Earth Day Family Events Southern California

Eco Lifestyle

Earth Month Kids Events in LA, San Diego

For those of you with kids who either live in or are visiting Los Angeles or elsewhere in Southern California during April there are lots of fun, educational Earth Month and Earth Day not to be missed experiences (both free and admission-based) you'll want to know about so you can take advantage of them. Just for you, MBE has curated our picks for the best green lifestyle experiences that we think will appeal and be enjoyed by all: moms, dads, kids, and extended family to enjoy together.

Earth Day (April 22) is an awesome learning opportunity for children and their parents to think about how fragile our planet is and what we can collectively do to do our part to help save the world from an ecological point of view. But did you know that Earth Day isn't just for kids? In fact, caring for and protecting Mother Earth is so important to us all, that there is also Earth Week (April 22-26) and Earth Month (the entire month of April), making the Earth-friendly opportunities to everyone of every age.

Netflix Earth Fun Across the US

For starters, families in Southern California, as well as nationwide will definitely want to download and print out the free Netflix Earth Week Playbook. If you're a Netflix subscriber you'll also want to check out all the platform's movies and shows on sustainabilitysuitable for all ages that you can watch as a family including The Sea Beast, Our Planet, and Down to Earth with Zac Efron. For more details visitNetflixFamily.com

 

Free Earth-Friendly Activities in SoCal

Saturday, April 20, 4 to 7 pm

Crossings at Corona in Corona hosts Celebrate Our Earth Family Fun Day. This free event includes a reptile encounter, music by a DJ, craft for kids to make, pop-up shops, and a live musical performance for all at 6 pm. Event Details

Saturday, April 20, 11 am to 5 pm

San Diego EarthFest, an event by Vegan Food Pop-up, takes place in Balboa Park at Park Boulevard and Presidents Lawn in San Diego. Enjoy the beautiful outdoor park with free entry and parking, live music, speakers, kid-friendly activities included. 100+ vendors plus International Food Court.

Valencia Town Center Free Earth Day Event

Saturday, April 27, 11 am to 2 pm

Valencia Town Center, in Valencia in the Santa Clarita Valley just north of Los Angeles, invites the community to celebrate Earth Day with a FREE event with some really fun-filled and educational activities. Located on the lower level near H&M, kids of all ages who attend will have the opportunity to color their own reusable pot and bag to take home, along with a packet of flower seeds to plant at home (while supplies last). 

Other festivities at Valencia Town Center include an ice cream cart giving away free chocolate, vanilla, and fruit-flavored vegan ice cream and the famous Cow Mascot from Chick-Fil-A making an appearance in costume to greet and pose for photos with attendees. Rounding out the other activities are a live DJ, face painting, a photo booth, retailer and restaurant participation, and while supplies last some Earth Day-themed treats. For more information visit Event Details

Goodwill of Southern California Booth

Earth Day SoCal Events With Admission

Saturday/Sunday, April 20-21, 10 am to 5 pm

Visit Goodwill of Southern California (Booth 155) at the Los Angeles Times Festival of Books at University of California (USC) where you'll be able to shop for gently used books at bargain prices. Just for stopping by the booth, get a free coupon good for one book at any Southern California retail store location and enter to win a Goodwill of Southern California gift certificate.

Saturday/Sunday, April 20-21, 10 am to 4 pm

Los Angeles Zoo hosts Wild for the Planet with fun and educational programming that's all about wildlife conservation and environmental sustainability.  Special zoo happenings  featured this weekend include interactive activities, live entertainment, book readings, animal presentations, an Earth Expo and other presentations on why protecting our planet's diverse ecosystems and the species that all live here is so important. Earth Day weekend activities are included with regular zoo admission. For more information see Event Details

Mommy Blog Expert at Skypark Santa's Village

Saturday/Sunday, April 20-21, 10 am to 3 pm, park closes at 6 pm

Skypark at Santa's Village in the San Bernardino Mountains (elevation 5700 feet) located near Lake Arrowhead, is celebrating with Earth Day Weekend offering eco-friendly fun kids activity sheets, Meadowlands to Orchards tours, a Conservation Talk with Jeremiah, and a Seed Bombs Craft project. Most of the same activities will repeat both days. Earth Day Weekend activities are included with regular Skypark at Santa's Village admission which includes rock climbing, a zip line, roller skating and more. Bike Trails and rentals are also available to park guests for an additional charge. Event Details

Sunday, April 21, 11 am to 3 pm

Earth Day at the Natural History Museum in Los Angeles offers special nature and Earth kid friendly programs including live musical performances in the museum's Nature Gardens, exploring the gardens for a scavenger hunt, hands-on activities like creating native seed balls (while supplies last), the chance to create a nature journal and sketch plants, upclose encounters with behind-the-scenes museum collections, an opportunity to learn at a special Science of SpongeBob exhibit (as well as a photo booth opp for attendees to pose with SpongeBob and/or Patrick Star) thanks to museum partners Nickelodeon and more. Earth Day activities included with regular museum admission. Event Details

Bear Finds Eggs Kids Book Review

Books

by MBE Kids Editor

Rachel Marks

Children's Book Review

Thanks to the publisher Simon and Schuster, the new book Bear Finds Eggs by New York Times best selling author Karma Wilson has brought immeasurable joy to our evening family reading time. 

MBE partnered with Simon and Schuster, post contains affiliate links

My hubbie, as you can see from the photo, had as much fun reading Bear Finds Eggs (2024, Simon and Schuster) as our kids enjoyed listening to him reading to them at storytime at the end of the day. Stay tuned for a @mommyblogexpert Instagram Reel to be published soon featuring this devoted father reading to his little ones.

As a mom, I appreciated its engaging story and charming illustrations by illustrator Jane Chapman who has once again teamed up with the author for the newest title in the beloved Bear book series. The plot this time around centers on Bear and friends who go on a seek-and-find adventure together to help Mama Meadowlark find her lost eggs. This made for a real fun read-aloud experience and provided some great moments for interaction with my kids.

A Book That Appeals to Kids, Parents

The heartwarming gesture of leaving treats for anticipated baby birds created a sweet theme throughout the book celebrating the arrival of Spring making this a heartening story to share. The rhythm and rhyme in the storytelling were ideal for repetitive reading sessions, holding up well to frequent repetitions. Realistic and beautiful illustrations of animals against calming green backgrounds and vibrant flowers sparked curiosity in my children about different species.

While the overall simplicity aligned with a picture book for my two younger kids, the eleventh-book-in-the-series context (the title's target child audience is actually ages 4-8) left them with some minor curiosities about the diverse group of animals and questions about the meadowlark's lost eggs. Nevertheless, the focus on friendship, kindness, helping others, and welcoming new life in springtime remained among the highlights.

Without a doubt, Bear Finds Eggs was a hit for us parents. Similarly, the title also received a resounding seal of approval from each of our children: sons Izzy (age 5) and Ori (age 3), and Arya, our 16 month-old daughter who just started walking. The vibrant pictures and engaging storyline captivated their attention, making it a beloved choice for our family reading time, showcasing its broad appeal on different levels across a range of young children's age groups.

Bear Finds Eggs is available direct from the publisher Simon and Schuster and in stores where books are sold. Bear Finds Eggs can also be purchased on Amazon in hardcover and paperback, and is available instantly as a download to Kindle. 

DISCLOSURE: MBE participates in the Amazon Affiliate program and we receive a bit of compensation, at no extra cost to you, when you click through to Amazon to make a purchase of this book. 

Spring DIY Easy Crafts for Kids

DIY Creativity

MBE Guest Post

by Ck Harrington

Content Writer, Southern Sketch Designs

Easter, Passover, Spring Projects

Craft ideas in post provided by Ck Harrington 

In the Northern Hemisphere, spring begins on either March 20 or 21. But, because it's a Leap Year in 2024 (with an extra day in February), spring will arrive this year a day earlier on March 19, with Easter on March 31 and Passover from April 22 - 30.

Post contains Amazon affiliate links

 

While anticipating the return of flowers, foiliage, and warmer weather, we've compiled a list of easy and fun crafts by some of the most creative crafters that you can make with your littles. Whether you're looking for arts and crafts to celebrate Easter, Passover, or just spring in general, you're likely to find one or more spring-themed crafting activities suitable for a range of kids' ages here.

The Best Ideas for Kids

Easter Bunny Slime Jars

These holiday slime jar bunnies are a spring take on a popular craft involving basic ingredients you may already have on hand: washable white craft glue, baking soda, water, food coloring, and a contact lens solution containing boric acid. You'll also need: stiff felt or craft foam, googly eyes, pipe cleaners, glue dots or a low temperature glue gun, and air tight mason jars or plastic jars. An easy enough project for older youngsters, while younger kids will need help cutting materials and using the glue gun.

Full instructions at TheBestIdeasforKids.com

Make It Jewish

Passover Afikomen Bag

This fun Pesach craft is made with a recycled brown paper bag. All you'll need to make one or more of these are some colorful magic markers to decorate the bag as well as some yarn, scissors and a hole punch. Children can release their inner artists and embellish bags however they wish to create a family heirloom you'll be able to save and reuse each Passover season.

Full instructions at MakeItJewish.com

 

Pipe Cleaner Flower Bookmarks

This easy spring-inspired craft will appeal to a wide range of ages and is great for encouraging kids to read. The only supplies necessary to make these cute flower bookmarks are colored pipe cleaners and scissors. Simply cut, twist, twirl. Depending on the age of children, parents can pre-cut the pipe cleaners for younger mini artists to bend to into their favorite flowers. 

Full instructions and tutorial video at PBS.org

Practically Functional

TP Roll Bird Feeder

The return in spring of hungry birds is the ideal opportuity for kids to make bird feeders using a recycled cardboard toilet paper rolls, string, peanut butter and bird seed. Once this super easy craft is complete, go outside with the children and help them reach up to a tree branch to hang their bird feeders. This project is not only fun but educational, feeding local birds while building STEM skills, teaching youngsters about nature.

Full instructions at PracticallyFunctional.com

Fireflies And Mudpies

Ladybugs Rock

According to little ones, ladybugs are among the cutest of real live insects. So here's their chance to craft some adorable pretend ladybugs that will live on indefinitely in potted plants or garden, unlike the living variety. The best part -- which Moms, Dads and caregivers will really appreciate -- is that these Ladybug Rocks are made without using colored paint. All you'll need to make these are some small smooth stones, red and black tissue paper, googly eyes, and Glossy Modge Podge, along with scissors and paintbrushes.

Full instructions at FirefliesandMudPies.com

I Heart Crafty Things

Pretty Paper Tulip Straws

This simple craft is an excellent activity for groups of kids and parties. It's easy to prep and make, too, involving just two materials: construction paper and paper straws. After printing the template, parents, caregivers and teachers of younger boys and girls will need to handle cutting and hole-punching. But from there, kids as young as preschoolers with the proper motor skills can make this project from there. Cute one-off creations, these little flowers become an impressive bouquet when constructed by a class or group of children. This project is an excellent craft for kindergarten and elementary school classrooms. 

Full instructions, template, and video tutorial at iHeartCraftyThings.com. 

These are just some of our favorite crafts inspired by spring. Let us know what you think of this roundup, and share the spring projects that bring you and your littles joy.

About this MBE Guest Post Author

Ck Harrington is a content writer for Southern Sketch Designs and the pet parent to three beautiful dogs, with one on the way. When he’s not playing with dogs or typing up articles, Ck likes to spend time with his nephews. Ck discovers which kids' crafts are the most fun and engaging through his nephews.

Disclosure: MBE partners with Amazon as a member of the Amazon Affiliate program and we receive a small bit of compensation, at no extra cost to you, when you click on Amazon links within this post and make a purchase.