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Earth Day 2025: 13 Earth Day Activities in Chicago for Kids

Spend Earth Day cleaning up a park. Photo courtesy of the Chicago Park District
Spend Earth Day cleaning up a park. Photo courtesy of the Chicago Park District
4/11/25 - By Maureen Wilkey

Celebrate Earth Day 2025 in Chicago by teaching kids how to help the environment and get practice cleaning up parks and forest preserves or planting trees at various events throughout the city. Check out Friends of the Parks clean ups at more than 100 Chicago parks, see a movie about what we can do for the planet at the One Earth Film Festival, or learn about how ancient people recycled at the Institute for the Study of Ancient Cultures.  

Go green this month with events from our Earth Day activities roundup, and check out our Earth Kids Guide for more. 

Learn more about our planet at one of these Earth Day events for kids.
Learn more about our planet at one of these Earth Day events for kids.

Things to Do With Chicago Kids for Earth Day

Earth Day Fair at Dvorak Park

Pilsen
Saturday, April 12
Dvorak Park hosts a special Earth Day event, where kids and their caregivers can learn how they can reduce their carbon footprint through interactive displays, demonstrations, and arts and crafts projects. Families can also sign up for Earth Day clean ups. READ MORE

Ancient Earth Day

Hyde Park
Saturday, April 19
The Oriental Institute hosts Ancient Earth Day, where families can learn about ancient trash and recycling and how ancient people lived with their environment. Enjoy a family friendly talk all about the ancient environment, make fun Earth Day crafts, and try your hand at a scavenger hunt. Then, listen to ancient legends about the Earth and learn from Museum Educator-led Discovery Carts throughout our galleries! READ MORE

Forest Preserve District of Cook County Earth Day Cleanup

Saturday, April 19
Various Cook County Forest Preserves
Do your part to celebrate Earth Day by cleaning up litter in Cook County Forest Preserves. Each preserve will have pick up supplies available for families. Some preserves will have activities for families. READ MORE

Main-Dempster Mile Earth Day Clean-up

Evanston
Saturday, April 19
Help clean up the southeast Evanston area with Main-Dempster Mile businesses. Check in at the Village Farmstand to pick up garbage bags, gloves, and a wristband. After you help clean up, you can use the wristband to pick up prizes at local businesses. READ MORE

Glen Ellyn Earth Week

Glen Ellyn
Monday, April 21- Sunday, April 27
Celebrate both Earth Day and Arbor Day at the Glen Ellyn Park District! Events start on Monday, April 21, and include wildflower watercolor painting sessions, library story time, Candy Land trail games, bird walks, preschool nature outings, and forest bathing. READ MORE

Earth Day Trash Extravaganza at Lake Katherine

Palos Heights
Tuesday, April 22
Help clean up Lake Katherine and earn awesome prizes for the most unique finds. From the item that will take the longest to decompose to the coolest thing you can uncover, every piece of trash makes a difference. Clean up, have fun, and protect our planet together! READ MORE

One Earth Film Festival

Various locations
Tuesday, April 22- Sunday, April 28
Kids can learn more about the environment and threats to it through films. The One Earth Film Fest includes both in-person and virtual offerings for kids ages 3 and up. Animated and live action films provide education and entertainment for families. READ MORE

Prairie Patch Play Area Earth Day Celebration

Wheaton
Tuesday, April 22
Kids can celebrate both Earth Day at new Prairie Patch Play Area in Wheaton. Families are invited to spend time together at the Prairie Patch Play Area where children can create, discover and play with nature. Enjoy activities, crafts and open play. READ MORE

Friends of Chicago Parks Earth Day Park Clean Ups

Various Chicago Parks
Saturday, April 26
For 40 years, Friends of the Parks has coordinated park clean ups across Chicago as part of its annual Earth Day Celebration in partnership with the Chicago Park District and Forest Preserves of Cook County. This year's clean-ups will take place in more than 100 parks across the city. Check the Friends of the Parks website to sign up for a clean up at your park, or volunteer to captain a clean-up! READ MORE

Earth Day Clean Up at Lincoln Park

Lincoln Park
Saturday, April 26
Spend the morning cleaning up Lincoln Park and celebrate Earth Day. READ MORE

Earth Day at Fischer Farm

Bensenville
Saturday, April 26
Attendees of this FREE family event at Fischer Farm will learn how to reduce their carbon footprint through demos, giveaways, crafts, interactive displays and Earth-friendly vendors. Jump in the Earth-themed bounce house and take a seedling home to plant! READ MORE

Wheeling Earth Day Celebration

Wheeling
Sunday, April 27
Celebrate Earth Day in Wheeling's Heritage Park. Take a nature walk, see what outdoor settings Wheeling has to offer, and see animals up close. Exhibitors will include Chicago Kite, JG's Reptile Show and more. READ MORE

Earth Day Party at Spring Valley Nature Center

Schaumburg
Sunday, April 27
Spring Valley Nature Center hosts an Earth Day celebration for the whole family, including games, crafts, free wildflower seedlings, birdhouse building, worm composting construction, a live hawk and owl display, and more! READ MORE

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