Get Involved at Earth Day Indiana

By Nancee Reeves For Custom Publications

Get involved, get informed and get green at this year’s Earth Day Indiana. Over 140 environmentally conscious groups will be on hand to help you make a positive impact on the world and have more than a little fun.

Do-it-yourself

Disposal Alternatives Organization will have a free drop-off recycle spot on IUPUI’s campus were you can get rid of hard to recycle items during the festival. For a complete list of what will be accepted visit them on the web at daorecycling.org.

Habitat for Humanity of Greater Indianapolis will also show people how they can keep materials out of landfills by either buying or donating items to their ReStore. Indiana Recycling Coalition will focus on how we can reduce our waste and will have great tips on composting, and Republic will show people what they can recycle and how to go about it. They will also be handing out trinkets made from recycled material.

Get the whole family involved in a greener tomorrow by signing up for the 23rd annual White River Cleanup sponsored by Friends of White River or by taking part in Keep Indiana Beautiful’s NeighborWoods project.

“We plan to plant over seven thousand trees all over Indianapolis this year, so we need a lot of help,” said KIB’s Ashlee Fujawa.

Citizens Energy Group will help you kick the plastic bag habit with free grocery bags made from recycled material. They will also have a face painter at their booth, so you can learn about responsible energy use while your little ones are entertained.

The Hoosier Environmental Council will also be giving out recycled grocery bags as part of their “plastic pledge.” They will also have an area where children can vote for their favorite Hoosier animal: the River Otter or the Indiana Bat.

Learn how you can save money on your energy bill by signing up for IPL’s energy efficiency kit and taking advantage of their CFL rebate program. The Marion County Public Health Department will show you how to have a healthy home by avoiding dangers such as lead, radon gas and mosquitoes.

Inform yourself

Dan Ferber, an Indianapolis based journalist, will be signing copies of his book Changing Planet, Changing Health: How the Climate Crisis Threatens Our Health and What We Can Do About it at the Nuvo booth.

“I want Indianapolis residents to read this book and get interested in what they can do to help make our home and themselves healthier,” said Ferber.

If you want tips on how to live a healthy, natural lifestyle, stop by the Natural Awakenings of Indianapolis booth for a copy of their magazine. Indiana Living Green will also be handing out magazines and will have an interactive display on the dangers of plastic water bottles.

Clear Channel will have a “go green pledge” that will help people keep on track toward a greener lifestyle. Also, a few lucky pledges will win prizes. Whole Foods Market will be handing out information on green cleaning supplies as well as organic seeds and biodegradable trash bags.

United Water, the very first Earth Day Indiana partner sponsor, will be educating people on the importance of conserving our drinking water and keeping it clean. They will also be handing out free greenery for your home.

“United Water provides sustainable solutions for essential environmental services such as drinking water treatment and wastewater treatment,” said Tamara Cypress. “Making the planet sustainable is the best job on Earth.”

Farmers have a special connection with the earth. Indiana's Family of Farmers' exhibits will focus on conservation practices, healthy food and renewable energy. They will hand out some excellent recipe cards and other fun treats. In addition to their exhibits, look for Indiana's Family of Farmers in the children's tent.

See it yourself

Cummins will have a bike generator demonstration that allows you to see how much energy it takes to power a single light bulb. The Greater Indiana Clean Cities Alliance will have several electric cars plugged into EV charging units. During and after the festival, these same electric cars will be used to shuttle vendors to and from Earth Day.

Nothing awakes a love of nature more than seeing it firsthand. Stop by The Hoosier chapter of the Sierra Club’s booth to learn about hiking and canoeing opportunities.

The Central Indiana Land Trust will have information on how to visit nature preserves, as well as the rare and interesting species that you might see during your visit

“We’ll also have a list of spring volunteer opportunities – a great way to get your hands dirty while learning from experts about why and how we protect natural areas,” said Maria Steiner, community relations director.

Veolia will have a series of interactive activities for kids that teach about water conservation. They will also be handing out native plants.

“Native plants need less water, which is important, since outdoor watering is the biggest yearly drain on our water resources,” said spokesperson Lou Ann Baker.

The Indianapolis Zoo will feature their Conservation Station, a hands-on, interactive exhibit with games such as “I Spy” and “Polar Bear Plunge.”

“Conservation Station is a fun and engaging way to help teach kids that there are some really simple things they can do to help protect our planet and its wildlife,” said Heather Grisham, outreach specialist.

OmniSource will have a shoebox sized bale of crushed cans. Guess how many cans make up the bale and you could win a flatscreen TV, a gas gift card or signed Colts gear. Colts wide receiver Pierre Garçon will be on hand for autographs, and raffles will be going on all day.

“Our bale of crushed cans is a physical representation of the recycling process—they go from the public to us to the foundry, which turns the bale into new cans,” said Thomas Dent of OmniSource. “The whole process only takes a matter of weeks.”

Green Piece Indy will have a visual display of how many plastic bags it takes to cause harm to the planet and plans are underway for a flashmob statement.

Entertainment

Exhibitor list

Site plan and more exhibitors