From Dawn Rosenberg McKay,
Your Guide to Long Island, NY.
FREE Newsletter. Sign Up Now!

Earth Day was founded by Senator Gaylord Nelson of Wisconsin. In 1970 Senator Nelson sought to organize a huge grassroots protest over what was happening to our environment. His efforts paid off and Earth Day was first celebrated in April of that year. It has been celebrated every year since. Here are Earth Day events taking place across Long Island.

• Friday, April 18: EarthStock at Stony Brook University, Academic Mall (Rain Location: Wang Center)
  10 a.m.
  An environmental festival featuring musical performances, an exhibition, a lecture and an ice cream social. The event closes with a concert at 9:30 p.m.

• Saturday, April 19: Earth Day Walk at Mashomack Preserve
  Participants will walk the 1.5 mile Red Trail and see the preserve's new improvements.

• Sunday, Apil 20: Earth Day Celebration at Indian Island County Park in Riverhead
  10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
  This event, sponsored by Suffolk County Parks Department, features interactive exhibits, nature walks, beach grass planting, live entertainment, trail clean-ups, marine life exhibits, kids activities and free demonstrations.

• Sunday, April 20: Earth Day Celebration Hike at Indian Island County Park in Riverhead
  12:30 to 1:30 p.m.
  Children, ages 7 to 10, can join Cornell Cooperative Extension on a nature walk. They will search for clues to see which animals have come back to the park after their winter migrations. Meet in the main parking lot. Registration required: call (631) 587-2873.

• Tuesday, April 22: AAA Great Battery Round-Up, sponsored by the AAA Automobile Club of New York
  9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
  Members and non-members can bring their dead car and marine batteries to AAA headquarters at 1415 Kellum Place in Garden City. Free gifts (while supplies last) for those bringing in batteries for recycling. Free diagnostic checks of motorists’ current car batteries will be available. Members can also drop off their batteries at any AAA-affiliated service station during its regular business hours from April 21 to 25.

• Tuesday, April 22: Earth Day Walk at Garvies Point Museum in Glen Cove
  1 p.m.
  Museum geologist George Allgaier will lead a walk through the preserve and providing insight into the area’s geologic past.

• Tuesday, April 22: Film - The Man Who Planted Trees at Garvies Point Museum in Glen Cove
  11 a.m., 2 p.m. and 3 p.m.
  This film, which won an Academy Award for animation in 1987, tells the fictional story of a solitary shepherd who steadfastly planted 100 acorns each day for 30 years, nurturing and transforming the arid landscape in a remote part of France.

• Tuesday, April 22: Mother Earth Parade at the Long Island Children's Museum
  1 and 3 p.m.
  Explore female species of plants, insects and animals with Jenny Ulsheimer, a creative naturalist. Children ages 3 and up can create costumes using natural materials and wear them in an Earth Day parade that snakes in and out of the museum. The fee for this program is $3 with admission ($2 for LICM members).

• Tuesday, April 22 and Wednesday, April 23: Tom Callinan presents Rhythms of the Earth at Long Island Children's Museum
  1 and 3 p.m.
  Singer and songwriter Tom Callinan helps families with children 3 and up explore the rhythms of earth and our own community in a fun-filled performance for the whole family. The fee for this program is $3 with admission, $6 for Theatre only and $2 for LICM members.

• Wednesday, April 23: Eco-Craft - Making New Paper from Old at Garvies Point Museum in Glen Cove
  1 p.m.
  Participants will learn how to make special paper from discarded publications.

• Saturday, May 3: Earth Day Celebration at Babylon Town Hall Pond in Lindenhurst
  11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
  Raindate: Sunday, May 4.

• Saturday,May 3: Town of Islip Earth Day Festival at Gillette Park in Downtown Sayville
  11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
  Raindate: Sunday, May 4.