EnviroFest Planning

• Help us make the 25th EnviroFest the best one yet! We’re looking for ideas of what YOU’D like to see at the event.
• Open to the public–join us for free snacks and bring your ideas for a fun event! New-comers welcome!
• For more info, email EECmail@coei.org. Virtual option available.

Kids' Winter Birding Scavenger Hunt

Explore our trails and look for feathered friends during our Kids’ Winter Birding Scavenger Hunt at the Elkhart Environmental Center! Throughout the month of February, families can search for and learn about winter birds on cards stationed along our trails. Kids can use a trail map to find the cards and borrow a birding backpack to search for real birds with binoculars along the way!

For more information, please visit our Facebook Events page

Bluebird Box Workshop

Join us at the Elkhart Environmental Center on Friday, March 3^rd to learn about Eastern Bluebirds and build your own nest box! Participants who attend the workshop will learn all about this stunning species and discover simple ideas they can incorporate into their yards to help support these birds. Attendees will also put together their own nest box and get tips on how to install and maintain it to best support our feathered friends.

Nest box kits are $5 each and limited to one per family/group. Pre-registration is required and limited. Recommended for ages 12 & older. When registering, please reserve an attendee ticket for each person in your group and a nest box ticket.

As of 2/11/23, this workshop has sold out. Registration for our Overflow Session on Monday, March 6th can be completed HERE

DIY Beeswax Wrap Workshop

Looking for ways to reduce food and packaging waste around your home? Attend our DIY Beeswax Wrap Workshop on Wednesday, March 22^nd! Participants will make and take home their own reusable beeswax wrap and get tips on proper food storage to reduce kitchen waste. All wrap materials will be provided during this hands-on workshop.

Registration is $5 per person and can be completed HERE

Recommended for ages 12 & up

Volunteer Day: Install Nest Boxes

Enjoy learning about and supporting your local wildlife? Join us at the Elkhart Environmental Center on Thursday, March 30^th to help install bluebird nest boxes and bat houses! During our volunteer work day, participants will assist staff in installing boxes across our site to provide safe spaces for some of our native wildlife. All materials will be provided – just bring yourself!

Sign up to volunteer HERE

Natural Egg Dyeing

Learn how to color eggs with materials from nature at our Natural Egg Dyeing program on Tuesday, April 4^th! Stop by any time between 4:30 PM and 6:00 PM to try out a few different dye baths made from materials like beets, cabbage, and more. Participants will leave with a few of their own egg projects and instructions on how to create more at home.

All ages are welcome at this family-friendly event! Pre-registration is limited and required. Registration is $4 per person and can be completed HERE

Intro to Nature ID Apps & Wildflower Hike

Become more familiar with your surrounding environment at our Intro to Nature ID Apps & Wildflower Hike session on Saturday, April 15^th! Learn how to use a variety of smartphone apps designed to identify local flora and fauna on a hike, in your backyard, or even along a city sidewalk. After learning about these ID tools, we will test them out on a hike to look for blooming spring ephemerals!

Registration for this program is $1 per person. All ages are welcome. Pre-registration is limited and required. 

Register HERE

Oriole Feeder Workshop

Join us at the Elkhart Environmental Center on Thursday, April 27^th for our Oriole Feeder Workshop! Learn about the life history of these birds and make a feeder to put up at your home just in time for their spring arrival. After building the feeders, participate in a short hike around our site to look for any newly arrived migrants!

All ages are welcome at this family-friendly workshop. Feeder kits are $5 each and limited to one per family/group. When registering, please reserve a ticket for each person in your group AND a kit ticket. 

Register Here

Rain Garden & Rain Barrel Workshop

Learn all about installing and maintaining rain gardens and rain barrels at this informational workshop on Tuesday, May 9th! Elkhart Soil & Water Conservation District will be hosting this session about conserving water in your own yard from 5:30 PM – 7:00 PM at the EEC.

Space is limited. Please register in advance. Reserve your spot HERE

This workshop is a requirement for the Rain Garden & Rain Barrel Reimbursement program, it is open to the public as well. Learn more at www.elkcoswcd.org

*Please note: This is an informational session; we will not be building rain barrels at this workshop.

River Clean Up