For over 55 years, Earth Day has served as an opportunity to demonstrate support for environmental protection. This year, Earth Day falls on Wednesday, April 22. Organizations throughout Albany County are hosting celebrations, clean ups, and special events all weekend leading up to the day. Scroll on for details on upcoming clean ups and special events celebrating Mother Nature this April in Albany County. 

Ten Broeck Mansion Gardening & Community Days

Friday, April 17 and Saturday, April 18
Ten Broeck Mansion from 9:30 AM to 11:30 AM

Give back to the Earth during one of Ten Broeck Mansion's Gardening & Community Days. Hosted the first and third Friday and Saturday of each month, help keep the historic gardens lovely and tidy. Friday sessions focus on light gardening while Saturday sessions focus on grounds and trash pick-up. Can't make it this weekend? Gardening & Community Days will be hosted through November! 

 

 

 

 

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Radix 16th Annual South End Earth Day (SEED)

Saturday, April 18
Radix Ecological Sustainability Center from 10 AM to 4 PM

Join the Radix Ecological Sustainability Center for the 16th Annual South End Earth Day! Volunteers will meet at Radix at 10 AM, form groups for each garden site, and team up with a Crew leader to freshen up garden beds and remove winter debris. All tools and supplies will be provided. At 1 PM, a block party kicks off with free food and drinks, local entertainment, free health screenings, clean energy job resources, soil testing, and more from local organizations.

Pitch in for Parks at Thacher State Park

Saturday, April 18
John Boyd Thacher State Park from 11 AM to 2 PM

Love Thacher State Park? This volunteer program is a great way to give back and become an ecological steward. Meet at the Nature Center for a day of hands-on work that will alternate between vegetation management of introduced species and trail work. Hand tools will be used, so please wear clothes you don't mind getting dirty and appropriate close-toed work shoes. Open to ages 12 and up. Registration is required by calling 518-872-0800.

A Celebration of Earth Day After Dark with the Huyck Preserve

Sunday, April 19
Huyck Preserve, Eldridge Research Station, from 7 PM to 10 PM

Join the Huyck Preserve for a celebration of Earth Day and International Dark Sky Week. The night starts with a lecture by Craig Frank, Ph.D. of Fordham University on the importance of dark skies for northeastern bat species, followed by a reception with refreshments and bat and star activities. After dark, Mindy Townsend, Ph.D. of the Dudley Observatory at Siena will lead a star party (weather permitting) where participants will use telescopes and other equipment to view the early spring night sky. Registration is required and the event is limited to 30 people. Suggested donation is free for members and $5 per person for non-members.

Nine Pin Cider Warehouse District Clean-Up

Sunday, April 19
Albany's Warehouse District from 9:30 AM to 1 PM

Nine Pin Cider's 11th annual Warehouse District Clean Up returns on Sunday, April 19! Meet in front of the tasting room to pick up gear, provided by the City of Albany Department of General Services, and head out in teams to clean up different areas of the Warehouse District. Clean up wraps around 11 AM, and volunteers are invited back to the cidery for a complimentary cider bar until 1 PM.

 

 

 

 

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Downtown Albany BID Earth Day Clean-Up

Wednesday, April 22
Downtown Albany from 10 AM to 2 PM

Live, work, or play in downtown Albany? Meet your neighbors and join the Downtown Albany BID for the annual Earth Day Cleanup! Help tidy up downtown Albany's parks, sidewalks, streets, and public spaces in time for the beautiful weather this spring. Volunteers can register for the 10 AM to noon shift, the noon to 2 PM shift, or both at either check-in location. Check-in is open from 10 AM to 1 PM.

Check-in Location A: Alice Moore Black Arts & Cultural Center (135 South Pearl Street)
Check-in Location B: Olde English Downtown Dog Park (119 North Pearl Street)

Clean-up supplies including garbage bags, lawn bags, gloves, trash pickers, brooms, rakes, and shovels will be provided in partnership with the City of Albany Department of General Services. Lunch and refreshments from Coulson's News & Deli will be served at noon at both locations. An Energy Bike activity sponsored by Global Partners LP will be set up at the Olde English Downtown Dog Park so you can use pedal power to charge your devices and learn about energy usage. Pre-registration is encouraged to help the BID prepare. Rain date is Friday, April 24.

Earth Day Litter Clean-Up for Teens at the Albany Pine Bush Preserve

Wednesday, April 22
Albany Pine Bush Preserve at 4 PM

Help keep the county clean and join the Pine Bush for an Earth Day litter clean-up! Volunteers will pick up litter within the preserve. This program is suitable for teens with an adult, and any participant under 18 will need to be accompanied by an adult. After registering, volunteers will receive directions to their assigned meeting location via email. Reservations are open at AlbanyPineBush.org/events.

 

 

 

 

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Earth Day Workday

Saturday, April 25
Upper Bozen Kill Preserve from 1 PM to 4 PM

Join the Mohawk Hudson Land Conservatory for their annual Earth Day Workday! This year's clean-up takes place at Upper Bozen Kill Preserve, where volunteers will work on wetland and riparian habitat improvements surrounding the Bond Road beaver meadows. Register today to get involved and help keep this beautiful preserve thriving.

Earth Day Upcycled Jewelry Workshop at Thacher State Park

Saturday, April 25
John Boyd Thacher State Park from 1:30 PM to 3:30 PM

Celebrate Earth Day at the Nature Center by creating earrings, pins, and necklaces from upcycled materials like vintage magazines, books, maps, old letters, handmade rice papers, origami paper, gold leaf, and more. All materials are provided. Open to ages 12 and up. $20 cash per person due upon arrival. Registration is required by calling 518-872-0800.