Join Green Bellevue at Elmwood Park on April 27th for Earth Day Omaha! A day filled with education, music, food and all the environmentalism and sustainability one could hope for! 

Every year on April 22, Earth Day marks the anniversary of the birth of the modern environmental movement in 1970. After 54 years, we still have work to do.

This year, EARTHDAY.ORG is unwavering in their commitment to end plastics for the sake of human and planetary health, demanding a 60% reduction in the production of ALL plastics by 2040.

Be sure to take time to attend local area events to learn more about how to take part in mitigating the effects of climate change. In addition to attending A Party for the Planet, Earth Day in Bellevue and Earth Day Omaha, visit earthday.org for history and global efforts.

See Green Bellevue at the Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium as we celebrate Earth Day! The Zoo Academy is hosting this year’s Party for the Planet for attendees to discover ways to save our planet.

Presented by the Green Clubs Committee via Zoom

We want to help school personnel and interested others create flourishing green clubs. Our panel consists of experienced club leaders from high school, middle school and elementary. 30 mins for Q & A!

All are welcome – teachers, staff, parents, anyone!

Spread the word and Join us on Zoom, Meeting ID: 826 2418 0374, Passcode: Green

Our Panelists

HIGH SCHOOL

Chloe Zarp, Past president of the Green Initiative at Bellevue East, Lead organizer of Bellevue City Parks Cleanup 2021, Instrumental in getting composting started at BE  (Jan 2024)

Steve Thyberg, Sponsor of Ecology Club  2010 – 2017 at Bellevue West 

MIDDLE SCHOOL

Melissa Hansen, Sponsor of Garden Club, School Counselor at Logan Fontenelle – Bellevue

Nathan Van Zante & Dustan Kern, Sponsors of Titan Plastics, Lewis Central Middle School – Council Bluffs 

ELEMENTARY

Laura Jones, Uses pollinator garden as exploration and teaching tool for students, Librarian at Two Springs Elementary - Bellevue, Nebraska Master Naturalist

Risa Schoepke, Sponsor of the KIND Club (Kids In Nature's Defense), Two Springs Elementary – Bellevue

For more info:   SteveT@GreenBellevue.org

Join our special Earth Day program at Bellevue University to learn about Solutions Plastic’s options for plastic reuse here in our metro area. The event which will feature displays by local environmental groups and vendors to highlight the many projects and efforts that are taking place in the local area. The event will be held in the Symposium room located on floor B of the Mueller Building. Check our Earth Day page for new additions to the program.

The Bee City USA committee is on a course to increase the abundance of native plants, provide nest sites and reduce the use of pesticides through partnering with residents, businesses, schools, utilities and government to educate our community about the why, what and how to protect Bees and insects. Join us for our next monthly zoom meeting to learn more and participate in our efforts! Email admin@greenbellevue.org if you’d like to join us!

Attend the April 2nd Bellevue City Council meeting where Green Bellevue was born!  Please plan to attend the historic Earth Day & Arbor Day proclamation readings to show your support.  Victoria Bogatz from Bellevue East Green Initiative and Aarj Patel from Sustain Bellevue West will share about their school’s composting efforts after the reading. There is a photo opportunity with the Mayor - wear green if you can and bring the family! See the FB event for logistical details.

Camp Gifford is having their annual Spring Celebration with a Seed Swap! Green Bellevue will be there to distribute seeds for spring planting, along with PATH and others! There will be games, hayrides, farmers market vendors, food, face painting, and more! Read details, there is a $6 admission and you need to have a reservation for the egg hunt!

Join Green Bellevue at our March program for expert advice on how to grow your own vegetable garden or take your existing garden to the next level! Green Bellevue Board Member Nancy Scott will lead an informative discussion on growing your own vegetables. Also, learn and join in efforts in our community to increase native planting, support the Green Schools initiative and plan an educational/meaningful celebration of Earth Day in Bellevue (coming April 14th!).

Come and meet others from Bellevue and surrounding communities who have a passion for the great outdoors and the natural environment and learn how to get more involved in Green Bellevue's efforts this year!
 
About Nancy Scott:
Nancy Scott is a Green Bellevue Board Member and has worked with the Elders program at the Nebraska Urban Indian Health Coalition since 2015, leading programs in horticulture, nutrition, and craft activities.  She worked at No More Empty Pots from 2015-2024.  Nancy is currently a Master Gardener with Iowa Extension, serves on the Bellevue Tree Board and is a board member for the Prairie Pines Nature Preserve.  She supports monarch and pollinator habitat restoration with Milkweed Matters and with PATH- Pollinator Alliance of the Heartland, encouraging planting native plants.  She illustrated a tree identification book “Woody Plants for the Central and Northern Prairies” and co-authored a bilingual, Spanish and English, children’s book “Saving the Monarchs”. Nancy has a wealth of experience as a horticulturist and loves sharing her knowledge of gardening and pollinators with others.

Zoom link if you can't attend in person:
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/81135918334?pwd=YsFfJBg0f6hw5ZVfebNm3Hz2RiBBjT.1

The Bee City USA committee is newly formed this year! Our vision: Using the Bee City USA framework - chart a course for the City of Bellevue to increase the abundance of native plants, provide nest sites and reduce the use of pesticides through partnering with residents, businesses, schools, utilities and government to educate our community about the why, what and how to protect Bees and insects. Join us for our next monthly zoom meeting on March 6 at 7pm to learn more and participate in planning! Email admin@greenbellevue.org if you’d like to join us!

We will gather right on 18th street just past Hogantown Dr. The other direction from 18th Circle. We can use 10 people.

Gloves, water, weather appropriate outdoor working clothes and sun protection are appropriate. The work is shoveling wood chips from a pickup truck onto the ground and spreading them around trees across the park. Give Don Preister a call at 402-733-6660 when you arrive.

Light rain we will work. If lightning or heavy rain, we will cancel.

*VOLUNTEERS NEEDED*

We will mulch, some weeding. If enough people, we will collect native plant seeds and maybe some planting if there is rain in the forecast.

It's a fun garden if you like nature. In addition to bees and butterflies we have seen deer and turkey and heard an owl.

- Nancy Scott

Bring your weeding do-dads and come help us get the weeds under control at Mason Park. Bring water for yourself and wear the appropriate clothing for kneeling...

Come help Bellevue Native Plant Society as we rid the rain garden of poison hemlock, foxtail, hops, and rogue tree seedlings. We also do a sweep for litter to prevent trash from ending up in the waterways.

The Twin Creek Trailhead is at the intersection of three major biking trails in the Metro: The Bellevue Loop, The West Papio Trail, and the Keystone Trail. This rain garden is a great opportunity to showcase native plants to the various bikers that pass by yearly as well as making this spot a scenic hub of the community.

Dress for wading through brush with closed toe shoes. Hemlock is toxic and the hops are spiky, so we like to wear good thick garden gloves, long sleeves, and long pants. Please bring your own hand shovel or spade to use and your own pruners or loppers. If you have yard waste bags to use or trash bags to collect litter and you bring these, it is MUCH appreciated.

This is not the event for young children unless they are aware of the dangers and supervised at all times. We've done this work safely for years, it's just good to be aware of what we are working with.

Come help us make sure this kind of work decreases over the years as the many grasses and wildflowers we plant take hold and convert this space into a much more lively, native, and wildlife-supporting garden. See you soon!

*VOLUNTEERS NEEDED*

We will weed, edge beds, mulch, collect seed, and if any monarchs come to the garden we'll tag them for the Citizen Science Project for Monarch Watch

Bring your weeding do-dads and come help us get the weeds under control at Mason Park. Bring water for yourself and wear the appropriate clothing for kneeling...

On 08/26 we will also be mulching and on 09/23 we will also be planting new wildflowers along with weeding. See you there!

What better way to kick off the start of the Bellevue Farmer's Market season than by having our yearly picnic! Come out with the family to Washington Park on June 3rd for a morning full of awesome vendors, fresh/local produce and community.

The market will wrap up at 12pm where you can then venture over to the Gazebo for our Zero Waste Picnic! You can either come over with items you got from the market or pack your own lunch! It's a win/win either way.

Since our picnic falls just before World Environment Day, we will also be announcing our 2023 Environment Champion Awards!

RSVPing is not required but we would love to get an idea of how many people might attend the picnic! So if you're interested, please follow the Facebook event for further details!

More info will be available soon about the topic and details of our March program.