Earth Day Celebration at Cox Reservation

The Essex County Greenbelt Association and the their community partners will host a FREE Earth Day celebration at the Cox Reservation in Essex, Massachusetts! This free event will celebrate the environment, and build connections to our natural world by offering family-friendly activities.  The event will also showcase local non-profit organizations that share a commitment to building an environmentally sustainable community. 

Dave Rimmer, Greenbelt’ s Osprey Program director, will help kick off the day by introducing families to Allyn and Ethel, our resident Osprey pair who recently returned to their Cox nesting platform following their winter migration. They’ve already produced one egg in their nest. Throughout the day, families can use a spotting scope and binoculars to observe their nesting activity, and we’ll tune in to Greenbelt’s on-line OspreyCam to see them up close.

For those interested in a more energetic activity, Greenbelt will lead an invasive species identification and removal excursion on the property. Participants are welcome to dig in and get dirty. Old clothes, boots, and hand tools are encouraged.

Participating non-profit community partners will offer hands-on activities for the whole family…even your dog!  Cape Ann Animal Aid of Gloucester will demonstrate the fun of recycling by helping kids make sustainable chew toys for Fido. Bring an empty plastic water bottle and fleece scraps as materials. They’ll also be bringing some adoptable pups to meet.

Founded in 1972 as a direct result of Earth Day, Toad Hall Bookstore of Rockport gives 100% of its profits to environmental projects. Toad Hall will offer an all-day book swap. Drop off your old books, and take some new ones for free. You can even sign up to join the Green Toad Book Club, a monthly venture co-sponsored by the Book Store and Greenbelt.

A student from Tufts University will help families create pollinator houses that can be placed in your backyard. The decline in pollinator populations – such as bees and butterflies - has become a major source of concern for the environment. We’ll answer questions about questions about pollinators, and their environmental significance. 
Kestrel Educational Adventures of Gloucester will lead a tracking and animal identification walk around the Cox Reservation, and will offer an arts and crafts project. The Cape Ann based non-profit teaches “real science in the real world” to school and youth groups. 

Other Community Partners Include: Department of Agricultural Resources, Cape Ann, Trail Stewards, Next Step Living, Manchester Essex Conservation Trust, and Essex Farmers Market
Bring a picnic to enjoy on the grounds. Greenbelt will offer light snacks and lemonade.