ECC to Celebrate Earth Day with Family-Friendly Activities

Earth Day at East Central College will bring together science, nature, creativity, and community for an afternoon of hands-on activities and environmental learning on Saturday, April 11.

The Annual Earth Day 2026 celebration will be held from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on the first floor of the Donald D. Shook Student Center. The free event is open to students, employees, families, and community members, with activities designed for both children and adults.

From crafts and games to educational exhibits and guided conversations, the event offers a wide-ranging look at the natural world and the ways people can better understand and care for it. Guests can explore topics such as recycling, pollinators, gardening, water quality, wildlife, sustainability, and healthy living through interactive stations and make-and-take activities.

Highlights include a guided nature walk and an opportunity to check in on the kestrel babies at ECC, offering a closer look at one of the campus’s most popular signs of spring.

For adults, designated chat corners will provide space for deeper discussion on environmental topics, including the RECA Program and Coldwater Creek radiation exposure, as well as Missouri’s worst abandoned landfill located in Franklin County.

Activity stations will feature a variety of themed experiences, including gardening and pollinator activities such as marigold planting and Blooms for Bees and Butterflies; hands-on science and environmental learning like Build an Aquifer and Test Your Water, Does It Float, and Paper Science and Engineering; and interactive games and demonstrations including Recycle Toss, Fishing for Plastics, and The Great Monarch Migration.

Additional stations will explore wildlife, sustainability, and everyday practices, with topics ranging from Missouri mammals and outdoor discovery to homesteading, recycling, and healthy, low-cost recipes and SNAP application assistance.

The annual celebration is designed to make Earth Day engaging and accessible for all ages while encouraging curiosity, conversation, and a stronger connection to the environment.

For more information visit www.eastcentral.edu or contact Parvadha Acosta at 636-584-6627 or parvadha.acosta@eastcentral.edu.