Conservation Plainfield Spring Environmental Expo

Conservation Plainfield, a local environmental education organization, will host a Spring Environmental Expo on Saturday, May 5, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. The FREE will take place at the Plainfield Village Hall and Settler’s Park, located at 24401 W. Lockport St.

The event is sponsored by Engineering Resource Associates, Inc. and co-sponsored by Cartridge World; Hitchcock Design Group; Pizzo & Associates, Ltd.; Upland Design, Ltd.; Unilock; Working Bikes; Meijer; and The Enterprise.

Attendees will enjoy an up-close, live, hands-on experience with reptiles and amphibians from around the world presented by Dave’s Traveling World of Reptiles from 11:30 a.m. to 12:45 p.m. The entertaining, educational and interactive show teaches audience members to respect rather than like the animals on the planet that are considered ugly, dangerous or a nuisance, and shows their importance to the environment as well as their benefits to people. For more information, visit www.travelingworldofreptiles.com/Traveling_World_of_Reptiles/The_Show.html.

In addition, attendees will be able to ride a bike-powered stereo and a rowing machine generator, as well as learn about Geo-Caching from a Conservation Plainfield volunteer and give it a try in Settler’s Park. Geo-Caching is an outdoor activity using a Global Positioning System (GPS) receiver to hide and seek containers (called geo-caches or caches) that contain log sheets and possibly trinkets for trading or placing in other containers one finds. For more information, visit www.gonil.org.

Other expo activities include making a craft out of reused material, pinning a leaf on a tree to win a giveaway, and painting a rain barrel with a provided template.

To aid in recycling efforts, drop-off bins will be provided for used ink and toner cartridges, medical waste and batteries. In addition, attendees can bring bikes in any condition for Working Bikes to repair and distribute locally and internationally to non-profit organizations. Last year Working Bikes delivered more than 6,000 bikes internationally. For more information, visit www.workingbikes.org.

Rain barrels and native plants will be available for purchase. The rain barrels come in three styles and different colors including hand-painted ones by the Advanced Placement Art Students of Plainfield East High School. Attendees can also enter a raffle to win various items throughout the day. Raffle items include: 25 free ink refills provided by Cartridge World; an Energy Basket containing several samples of compact fluorescent light bulbs, an LED nightlight, several books on global warming and climate change, and reusable cold and hot cups/mugs provided by the Lights for Learning Program; a 2012 Family of 4 Pool Pass and 5 Individual Daily Passes provided by the Plainfield Park District’s Ottawa Street Pool; two Painted Rain Barrels and two Chicago Wilderness Activity Guides provided by Conservation Plainfield; a $25 gift card provided by Jewel; and a $25 Gift Card provided by Target.

There will also be a range of exhibitors providing informative environmental education displays, hands-on activities, and sustainable products and services. Exhibitors to date include: Conservation Plainfield; Engineering Resource Associates, Inc.; Working Bikes; Cartridge World; Pizzo and Associates, Ltd. ; University of Illinois Extension Service; Will County Health Department; Meha’s Recycled Bags/Henna Painting; Rachel Rayas 4H Teaching Garden; Anything Grows Garden Club; The Morton Arboretum; Northeast Illinois Invasive Plant Partnership; The Conservation Foundation; Wholesome Living/A Shaklee Distributor; Hitchcock Design Group; GR2012/Celebrating Sustainability Festival; Citizens Against Ruining the Environment (C.A.R.E.) ; Plainfield Library (pollinators/bees) – Green Village Series (Year of the Bee); Optimal Health and Wellness; Peter Rubi Fresh Produce; Chiro One Wellness Centers; and Solar Endeavor, Inc.

Food will be provided by Conservation Plainfield and Panera Bread’s Operation Dough-Nation.

For up-to-date information on the 2012 Spring Environmental Expo, as well as other Conservation Plainfield events and projects throughout the year, visit www.conservationplainfield.com.