Rockville celebrates the 47th Earth Day, on Saturday, April 22.
The city strives to be an environmentally sustainable community that preserves its green spaces and continually reevaluates ways to reduce its environmental footprint. Find details, including how to get involved and live greener, how to invite an environmental speaker to your next community meeting and tips for helping the environment year-round, at www.rockvillemd.gov/environment. Mark your calendar for these events:
April 1: Green Your Backyard Information Session. 10-11:30 a.m. at Twinbrook Community Recreation Center, 12920 Twinbrook Parkway. Learn about RainScapes Rewards and other city programs designed to help you green your backyard and reduce pollution, in this free information session. To register, call 240-314-8877 or email [email protected] with your name, phone number and address.
April 5: 4th Annual Montgomery County Energy Summit. 8 a.m.-4 p.m. in Silver Spring. Learn more at www.usgbc.org/mcenergysummit2017.
April 8: 29th Annual Potomac River Watershed Cleanup.
Stream cleanup sites include:
- Twinbrook Community Recreation Center, 12920 Twinbrook Parkway, 9-11 a.m.
- Croydon Creek Nature Center, 852 Avery Road, 9 a.m.–noon.
- Maryvale Park, 812 First St., 10:30 a.m.-noon
City staff will greet volunteers. Gloves and bags will be provided. Student Service Learning hours are available. Children under 14 must be accompanied by an adult. Bring water and wear sturdy shoes. To register, email [email protected] or call 240-314-8877.
April 22: Earth Day Celebration Campfire. 7:30-8:30 p.m. at Croydon Creek Nature Center. For more information and to register, call 240-314-8770. $5 for Rockville residents, $6 for nonresidents.
April 23: Rockville Science Day. noon-5 p.m. at Montgomery College, Rockville campus, 51 Mannakee St. Visit the Croydon Creek Nature Center table. Free. Find more information at www.
rockvillesciencecenter.org and in the article on this page.
April 26: Arbor Day Tree Planting Ceremony. 10 a.m. at Lone Oak Park, 1010 Grandin Ave. Join the city’s Forestry Division and students from the Park Street Children’s Center for a tree planting in recognition of Rockville’s 28th consecutive year as a “Tree City USA.”
April 29: Prescription Drug Take-Back Day. 10 a.m.-2 p.m. at the Rockville City Police Station, 2 W. Montgomery Ave. Safely dispose of unused or expired medications and help keep them out of our environment. For more information, call Cpl. Ken Matney at 240-314-8922.
April 29: Spring Festival with Native Plant Sale. 10 a.m.-2 p.m. at Croydon Creek Nature Center.
Find more details, visit www.rockvillemd.gov/earthmonth.
Six Easy Steps to Create a Certified Wildlife Habitat
- Provide Food. Add native plants that have nectar, fruits and seeds – this provides diverse food supplies throughout the year.
- Supply Water. Water gardens, bird baths and even puddles are valuable water sources for drinking and bathing.
- Create Cover. Cover, such as rock piles or evergreens, provides protection from weather, predators and people.
- Provide Places To Raise Young. Many of the places wildlife use for cover, like trees or shrubs, are also ideal locations to raise young.
- Garden Sustainably. Choose wildlife-friendly landscaping methods and reduce the use of lawn chemicals to support clean, safe drinking water for people and wildlife.
- Get Certified. Show it proudly and help spread the word! Certify your yard or land!
Rockville was named the 88th National Wildlife Federation-certified Community Wildlife Habitat in the United States in 2016. To learn more, visit RockvilleReports.com and search “wildlife.” Follow the steps above to make your yard a certified wildlife habitat.