Celebrate community and Clear Lake during the week of Clear Lake Earth Days activities April 17-24. 
There is something for everyone!
And Who Will Wear the Green Jacket ?

Monday, April 19
EcoKid Skit. Students in grades K-5 will see this high energy playClear Creek Elementary School. The public is welcome to either presentation at 12:30 p.m. and 1:30 p.m  The skit was created by Mike Havlik of the Des Moines YMCA camp.

Clear Lake Public Library Story Hour – 6:30 - 7:30 p.m. Clifford the Big Red Dog. Register at 357-6133.

Monday, April 19 - Thursday, April 22
BioQuest Contest Exhibit – open to the public during regular business hours at the Surf Ballroom.  Entries are from North Iowa students.  BioQuest is a student competition of the BioVillage Foundation in North Iowa.  Winners will be announced at 4 p.m. April 22 at the Green Expo.  Winners of the kindergarten through fifth grade Clear Creek Elementary School poster contest also will be displayed.

Monday, April 19 - Saturday, April 24
Backyard Treasures Hunt - Find each letter at Clear Lake area business and on the Clear Lake/Ventura Green Guide Eco Map.  Unscramble the letters and be eligible for prizes!  Details will be on www.earthdaynorthiowa.org on April 19 or you may call the Chamber on April 19 at 357-2159.

Tuesday, April 20
After school crafts - Clear Lake Arts Center  3:30 - 5:00 p.m.  Students in 1st-5th grade will make an earth day monster pot.  Suggested $4 donation for students not enrolled in after school art classes will go to the Clear Creek Elementary School Garden. Please call 357-1998 for registration.

Experience the Energy @ the National Solar Decathlon Competition!  -Clear Lake Arts Center 7:00 p.m.  Trevor Hanus of Clear Lake will share his comments about this once-in-a-lifetime experience at the nation’s capital.Trevor, a senior at Iowa State University, was a member of only one of 20 collegiate teams which were challenged by the United States Department of Energy to design and build energy-efficient houses powered exclusively by the sun.  The houses must be affordable, attractive and easy to live in, maintain comfortable and healthy indoor environmental conditions, provide adequate hot water and produce as much or more energy than it consumes.All homes were open to the public on the National Mall.  Trevor is the son of Ken and Paula Hanus of Clear Lake.   

Wednesday, April 21
Local Food Luncheon - Clear Lake Arts Center  Noon. Sponsored by local chapter of Slow Foods. Experience the pleasures of the table and local food producers.  Special guest speaker Nationally-known Iowa dairy farmer Francis Thicke. Francis and his wife Susan own and operate a dairy farm near Fairfield, Iowa and he has a Ph.D. in agronomy/soil fertility from the University of Minnesota.  That practical and academic combination provides an insightful perspective about the food we eat. Thicke has worked on farm policy issues while serving as the National Program Leader for soil science for the USDA-Extension Service and has worked with the Midwest Organic and Sustainable Education Service, the Scientific Congress on Organic Agriculture Research and has received numerous professional awards.

Come and enjoy a lunch made from local, Iowa-produced foods! $10 suggested donation for the luncheon.  Please call 357-2159 for reservations.

Mud Pies for Grownups Art Class – Clear Lake Arts Center 6:30 p.m.  Led by Pat Wistey and Kayla Meyers of The Red Geranium, participants will create a rustic garden container made from the stone-like material known as hypertufa.  Composed of three accessible, inexpensive ingredients, the possibilities are endless.  Using basic molds and impressions, numerous garden accents are just a weekend away.

The cost for a kit is $35.00 which includes recycled molds, hypertufa mix, gloves, a how-to recipe and additional project ideas in a “Shop Clear Lake First bag”.
Contact the Clear Lake Arts Center at 357-1998 pre-registration required before April 16.

Thursday, April 22, National Earth Day
Green Expo North Iowa - Surf Ballroom 4:00 - 7:00 p.m. Check out the energy-saving and earth-friendly products and services from area businesses, information booths, and organizations at North Iowa’s fastest-growing green expo.

Business/Earth Day After Hours - Surf Ballroom 5:00 - 7:00 p.m. – Food and networking.  Sponsored by the Clear Lake Area and Mason City Chambers of Commerce, Clear Lake and Mason City Earth Day Committees.

The Iowa State PrISUm Solar Car Team will be at the Green Expo. 

Speakers: (VIP area of the Surf Ballroom)
5:45 p.m. If You Enjoy the Outdoors – You Will Want to Know About IWILL, Iowa’s Water and Land  Legacy Proposed Amendment:  featuring Eric Lindstrom with Ducks Unlimited, Iowa Chapter representing Iowa’s Water and Land Legacy Amendment Coalition.

All Iowans will be asked to vote November 2 this year on a constitutional amendment which will establish a Natural Resources and Outdoor Recreation Trust Fund. This fund will establish a permanent, dedicated and accountable funding mechanism for protection of water quality, conservation of agricultural soils and improvement of fish and wildlife habitat areas. 

6:15 p.m. Ventura Marsh Restoration – Hot Off the Press!    CLEAR Project Director David Knoll will provide details about how the Army Corps of Engineers and the Iowa Department of Natural Resources intend to restore the marsh to its natural filtering abilities, which will improve water quality in Clear Lake.

The project includes demolition of the existing outlet structure, construction of a controlled spillway, construction of a marsh pump station and an outlet to Clear Lake on the northeastern shore of the marsh.

Raffle:  Win a limited edition print for your home or office AND help with recycling projects in the community, around the lake and in the schools by contributing to this fundraiser.  Prints are on display at the Chamber and Clear Lake Bank and Trust.  Tickets may be purchased at the Clear Lake Area Chamber of Commerce office, Clear Lake Bank and Trust and at the Green Expo.  Proceeds go toward community, lake and school  recycling projects. Winning tickets will be drawn at 7:05 p.m

Saturday, April 24
Community Cleanup - Clear Lake and Ventura Area 8:00 -11:00 a.m. - Help to beautify your community.  Sign up your business, family, neighborhood or office team to spend a short time giving back to Clear Lake during the Community Cleanup. Simply call Trish at the Clear Lake Area Chamber of Commerce at 357-2159; she will suggest a cleanup site or choose your own. On Saturday, stop at the Lakeview Community Room at City Park to pick up garbage and lawn refuse bags for your group.  The filled bags can be dropped off in the large garbage bins that will be placed around City Park that day. 
Note: Your group can also cleanup anytime during Clear Lake Earth Days week from April 17 - 24.  You can pick up garbage and lawn refuse bags at the Clear Lake Area Chamber of Commerce for cleanup earlier than April 24.

Festival at City Park 11:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. - Come see a live trumpeter swan, enjoy the food, participate in a fun run for children, play games, see the masters challenge winner

Fun Run - The Fun Run for children in grades 1-5 will start at 11:00 a.m.

Trumpeter Swan - Clear Lake’s own Ron Andrews, DNR Wildlife Biologist and Swan Restoration Coordinator for the state, will bring a live swan to City Park from approximately 11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.  The characteristically enthusiastic Andrews has received national recognition from the Trumpeter Swan Society for his work in reintroducing the majestic trumpeter back to Iowa. 

Festival Bike Valet from 10:30 a.m.- 1p.m.:  Leave your car at home and bike to the festival!  It’s like a coat check – show up, hand your bike over to the cheery valet attendant who will watch it until you return.

Cell Phone Recycling – 9 a.m.-1 p.m.  Bring your old cell phone and benefit Clear Lake schools hrough a recycling program provided by CL Tel and Recycling Fundraiser.

Thanks to sponsors Clear Lake Area Chamber of Commerce, Clear Lake Bank and Trust, CL Tel, Fox River Mills, Hanson Foundation, Surf Ballroom.  Accelerated Rehabilitation, Coca Cola, Cutting Edge Fitness, Healing House, Integrative Medicine Consultants, Perkins, Pro Advantage Services,  Voortmann Chiropractic, Best Western Holiday Motor Lodge, Decker Sports, Econo Foods and Red Geranium