The Highland Park Public Library welcomes the community the celebrate the spirit of EarthDay with three events during April at the library, 31 North Fifth Avenue. From Monday, April 16 to Saturday, April 21 the library will have two craft events and an environmental film, The Plastic Ocean.
Ever wondered how Earth Day started? This observance arose from an interest in gathering national support for environmental issues.
In 1970, San Francisco activist John McConnell and Wisconsin Senator Gaylord Nelson separately asked Americans to join in a grassroots demonstration. Mr. McConnell chose the spring equinox (March 21, 1970) and Senator Nelson chose April 22.
Millions of people participated, and today, Earth Day continues to be widely celebrated (mostly on April 22).
Common Earth Day activities include planting trees, cleaning up litter, or simply enjoying nature through hiking, gardening, or taking a stroll in a local park.
Earth Day is always celebrated on April 22. It’s followed closely by Arbor Day, which falls on the last Friday in April.
| Year | Earth Day |
| 2018 | Sunday, April 22 |
| 2019 | Monday, April 22 |
| 2020 | Wednesday, April 22 |
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The Highland Park Public Library events are as follows:
Monday, April 16, 6:30 p.m.
“Let’s Make A Wave-Earth Day Art Project”
Artist Coleen Tyler will help families with grade school children assemble a window wave from single- use plastic bags. One of the most widespread waste in our oceans and seas are plastic bags. Learn more about this dangerous environmental hazard during this Earth Day project. Start collecting single use plastic bags (especially blue) and bring them to the program. Children under eight need to bring an adult. Space is limited. So, please register at the front desk or call the library at 732-572-2750.
Tuesday, April 17, 3 p.m.
“Recycled Teen Art Project”
Start Earth Day early and make something out of recycled or up cycled materials.
Saturday, April 21, 2:00 p.m
The Plastic Ocean
Join us for an environmental film right before Earth Day! Bring the family to this child friendly film. A Plastic Ocean begins when journalist Craig Leeson, searching for the elusive blue whale, discovers plastic waste in what should be pristine ocean. In this adventure documentary, Craig teams up with free diver Tanya Streeter and an international team of scientists and researchers. They travel to twenty locations around the world over the next four years to explore the fragile state of our oceans, uncover alarming truths about plastic pollution, and reveal working solutions that can be put into immediate effect. One hour, 42 minutes.