14 Free (or Almost Free) Ways to Celebrate Earth Day with Kids in Westchester

4/14/17 - By Marisa Iallonardo

What better way to get kids interested in nature and doing their part for the planet than with a variety of fun and educational activities in honor of Earth Day? This year, celebrations take place throughout the month of April and include everything from all-day festivals to a movie screening and creating one-of-a-kind crafts from recycled materials. The best part: They’re all free or inexpensive! 

Be sure to check out our Event Calendar for even more activities for Westchester families and follow us on Facebook.

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April 20, 2017

Earth Day Craft: Recycled Art - Yonkers
The 12-and-under set can enjoy some after-school crafting—this time using recycled materials—at the Riverfront Library. FREE

April 21, 2017

Earth Day Craft - Montrose
Young elementary schoolers can learn more about recycling when the Hendrick Hudson Free Library hosts a special Earth Day craft-making session using recycled pieces. FREE

April 22, 2017

White Plains Earth Weekend - White Plains
Start Earth Day off with a screening of the Disneynature movie Born in China (those pandas!) at the City Center 15: Cinema de Lux. There will also be an area set up at the theater where kids can add their art and post their plans for making the world a better place. FREE 

Sheldrake Earth Day Celebration - Larchmont
It’s a day of planet-friendly activities at the Sheldrake Environmental Center, which kicks off with a reservoir clean-up. Later families can enjoy an Earth Day celebration that includes a StoryWalk, orienteering and planting, as well as face painting, art and live music. $8 for non-members with pre-registration. 

Earth Day 2017 - Valhalla
Meet at the Kensico Dam for a day full of Earth Day fun. FREE

Earth Day Hike - Cortlandt
This two-hour hike will take families on a tour of Cortlandt. Described as moderately difficult, make sure you bring the right gear. All kids under 12 must have an adult with them. FREE

Green Ossining’s Earth Day Festival - Ossining
Now in its 7th year, Green Ossining’s annual celebration at Louis Engel Waterfront Park will highlight the importance of food sustainability—from food waste and preservation to edible gardens. There will be an area specifically for kids, as well as vendors, activities, food and entertainment. FREE

Sky and Earth Day - Yonkers
Whether your kids are interested in stars or robotics (or both!), they’ll be able to learn about each—and lots more—at the Hudson River Museum. The event includes activities like safely seeing the sun through a telescope, a robotics demo, a talk on clouds and a screening of the museum’s newest show, The Victorian’s Guide to the Galaxy. Free with museum admission of $6 for adults and $3 for kids.  

Earth Day Celebration - Briarcliff Manor
Even kids as young as 3 can do their part to save the planet—and they can have fun doing it at the Briarcliff Manor Public Library. The event is geared towards kids ages 3-10 and includes crafts and other activities. BYO soda bottle for a quick composting tutorial. FREE

Earth Day Garden Clean-Up - Greenburgh
Help clean up the garden at the Greenburgh Public Library. The event is great for the whole family and kids are eligible to earn community service hours for taking part. FREE

Bash the Trash - Peekskill
One kid’s trash is another kid’s … musical instrument. At least, that’s the plan at The Field Library, when second through sixth graders can create instruments—like a shoebox guitar and a straw trombone—from recycled materials, as well as hear a presentation on the science of sound.  FREE

Recycle, Reuse, Recreate: A Craft Program - White Plains
Recycling becomes even more fun when you can turn your everyday items into something totally different—which is exactly what elementary schoolers can do at this special craft time at the White Plains Library FREE

April 23, 2017

Earth Day Celebration - Greenburgh
Kids can spend the afternoon at the Greenburgh Nature Center’s Earth Day Celebration, where they’ll get to learn more about eco-minded activities like gardening, solar science and composting as well as take part in yoga and craft-making. FREE

April 29, 2017

Croton’s Earth Day Celebration - Croton-on-Hudson
Keep the spirit going the week after Earth Day with this day-long festival on April 29 at Vassallo Park, which includes yoga and recycled craft-making. Families can also learn more about how to set up a backyard habitat, native plants and solar energy, among other activities. FREE

This originally posted in 2015 and has been updated for 2017.

Photo courtesy of the Greenburgh Nature Center.