Celebrate Earth Day at an Alabama State Park!

Earth Day is this Friday, April 22. Several of Alabama’s State Parks are planning special events this weekend to celebrate.

Cheaha

Special programming at Cheaha will be held April 22-24. At Nature Nook April 22 from 3:30-5:30 p.m., you can visit our Mountain Store Patio and meet the park naturalist. Ask questions, learn more about Cheaha State Park and meet a live animal! 

• Earth Day Clean Up will be held from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. at the Interpretive Center April 23. Become an eco-hero, lend a hand, and help us keep Cheaha State Park beautiful! Bring a bag of trash and exchange it for a special prize.
• The same day, visit the Interpretive Center from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. for an Earth Day Recycling Art Project. Help the Park Interpretive Team turn garbage into a repurposed art project. Stop by, lend a hand for a bit, and watch the community art piece come to life before your very eyes. 

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  From 10:30-11 a.m., the kids will have Story Time: The True Story of Smokey the Bear. Smokey was a young cub who was caught in a wildfire and decided to help other woodland critters by reducing dangerous fires within our forests. Park Naturalist Mandy Pearson reads the book by Jane Werner Watson.

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  Eco Explorer: A New Way to Go with the Flow will be held from 11 a.m.- noon. Join Cheaha’s interpretive staff to learn more about the challenges and pollutants water encounters as it flows downstream and how you can help make a difference for our aquatic environments.

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  Eco Explorer: Terrific Turtles will be held from 12:30-2 p.m. Alabama has more species of turtles than any other state in the nation! Join Dr. Grover Brown from Jacksonville State University Biology Department to explore why Alabama has such high diversity and meet a few local species. 

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  Art in the Environment: Trash to Treasure allows you to join Cheaha’s interpretive staff from 2:30-3:30 p.m. as they teach you how to recycle things that are often thrown away into fun, unique and personal artwork. All supplies included with the class.

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  Learning by the Lake is a program for kids that will be held at Cheaha’s Interpretive Center from noon-4 p.m. on April 24. Do you have a child who is curious about the great outdoors? The interpretive team will help him connect with the natural world through art, activities, storytelling, games and more. Stop by and make some new connections.

For more info about any of Cheaha’s Earth Day events, visit https://www.facebook.com/CheahaStatePark.

Gulf Shores State Park

• Saturday, Gulf State Park will hold an "Invest in Our Planet" Earth Day 2022 Festival from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Join us for a fun hands-on day of activities, games and initiatives highlighting trees and why they make a great investment in Planet Earth. Activities feature Alabama's underwater forest, raptors, longleaf pine forests, organic gardening, archery, nature arts & crafts, turtles and scavenger hunts and more!

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  Live music at Woodside Restaurant includes Charlie Wilson (noon-4 p.m.) and Mac Walter (5-9 p.m.). For more info, visit https://www.facebook.com/GulfStatePark.

Oak Mountain State Park

• Oak Mountain will hold Chalk Your Walk 9 a.m.-5 p.m. on April 22. Weather permitting, come to the Park Office Flagpole circle and write notes of encouragement and draw pictures on the sidewalk. Chalk provided!

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  The event is free with paid admission into Oak Mountain State Park and overnight guests. Wheelchair and stroller accessible. For details, visit https://www.alapark.com/events/oak-mountain-state-park/celebrate-earth-day-chalk-your-walk.

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  Later the same afternoon, join staff at the Oak Mountain Interpretive Center from 3-4 p.m. and make leaf prints to take home. Learn about native trees and how you can be a better steward for Mother Earth! For details, visit https://www.alapark.com/events/oak-mountain-state-park/celebrate-earth-day-leaf-printing.

Wind Creek State Park

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  An Earth Day Scavenger Hunt will be held at Wind Creek Friday-Sunday from 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Sniff a spring wildflower, visit the shores of Lake Martin and more. Pick up your scavenger hunt sheet at the Wind Creek Front Office to join in on the fun! Scavenger Hunt is parkwide and FREE with paid park admission and for overnight guests.

For more info, visit https://www.alapark.com/events/wind-creek-state-park/earth-day-scavenger-hunt.