Earth Day Celebration at Pioneers Park April 23

Bike the Bison Trail to Pioneers Park and celebrate Earth Day and International Migratory Bird Day (IMBD) on Saturday April 23. Get on the bike trail at 9th and Van Dorn and head west. Shuttle buses will also be available to provide transportation to the park.

This year marks the 35th anniversary of Earth Day. This year's local theme is Soar to New Heights, Celebrate our Achievements! International Migratory Bird Day events will begin the day at 8 am with an early morning bird walk and a Walk/Run for the Birds. A bus tour from 8:30 to 11:30 am will visit the Photovoltaics at Hyde Observatory and the straw bale and green building construction of Prairie Hill Learning Center.

Mayor Coleen Seng will kick off afternoon activities that will include a raptor release and forty hands-on exhibits featuring conservation, natural resources, and recycling. Children's activities include paper making, animal sculptures from recycled materials, storytelling and a balloon walk. Featured entertainment will be Pangea, the Potscrubbers, Ashanti and Bellydancing.

Open Harvest will be offering up great foods from the bakery and deli. The culminating event will be the 4:30 launch of hot air balloons. For more information go to www.lincoln.ne.gov or call Pioneers Park Nature Center at 441-7895.

Earth Day Week at UNL

This year's Earth Day celebration at UNL will be bigger and better than ever! The Ecology Now! student organization is planning events the entire week leading up to Earth Day on Friday, April 22. Open Harvest invites you come by and visit our booth on Friday.

A recycled art competition is planned with prizes from community businesses for the most creative art project made from recycled materials. A film festival co-sponsored by Wachiska Audubon is planned for Tuesday evening featuring "Chased by the Light." A debate is scheduled for Thursday evening.

Events are scheduled all day Friday with booths and activities during the day and bands in the evening at the City Union. On Friday evening at 11 pm, Pancakes for Peace will once again join Earth Day thanks to Amnesty International and various campus organizations. If you would like more information or are interested in having your business or group present at Earth Day, please contact Ellen Wright at 472-8823.