[Nat sound birds chirping, kids playing]
By 4:15 on Monday afternoon the first day of the Evanston Ecology Center’s Earth Week celebration was well underway.
Laura Nusecabel, the center’s program coordinator, directed patrons to activities which spanned from the main building down through the arboretum, which runs along the North Shore Channel.
LAURA NUSECABEL: “Today we were really surprised we had 86 people sign up.”
The Ecology Center has been a pillar in the community since 1974, when the building was donated to the city. They emphasize providing free and accessible activities.
NUSECABEL: “Were always trying to think of with our programming at the Ecology Center how we can appeal to different ages and different people that we don’t normally get at our programs”
This year they expanded their annual Earth Day celebration to a week long affair.
NUSECABEL: “Each day has a different theme, so we’ll be having a different focus and including a bunch of different local environmental organizations on each day”
On Monday, the plants and pollinators theme was in full bloom. Leslie Shad, lead of Natural Habitat Evanston, was busy running the native plant giveaway.
LESLIE SHAD: Can I just ask them if they need help before they walk away?
TILLIE FREED: yeah go ahead
[SHAD: talking to people about the native plants]
Natural Habitat Evanston is an organization that encourages residents to plant native species and cultivate pollinator gardens in their yards. They have been celebrating Earth day with the Center for about 10 years.
LESLIE SHAD: “If you’re doing a community nonprofit thing you sorta want to get the city working on it. So it’s just a partnership”
Climate Action Evanston was also stationed outside the center represented by Weinberg senior Max Ensor . He encouraged Northwestern students to engage with these types of events.
MAX ENSOR: “Especially when you spend 4 years here it’s really important to get to know the community around you and I think a lot of the change starts at the community level.”
[nat sound: kids playing]
At the craft station I talked to Elia and Pearl, who were at the Ecology Center with their girl scout troop. However, they were a bit more interested in collecting flowers for their art project than our interview.
PEARL: “there are pink and blue flowers over here”
Jenn Nelson, who was supervising the troop of six and seven year olds expressed appreciation for the Ecology Center.
JENN NELSON: “Its nice to have these nice natural spaces where kids can come and explore”
Nusecabel echoed Nelson’s sentiment.
NUSECABEL: “Kids these days are a lot more focused with doing work on their computers and things,”
Education, especially of young people, is central to the Ecology Center’s mission.
NUSECABEL: “Teaching them about the world around them and then their you know are more inclined to take care of it as well because they have that appreciation”
That appreciation is especially important on Earth Day
NUSECABEL: “A lot of times earth day can feel like a heavy day and it’s hard to know how to spend the day.”
Nevertheless, Nusecabel champions a positive attitude.
NUSECABEL: “I think this is a really good way to get people to be outside and involved and having fun while also learning about the arboretum and what the ecology center does.”
Shad believes Earth Day is an opportunity to take agency over what’s in our control.
SHAD: “There are things that you can do in your little corner of the world that is actually joyful and will make you happy. We can do that We can do that”
[Nat sound birds chirping, kids playing]
If you’re looking for a little Earth Day cheer, a fun craft, or maybe even a native plant, the Ecology Center has programming running through Saturday. More information can be found on the City of Evanston website.
[Nat sound birds chirping, kids playing]
For WNUR News I’m Tillie Freed