Earth Day Activities for Bay Area Families 2009050

We're all for being lean, mean, and green this Earth Day in San Francisco and the Bay Area - well, maybe not so mean - but we do think that Earth Day offers a great way for families both to celebrate Planet Earth with green festivities and to learn more about becoming more "lean" with our everyday footprints, carbon or otherwise. If we've failed to include your favorite "greenery" in the city, add a comment below, or email SF@parentsconnect.com so we can add it to our list here!

April 13-18: The Bay Area Discovery Museum hosts a week of nature-themed art projects, conservation-based workshops, and environmental guest scientists.

April 17-19: Planet Green, Earth Day Network, non-profit organizations, and city parks across the country invite volunteers to join in events to celebrate Earth Day. Visit the website to find out more about volunteer opportunities.

April 18: Environmental artist Zach Pine hosts his fifth annual Earth Day Celebration at the south end of Stinson Beach. Participants can work alone or in groups to spontaneously create outdoor sculpture using sand, rocks, shells, and other natural objects from the beach.

April 18: Earth Day at Coyote Point Museum offers the chance for kids to meet local wildlife, try exciting science activities, check out new green technologies, and help clean up our coastline.

April 18: Families are invited to celebrate Earth Day at the San Francisco Zoo. The event features a variety of eco-awareness activities for families (self-guided scavenger hunt, green-themed music, puppet shows, etc) and lots of green and Earth-friendly organizations on hand with interactive displays.

April 18: Crissy Field Center invites the whole family to participate in Earth Stroll a fitness walk that includes a Bicycle Rodeo, traditional corn tortilla making in Juana's kitchen, Biodesiel bus rides, kite-making, and critter meetings.

April 18: The Marine Science Institute's Earth Day on the Bay features live music by The Banana Slug String Band; family educational programs about tide pool animals, sharks, and fish; boat trips on the Bay; and an Environmental Information Fair.

April 18: Kids can show a little love for Mother Earth during a celebration at Lakeshore Learning Materials that features free crafts and a seed-planting activity for kids.

April 18: City of Oakland Public Works Agency invites families to volunteer at various clean-up locations throughout the city, including Lake Merritt Boating Center. A complete list of volunteer opportunities can be found on the website.

April 18 & 19 The Academy of Sciences Earth Day Celebration features a sustainability fair, hands-on nature crafts, live animal demonstrations, outdoor "water wonder" activities, and many other special presentations.

April 21: Environmental artist Zach Pine hosts a free Create-with-Nature Celebration in downtown Berkeley. Using branches, leaves, rocks, shells, bamboo, pinecones, and other natural materials, participants work alone and in groups to create outdoor sculpture.

April 22: Author and illustrator Peter Brown presents his newest picture book, The Curious Garden, about a little boy named Liam who discovers a struggling garden and decides to take care of it. The event takes place at Kepler's Books & Magazines.