2008 Earth Day Events in San Mateo County

Earth Day -- April 22 -- each year marks the anniversary of the birth of the modern environmental movement in 1970.

Earth Day founder Gaylord Nelson, then a U.S. Senator from Wisconsin, proposed the first nationwide environmental movement. On April 22, 20 million Americans took to the streets, parks, and auditoriums to demonstrate for a healthy, sustainable environment. Denis Hayes, the national coordinator, and his youthful staff organized massive coast-to-coast rallies.

Earth Day 1970 achieved a rare political alignment, enlisting support from Republicans and Democrats, rich and poor, farmers, and labor leaders. The first Earth Day led to the creation of the United States Environmental Protection Agency and the passage of the Clean Air, Clean Water, and Endangered Species acts.

Sen. Nelson was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom -- the highest honor given to civilians in the United States -- for his role as Earth Day founder.

Earth Day is a time to celebrate the wonders of the natural world. It is a time to reflect on the importance of nature in our everyday lives and it is a time to get involved in local efforts to preserve the environment. In San Mateo County you will find many opportunities to make a difference. All events listed are free to the public unless otherwise stated.

• Contest
• Events and Celebrations
• Volunteer Opportunities
• Parks in San Mateo County
• Composting Workshops

• Docent-led Wildflower Walks
  Edgewood Natural Preserve
  Every Saturday & Sunday
  March 15 - June 8
• Free Workshops:
  Water Wise Gardening
  Green Building Exchange
  Every Saturday in April
• Presentation: Become Part of the Climate Solution
  Coyote Point Museum
  Wednesday, April 2
• Presentation: Climate Change - Public Health Discussion
  San Mateo
  Wednesday, April 9
• Green at Home Vendor Fair
  Green Building Exchange
  Thursday, April 10
• "Go Green" An Earth Day Celebration!
  The Shops at Tanforan
  Saturday, April 12
• Green Transportation Show - Horizons in Transportation
  Green Building Exchange
  Saturday, April 12
• National Environmental Education Week
  April 13-19, 2008
• 3^rd Annual Palo Alto Greenlight Earth Day Film Festival
  Cubberley Theater, Palo Alto
  Thursday, April 17

• Docent-led Nature Hikes
  San Pedro Valley County Park
  Saturday, April 19
• Marine Science Institute
  Earth Day Celebration
  Saturday, April 19
• 6^th Annual Going Native
  Garden Tour
  Santa Clara & San Mateo County
  Sunday, April 20
• Woodside Environment Fest
  Woodside Elementary School
  Sunday, April 20
• Focus on Going Green
  San Mateo Public Library
  Tuesday, April 22
• City of Millbrae
  Arbor & Earth Day Event
  Saturday, April 26
• 36^th Annual Wildflower Show
  California Native Plant Society
  April 26 & 27
• Presentation: Climate Change - Causes, Consequences, Solutions
  South San Francisco
  Monday, April 28

The lush wildflower carpets and rich biodiversity of Edgewood's serpentine grassland are renowned throughout California and beyond. You can see more than 50 species of blooming wildflowers on a single walk! The trails slope gently, the routes are about 2 miles, and the walking pace is slow. Bring water and a snack, as well as a hat and sunscreen. No reservations are needed.

For more information visit the Friends of Edgewood or call (866) Go-Edgewood for more information.

Location: All walks start at the Old Stage Day Camp off Edgewood Rd.

All classes are free and offered on a first come first served basis for Redwood City Water customers. View workshop flyer for class descriptions and schedule.

Registration requested: (650) 780-7436 or visit Redwood City Water Conservation web site.

"Carbon Bob" Cormia gives an enlightening and uplifting presentation on steps we can take to be part of the climate solution. Learn to measure your carbon footprint, create your own personal climate action plan, conduct an efficiency audit, and outline five significant steps to becoming a low carbon citizen.

Dr. Bedsworth will discuss new diseases the Health Department needs to be prepared to address in relation to climate change, and explain how the situation will require health professionals to alter how they provide public health services.

Speakers will present simple steps you can take to make your home comfortable, healthy and safe. Free. Light refreshments served.

More info: Jeffery Liang, (650) 599-1485 or greenbuild@recycleworks.org

In celebration of Earth Day, a host of family-friendly activities, informational booths and performances will educate your family on how to "go green." Kids may enter an Arts Project Contest.

Visit the event website for more information. Located on the upper and lower levels of JCPenney court. Phone: 650-873-2000.

Alternative vehicle show; exhibit bringing together state-of-the-art electric, alternate-fuel, and hybrid vehicles from across the country.

Free of charge

National Environmental Education (EE) Week is the single largest organized environmental education event in the United States. It increases the educational impact of Earth Day by creating a full week of environmentally-themed lessons and activities in K-12 classrooms, and off site locations.  To register visit: http://www.eeweek.org/register.htm

The GREENLIGHT Film festival is a regional local agency effort to reach students in communities ranging from Mountain View to the City of Belmont. The Festival will showcase the "Best Of" films in 1st, 2nd, and 3rd places as well as the Honorable Mentions in all entry categories. This event will also include an awards ceremony, prizes and recognition for the young filmmakers. The recognition event will be a community and family oriented "green" carpet affair.

For more information please contact Kim Brown at Kim.Brown@cityofpaloalto.org or (650) 329-2417. You can also go to their website.

Docent volunteers will lead nature hikes at 10:30 a.m. (bird identification walk) and 12:30 p.m. (native plant identification walk).

Visitor center with exhibits and bookstore/gift shop will be open throughout the day.

Contact the park office at (650) 355-8289 for more information.

The Marine Science Institute invites one and all to come celebrate the Earth, San Francisco Bay and all things marine science. The day is jam packed with activities for the entire family, including four 2-hour discovery voyages on San Francisco Bay aboard our 90 ft. research vessel the Robert G. Brownlee, a lunch-time performance by the Banana Slug String Band, shark feedings, interpretive tables, fish and shark touch tanks, juggling and vaudeville presentation, ocean crafts, canoe demonstrations, environmental info faire, plankton shows, traditional Pacific Islander dancing, and much, much more.

For more information visit our website at www.sfbaymsi.org, or contact Aaron Tinker at (650) 364-2760 x16 or by email aaron@sfbaymsi.org.

Entrance is FREE, but there is a cost for the boat trips. Pre-registration via website for the Discovery Voyages is strongly recommended.

Visit home gardens that are water-wise, low maintenance, low on chemical use, bird and butterfly friendly, and attractive. A variety of home gardens landscaped with California native plants will be open to the public. The tour will have 45 gardens located all over Santa Clara and San Mateo counties.

Detailed addresses and directions are provided to registered participants. Free admission; registration required at www.GoingNativeGardenTour.org before Saturday, April 19, 2008, 12:00 p.m. or when the tour reaches capacity, whichever comes first. Space is limited; register early to ensure a place.

The event will include information on high efficiency heating systems, alternative fuel vehicles, and sustainable local organic food. A focus of the festival will be on global warming. Booths, an art contest for children focused on solutions to global warming, a video room showing short, relevant pieces, and a performer of songs for children with an environmental message will be part of the event.

Afternoon and evening programs:

• Exhibits and demonstrations
• Children's programs
• Carbon Footprint Presentation

Environmental Films on other dates during April.

More information (pdf)

Help beautify Millbrae. Activities include picking up litter and planting trees and native plants at the Kiwanis Island Median Strip on Skyline Blvd. at Millbrae Ave. For more information please call 259-2481.

Now in its 36th year, the Wildflower Show is a well-known and loved tradition in the South Bay and the Peninsula. Organized by the Santa Clara Valley chapter of the California Native Plant Society, this educational event is free and open to the public, and suitable for the entire family.

The region's premier botanical/horticultural event displays over 400 species of wildflowers and native plants, each one accurately labeled, many suitable for the home garden. Free classes are given on native plant identification, growing wildflowers, and gardening with natives. They will also have books, posters, seeds, note cards, and other wildflower-related items on sale.

For more information, visit www.cnps-scv.org, email cnps_scv@yahoo.com, or call (650) 941-1068.

Dr. Andrew Gunther, Executive Director of the Center for Ecosystem Management and Restoration.

Dr. Gunther has been involved with Al Gore's work on climate change, and is well known for his ability to speak in an understandable way about scientific subjects to the general public.