Earth Day events

Earth Day Picnic for the Planet

The Nature Conservancy in Nevada will host Earth Day Picnic for the Planet on April 21, and will feature live music, food trucks, beer and educational presentations. 11 a.m.-3 p.m. McKinley Arts Center and Park. For more information, email nevada@tnc.org or call 322-4990.

Tahoe Truckee Earth Day

The Tahoe Truckee Earth Day Festival is on April 21 from 11 a.m.-5 p.m at The Village at Squaw Valley. This year’s theme is “Do one thing” to inspire the community to make one effort toward sustainable living. Participants will be able to learn about composting and recycling, alternative energy, sustainability, watershed and forest health and more. A raffle will be held to support the Tahoe Truckee Earth Day Foundation. Entertainment includes live music, a “trashion” show, and the Wild and Scenic Environmental Film Festival. Participants can bring e-waste, old tires and household batteries to the free community recycling event in the Village Parking lot from 9 a.m.-2 p.m.

This is a zero waste event, and standard trash receptacles will not be available in order to encourage participants to minimize waste. Vendors will have biodegradable take-out containers for food. Food and biodegradable waste will be composted after the event. For more information, visit www.tahoetruckeeearthday.org.

Reno Earth Day at Idlewild Park

Reno Earth Day at Idlewild Park is on April 22 from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. This year’s theme is threefold, intended to mirror the recycling symbol, and includes “the natural world,” “many cultures” and “green technology.” The event will offer activities, performances, vendors, food and educational booths for each theme. An Earth Day Thrift Store at the event will take gently used clothing donations and will have them available to buy throughout the day. For more information, visit www.renoearthday.webs.com.

SparkS Earth Day

Sparks Kiwanis Club hosts the Sparks Earth Day Event on April 21, 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Activities include energy and alternative transportation exhibits, a bike swap and bike raffle, fencing demos, crafts, vendors and games for kids. Events will take place at the Kiwanis Bike Program, 2500 Valley Road. For more information, contact 337-1717 or email sparkskiwanis@gmail.com.

University of Nevada, Reno

UNR’s Earth Week runs the week of April 17-20. Thursday will focus on alternative energy and water, with the Nevada Undergraduate Research Symposium Presentations in the Joe Crowley Student Union from 9-11 a.m. Activities including a solar and wind power demonstration, energy-generating bicycle and water tasting from 11 a.m.-2 p.m. in the Joe Crowley Student Union Plaza. The Nevada Undergraduate Research Symposium Poster Session is from 2-4 p.m. in the JCSU ballrooms and a film screening of Patagonia Rising is at 6 p.m. in the JCSU room 423.

Local high school students will present their sustainability plans at the GREENevada Student Sustainability Summit on Friday, 1-4 p.m. in the Davidson Mathematics and Sciences Center, room 110. For more information on specific events, visit http://www.unr.edu/union/about-the-student-union/earth2012.