The Recycling and Waste Reduction District of Porter County invites residents from Lake, Porter and LaPorte Counties and beyond to become inspired, educated and entertained at the ninth annual Northwest Indiana Earth Day Celebration. The event will be held from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, April 19, at the Porter County Expo Center, 215 E. Division Rd., Valparaiso.
Admission and parking for the event are free. The Celebration features two live animal shows by Silly Safaris at 11:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m., and the return of the Recycle Cycle, a silly contraption made out of reused items.
Other programs taking the stage include “Renewable Energy Basics: How does it work?” presented by Midwest Wind and Solar, 9:30 a.m.; the National Lakeshore Fire Management Program with Smokey Bear, 10:30 a.m.; the return of the Recycle Cycle, 12:30 p.m., and the Lake County Solid Waste Management District’s award-winning Green Team, 1:30 p.m.
With dozens of exhibitors, many offering free children’s activities, the event provides something interesting for all attendees to learn about the planet and what they can do to help reduce their environmental impact.
Highlights of the Celebration include Build Your Own Birdhouse by Porter County Chapter of Ducks Unlimited, supplies limited; appearances by the district’s Glen the Garbologist, Splash the water drop, Porter County Wildlife’s Rocky Raccoon, Metro Recycling’s Scrappy the Turtle, and Hooper the Hobart Caterpillar; rides in NIPSCO’s electric car; free reusable bags to the first 300 families; shredding of confidential papers by Opportunity Enterprises Secure Shred, 9 a.m. to noon; free tree saplings for completed event surveys; Great Cloth Diaper Change at 11 a.m.; family yoga class for parents and children of all ages, 12:30 p.m.; alternative fuel vehicle displays; silent auction to support environmental education; “bingo” game for a chance to win a bicycle; and much more.
Additionally, the second annual school/class rain barrel design contest will be judged at the Celebration. Twenty-five barrels from schools throughout Porter and LaPorte Counties will be on display, vying to win the grand prizes of classroom scholarships, sponsored by K’s Construction & Roofing, Inc. All Earth Day attendees can vote on their favorite rain barrels.
Exhibitors and vendors include Green Housewives Bath Company; Imperfections, LLC; Metro Recycling; Midwest Wind and Solar; Mothering by Nature; Sierra Club Dunelands Group; South Shore Clean Cities; Porter County Animal Shelter; Working Bikes; Scented Seasons; and many more!
For a complete listing of programs and exhibitors, visit the Recycling and Waste Reduction District of Porter County’s website, www.ItMeanstheWorld.org or call 219-465-3819 for more information.
The 2014 Northwest Indiana Earth Day Celebration is supported by the following generous sponsors: NIPSCO; Metro Recycling; Northern Indiana Regional Planning Commission; Duneland 28; Lakeshore Public Television; and many others.
The Recycling and Waste Reduction District of Porter County is a government agency dedicated to improving the environment and quality of life for Porter County residents by providing convenient, voluntary waste reduction services.