, 123 Lehighton Drive, Lehighton. Portion of the proceeds benefit the CCEDC Business/Education Partnership Scholarship Fund. Rain date, April 21. $30. Carboncountychamber.org.
Earth Day Walk & Talk, 10 a.m. April 20, Rustic Dreams B&B, 4129 Wilson Ave., Bethlehem. Join Citizens for Responsible Development to learn about the D&L Trail and the natural features of the watershed. This event will entail a 45-minute discussion with light food, followed by a guided walk along the trail with DLNHC historian and author, Martha Capwell Fox. $15. Registration required. https://www.lstlandfillexpansion. org/2024/03/21/earth-day-weekend-walk-talk-4-20-10am/
Earth Day Fest with L.L. Bean at The Patio, 11 a.m.-3 p.m. April 20: seed planting kits, lemonade, giveaways for pets, bracelet making. Activities 10 a.m.-noon April 22 at Town Square include plant potting station and flower planting station. 2845 Center Valley Parkway.
Promenade Saucon Valley:
April 20, Lehigh Valley Zoo, 5150 Game Preserve Road, Schnecksville. Discover the impact of single-use
Earth Day at the Zoo:
plastic through fun and engaging games and activities with Earth Day crafts, learn how you can make a difference through recycling, meet some animal ambassadors up close during an meet-and-greet (11:30 a.m.). $16; $15, seniors; $14, ages 2-11. 610-799-4171, lvzoo.org.
Earth Day Celebration, 10 a.m. April 20, Fairview Park, Palmer Township. Native plant sale with Master Gardeners from Penn State Extension, stormwater discussions about rain gardens and rain barrels for your property, more. https://www.facebook.com/ events/1518075895442319
noon-4 p.m. April 20, Cedar Beach Park, 2600 Parkway Blvd., Allentown. Food, music, giveaways, environmental vendors, family-friendly activities. https://www.allentownpa.gov/ Home/Special-Events/Events/ Earth-Day-in-the-Park
Earth Day in the Park, Upper Macungie Township Earth Day:
9-11 a.m. April 20, Grange Park, 360 Grange Road, Allentown. Improvements to Grange Park, mulching trees. Register: https:// www.facebook.com/UpperMacTwp
Keep Hamburg Beautiful Cleanup Day,
9 a.m.-noon, April 20. Registration begins at 8:30 a.m. at the Journey Café, Third and Pine streets. 610-562,3106 or 610-5624329.
Earth Day Festival, 10 a.m.-3 p.m. April 21, Shappell Park, 353 S. Main St., Phillipsburg. https://norwescap.org/events-page
Earth Day at Central Moravian Church:
10-11 a.m. April 21. Join the Central Moravian Church Sunday School and the Care for Creation Committee for a morning of crafts, refreshments and environmental education for all ages: birds, bees, butterflies, water, pollinator plants, recycling, etc. Learn new ways to appreciate and enjoy nature and be better stewards of the earth. Christian Education Building, 40 W. Church St., Bethlehem. centralmoravianchurch.org.
Earth Day Planting with Wildland Conservancy,
1-3 p.m. April 21, Louise Moore Park, 151 Country Club Road, Easton. Conservation tour of Louise Moore Park followed by a spring planting. Gloves and shovels provided. Registration required. wildlandspa.org.
Friends of Hopewell Furnace
presents “1,001 Voices on Climate Change” with author Devi Lockwood, 2 p.m. April 21 in the Hopewell Furnace Visitor Center Theatre, 2 Mark Bird Lane, Elverson. Lockwood is the Commentary and Ideas Editor for the Philadelphia Inquirer. In her book 1001 Voices on Climate Change, Lockwood travels the world, often by bicycle, collecting first-person accounts of climate change.
Arbor Day Celebration in honor of all First Responders, 11 a.m. April 26. A tree will be planted at the Bethlehem Mounted Police Quadrant Private Wealth Stable Facility, 615 East Langhorne Avenue, Bethlehem.
Bethlehem Garden Club: Arbor Day,
Backyard Naturalist:
1-2:30 p.m. April 27, Dorothy Rider pool Wildlife Sanctuary, 3701 Orchid Place, Emmaus. Join Wildlands Conservancy and learn to identify Pennsylvania native trees and hunt for wildflowers. Registration required. wildlandspa.org.
Pocono Earth Day Festival:
11 a.m.-4 p.m. April 27, Pocono Environmental Education Center, 538 Emery Road, Dingmans Ferry. Vendors showcasing eco-friendly products and services, educational displays and hands-on activities, interactive exhibits and games, live music, face painting and tie dying. $5 per car. 570-828-2319, peec.org.
Cleanups Emmaus and Upper Milford EAC:
8:30 a.m. April 20. Meet at Emmaus Community Park pavilion next to the large baseball field. Electronic recycling and document shredding, 9-11 a.m. Cleanup event within the Borough of Emmaus/ Upper Milford Township and the Emmaus Community Park. facebook.com/emmausuppermilfordeac
Delaware & Lehigh National Heritage CorridorHugh Moore Park cleanup,
9 a.m.-noon April 27, break into groups for various activities including litter cleanup, prepping for educational field trips, clearing branches, planting flowers, painting, and more. https://delawareandlehigh.org/ volunteer/trail-tenders/trail-tenders-event-calendar/
Bushkill Creek Cleanup,
8 a.m. April 20. Meet at the parking lot at Edgewood Avenue and Bushkill Drive. Lunch 11-11:30 a.m., Braden Park, Tatamy. facebook.com/ events/265230736555467
Downtown Bethlehem Association Historic District Clean Up:
9 a.m. April 21. All ages are welcome. Volunteers under the age of 16 years must be accompanied by an adult. Registration 9 a.m. The Luckenbach Mill, 459 Old York Road.
8-11 a.m. April 27. Clean up trash, rake leaves, lay mulch, and beautify the parks. Meet at Quakertown Pool parking lot. quakertown.org
Quakertown Spring Clean Up, Northampton Earth Day clean up,
noon-3 p.m. April 27, meet at the Sunoco gas station parking lot, 1679 Nor-Bath Blvd. Vests, gloves and other supplies provided. Help clean up route 329. https://www.facebook.com/ events/2097499857282842