The ACUA Earth Day Festival will be held April 23 at the ACUA Environmental Park in Egg Harbor Township.

EGG HARBOR TOWNSHIP – The Atlantic County Utilities Authority is celebrating Earth Day 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday April 23 at the ACUA Environmental Park, 6700 Delilah Road. The event will be held rain or shine.

The fun and busy day brings attention to the environment and caring for the Earth and provides hundreds of environmental vendors, workshops, games, tours, giveaways, free plants, activities, and a hayride to the top of the ACUA landfill. There is something fun and entertaining for all ages.

Electric vehicle owners are invited to participate in the in-person vehicle show and vendor and volunteer opportunities are available.

Interactive Activities

Wind, Solar and Wastewater Facility Tours 
First tour leaves at 10 a.m. Last shuttle at 3:15 p.m.  (Shuttle Near Big Tent)
Take a tour of New Jersey’s first commercial wind farm. Jitneys powered by compressed natural gas will shuttle participants from the Environmental Park in Egg Harbor Township to the wind farm and back. This tour also includes the ACUA Wastewater Treatment Plant, solar project and green roof located at the Atlantic City facility.

Touch a Truck
All day (Outside Recycling Center)
Get up close to one of ACUA’s recycling trucks and learn how they work from one of our collection professionals.

Eco Hayrides
All day (Scalehouse)
Eco Hayrides, a perennial favorite, take visitors to the top of the landfill for panoramic views of the area, including Atlantic City and the Jersey-Atlantic Wind Farm.

Recycling Center Tours 
All day (Recycling Center)

Free Seedlings Giveaway
All day (Around the Pond)

Meet Supercan, the ACUA Mascot 
All day (Various Locations)
Meet and take photos with Supercan

Composting Demonstration with the Atlantic County Master Composters
All day (Garden Area)

Native Plant Walk & Talk with Raven Ahmed of Earth First Native Plant Nursery
11 a.m. (Garden Area)
Learn about the importance of native plants while exploring ACUA’s native plant garden.

Yoga Sessions with Zen Landing Wellness Studio
11 a.m. to 2 p.m. (Garden Area)
Join a 15-minute yoga session in the garden. No experience necessary. Mats are provided.

Chakra Healing Sound Bowl Session with Zen Landing Wellness Studio
2:15 p.m. (Garden Area)
Come try this rejuvenating therapy that allows the vibrations of sound bowls to wash over participants which promotes a peaceful, calm presence.

Free Workshops

Intro to Homesteaders The Salty Homesteaders
11 a.m. (Amphitheater)
Come meet your fellow homestead dreamers with the Salt Homesteaders! We will dive into what homesteading is and how to get started wherever you are.

Frogs and Toads of South Jersey
Lynn Maun of the Great Egg Harbor Watershed Association

12 p.m. (Amphitheater)
What species of frogs and toads can be found in South Jersey? When can you expect to hear frogs and toads calling and why do they call? Where can they be found? Do all frogs and toads look and sound like? We will learn about the frogs and toads found in South Jersey. Explore some of the different habitats where they are found.  We will learn what species of frog can freeze and come back to life.  Which species of frog needs to be kept separate from other frogs and toads.  How to tell the difference between a male and female frog.  We will also learn that we can create a backyard habitat for frogs and toads.

Learn About the Spotted Lanternfly
Rutgers Master Gardeners
1 p.m. (Amphitheater)

The Stockton Maple Project
Debra Sommers of Stockton University
2 p.m. (Amphitheater)
Maple Syrup! Stockton University is participating in a fascinating initiative to explore the potential for maple sugaring in our region. A team of Stockton faculty members has been awarded a grant through the US Department of Agriculture to promote maple sugaring in the South Jersey region. Find out more about what’s happening and how you can get involved.

Rain Barrel Demonstration
Melissa Belen-Gonzalez of the AmeriCorps New Jersey Watershed Ambassadors Program
3 p.m. (Amphitheater)
Learn about the importance of rain barrels and how you can construct your own at home.

EV Show

The EV show runs the entire time of the event, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Arrive at 9:30am to park. Please register to attend through the Drive Electric Earth Day website before Wednesday, April 19. Charging onsite is extremely limited.

For more information, or to volunteer of become a vendor, see www.acua.com/earthday

 


Nanette LoBiondo Galloway

Award winning journalist covering news, events and people of Atlantic County for more than 20 years.