2004 Earth Day Events in San Mateo County |
Earth Day is a time to celebrate the wonders of the natural world. It is a time to reflect on the importance of nature in our everyday lives and it is a time to get involved in local efforts to preserve the environment. In San Mateo County you will find many opportunities to make a difference. All events listed are free to the public unless otherwise stated.
• Special Recycling Collections
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2004 Earth Day Poster Contest Winner, Vincent Tong, South Hillsborough School You are invited to the Earth Day Poster Exhibit featuring the artwork of San Mateo County students. |
Special Recycling Collections
April 12-23
Cell Phone Recycling
Various Locations in San Mateo County
Donate old mobile phones and protect the environment while generating cash for community programs. Drop off your cell phones, chargers, and any extra batteries bundled together at the following locations. Usable phones are refurbished and sold in Latin American countries - all profits benefit local nonprofits. Contact Debby Kramer by email or at 650-802-4349 with questions. See below for list of drop-off locations.
If you miss this event, check the RecycleWorks database for permanent cell phone drop-off locations in San Mateo County.
| Atherton: | Town Hall, 91 Ashfield Road |
| Belmont: | Belmont Permit Center - 1070 Sixth Ave. |
| Burlingame: | City Hall - 501 Primrose Rd |
| East Palo Alto: | |
| Foster City: |
Foster City City Hall - 610 Foster City Blvd
Foster City Library Community Center - 1000 E Hillsdale Blvd |
| Hillsborough: | Town Hall - 1600 Floribunda Ave |
| Menlo Park: |
Belle Haven Community Library - 413 Ivy Dr.
Sports Center - 501 Laurel St |
| Redwood City: |
555 County Center Lobby, Redwood City
455 County Center Lobby, Redwood City 400 County Center Lobby, Redwood City Redwood City City Hall - 1017 Middlefield Rd Redwood City Police Department - 1301 Maple Street Red Morton Community Center - 1120 Roosevelt North Fair Oaks Library and Community Center |
| San Carlos: |
Library - 610 Elm St
City Hall - 600 Elm St BFI Recyclery - 333 Shoreway Rd San Carlos Chamber of Commerce - 1500 Laurel St |
| San Mateo: | City Hall - 330 W 20th Ave |
April 19-23
Thermometer Exchange
Various locations in San Mateo County
Residents may bring mercury thermometers to any of the following locations and exchange them for a non-toxic digital thermometer during Earth Week. The collection locations will take thermometers during business hours. Please transport your mercury thermometer inside its original plastic case, or sealed in two zip bags. If you are not able to make this date, find out where you can dispose of a mercury thermometer through the County Household Hazardous Waste program.
| City | Location | Time | Contact Phone | |
| Atherton |
City Hall,
93 Station Lane |
9-12, 1-5 | 650-726-0526 | |
| Belmont |
City Hall,
Public Works Department |
8-12, 1-5 | 650-595-7427 | |
| Brisbane |
City Hall,
50 Park Place |
8-1, 2-5 and
Friday 8-1 |
415-508-2130 | |
| Burlingame |
City Hall,
501 Primrose |
9-3 | 650-342-3727 | |
| Colma |
City Hall,
1188 El Camino Real |
8-12, 1-5 | 650-757-8888 | |
| Daly City | 153 Lake Merced Blvd | 7-5 | 650-991-8208 | |
| East Palo Alto |
City Hall,
2200 University |
8-4 | 650-853-3189 | |
| Half Moon Bay |
City Hall,
501 Main St |
8:30-5 | 650-712-6660 | |
| Menlo Park |
City Admin Building,
701 Laurel |
7:30-5:30 | 650-330-6763 | |
| Millbrae |
City Hall
Public Works Office 621 Magnolia Ave |
8:30-5 | 650-259-2339 | |
| Redwood City |
Public Works
Services Dept 1400 Broadway |
7:30-4:30 |
650-780-7464
650-780-7406 |
|
| Redwood City |
Environmental Health,
455 County Center 4th Floor |
7:30-5:30
Mon. - Thurs. |
650-599-1514
650-363-4305 |
|
| San Bruno |
City Hall
Public Works Counter, 576 ECR |
8-5 | 650-616-7065 | |
| San Mateo |
City Hall
Permit Counter, 330 W. 20th Ave |
9-2 | 650-522-7342 | |
| South San Francisco |
Municipal Services Bldg.,
33 Arroyo x ECR |
11-2 | 650-877-8634 |
April 22 - May 31
New Life for Old Soles — Athletic Shoe Recycling Collection
Various locations in San Mateo County
Hate to throw away an old pair of tennis shoes? Do something good for the earth and recycle your used athletic shoes this spring. The shoes you bring in will be ground up and used to make athletic surfaces including tracks, tennis courts and playground surfaces. Athletic shoes only; no metal, dress shoes or hiking boots. Find a drop-off location in your neighborhood on our web site or call RecycleWorks at 1-888-442-2666.
May 22
Computer Collection Event for Reuse and Recycling
San Mateo
9:00 AM - 2:00 PM
Did you know that computers contain hazardous levels of lead as well as other dangerous heavy metals? If you have an old computer, please recycle it. The cities of Atherton, Belmont, Burlingame, East Palo Alto, Foster City, Hillsborough, Menlo Park, North Fair Oaks, Redwood City, San Carlos and San Mateo are sponsoring a FREE computer collection event for residents of those cities. Bring proof of residency and up to 5 computers and peripherals. Computer equipment collected at the event will either be refurbished and donated to those in need by the Computer Recycling Center or scrapped and recycled. For more information, call 650-802-4349. For those who do not live in participating cities, find out about year-round electronics recycling locations.
Location: San Mateo County Expo Center parking lot - 2495 S. Delaware St., San Mateo
Events and Celebrations
Every Saturday and Sunday through June 13
Docent-led Wildflower Walks at Edgewood Preserve
Redwood City
10:00 AM - 1:00 PM
The lush wildflower carpets and rich biodiversity of Edgewood's serpentine grassland are renowned throughout California and beyond. You can see more than 50 species of blooming wildflowers on a single walk! The trails slope gently, the routes are about 2 miles, and the walking pace is slow. Bring water and a snack, as well as a hat and sunscreen. No reservations are needed. For more information visit the Friends of Edgewood website.
Location: All walks start at the Old Stage Day Camp off Edgewood Rd except April 17 and May 1, which start at Clarkia Trailhead at Canada Rd and April 24 and May 8, which start at the Edgewood Trailhead at Canada Rd.
April 15 - 30
RecycleWorks Earth Day Poster Contest Exhibit
Redwood City
Monday - Friday, 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
View the 50 winning posters from the fourth annual RecycleWorks Earth Day Poster Contest at the County Hall of Justice. Over 400 San Mateo County students submitted drawings this year. Vincent Tong, a 4th grader at South Hillsborough School, won the Grand Prize and his artwork will be featured in an advertisement displayed inside SamTrans buses this spring. The public is invited to attend the gallery reception for the 54 winners and their families on April 30 from 4-6pm.
Location: Hall of Justice Gallery - 400 County Center, Redwood City, CA 94063
Friday, April 16
2004 Sustainable Gardening Lecture Series
San Mateo
7:00 - 9:00 PM
Wild Stream Health and the Suburban Garden Interface
featuring the following two speakers:
Katie Pilat, Outreach Coordinator and Project Manager for San Francisquito Watershed Council: a project of ACTERRA Wild Stream Health and the Suburban Garden Interface. David "Tex" Houston, graduated from Northwestern University in 1983 with a degree in Electrical Engineering. He has been an Urban Agriculture project leader for Bay Area Action for several years. For more information call 650-599-1498.
Location: College of San Mateo, Building 20, Room #101
April 17 and 18
Earth Days at Coyote Point Museum
San Mateo
12 NOON - 4:00 PM
Join museum educators and the San Mateo Creek Keepers, a group of youth who are monitoring the water quality of San Mateo Creek, in celebrating our earth! Learn about the health of our local San Mateo Creek, plant a "good bug blend" of seeds for your home garden and create art from recycled materials. Participate in park and bay clean-ups as well. For more information visit www.coyoteptmuseum.org or call 650-342-7755.
Location: Coyote Point Museum, 1651 Coyote Pt. Drive, San Mateo, CA 94401
Saturday, April 17
Natural History Lecture Series: Mammals, Tracks & Scat
Pescadero
1:30 PM
Have you ever wondered how to tell the difference between a bobcat track and a coyote track? Find out at the lecture and field expedition with Tom Lindsay, Director of Exhibits at the Children's Discovery Museum of San Jose. Tom will cover the basics of animal tracks then lead a scouting expedition for animal tracks and signs around the Gazos Creek Field Station. For more information visit www.gazos.org or contact Randy or Debbie at 650-879-0841.
Location: Field Research Station at Gazos Creek, Gazos Creek Rd, Pescadero
Saturday, April 17
Marine Science Institute Earth Day Celebration
Redwood City
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
A day full of marine activities for the whole family. The day will include three 2-hour educational cruises on the research vessel, the Robert G. Brownlee, to explore life under the San Francisco Bay. On land, there will be live marine animal exhibitions, seine netting for fish, mud grabbing for benthic invertebrates, filtering for plankton, arts and crafts activities and much more. For more information or to make a reservation for the boat rides, visit www.sfbaymsi.org or call 650-364-2760 x16.
Location: Marine Science Institute, 500 Discovery Parkway, Redwood City, 94063
Wednesday, April 21
Solar "Flip the Switch" Celebration
San Carlos
4:30 - 5:30 PM
Come get ready for Earth Day by joining GRID Alternatives and the Murphy family celebrate the official commissioning of the Murphy's new solar photovoltaic (PV) system. This system is the first installation under GRID Alternatives' Solar Affordable Housing Program, which helps bring the benefits of clean, affordable solar power to low-income families in the Bay Area. Refreshments provided. Contact Erica at 510-541-4513 with questions.
Location: 930 McCue Avenue, San Carlos, CA 94070
Wednesday, April 21
Global Climate Change and Implications for Marine Mammal Survival Free lecture offered by American Cetacean Society Whale Conservation Group
Pacifica
7:00 PM
Bay Area researcher Pieter Folkens of the Alaska Whale Foundation will present an examination of whether whales and dolphins may find themselves literally in "hot water" due to global warming. Increase in our planet's temperatures could affect ocean habitats and cause extinctions among some species. It could also open up new feeding grounds for others, due to melting ice caps and rising sea levels.
www.acs-sfbay.org
Location: Pacifica Community Center, Crespi Drive and Highway 1, Pacifica
Thursday, April 22, Earth Day
Earth Day Sunrise Ceremony (Acterra Event)
Menlo Park
6:00 AM - 7:00 AM
Caterpillars do it, salmon do it, seeds do it — we can too! Wake up at sunrise on Earth Day to celebrate human transformation for the future of the Earth. With a little help from our flying, swimming, wriggling companions on the journey, we'll get there yet! Contact Ginny at 650-323-4494 or visit www.acterra.org.
Location: Marsh Road Bayfront Park, Menlo Park
Saturday, April 24
San Pedro Valley County Park Earth Day Event
Pacifica
10:00 AM - 3:00 PM
There will be activities for the entire family at San Pedro Valley Park including hikes for children, bird and wildflower identification walks, nature exhibits at the visitors center and free admission to the park. For more information call 650-355-8289.
Location: San Pedro Valley County Park, 600 Oddstad Blvd, Pacifica
Friday, May 21
2004 Sustainable Gardening Lecture Series
San Mateo
7:00 - 9:00 PM
Sustainable Suburban Gardening
featuring the following speaker:
Alane O'Rielly Weber is the Instructor for their Master Composting Program and has dedicated her lifetime of professional gardening experience to help create a more sustainable suburban environment. She is the owner of Botanical Art, a sustainable gardening service offering organic gardening solutions. For more information call 650-599-1498.
Location: College of San Mateo, Building 20, Room #101
Volunteer Opportunities
Every Friday
Edgewood Preserve Habitat Restoration
Redwood City
8:30 AM
Assist with the removal of invasive non-native plants. Contact John Allen by email for meeting place and instruction. For other volunteer opportunities at Edgewood Preserve, visit www.Friendsofedgewood.org.
Location: varies
Saturday, April 17
Habitat Restoration at Junipero Serra County Park
San Bruno
9:00 AM - 12:30 PM
Assist with the removal of invasive non-native plants. The day will begin with a brief presentation on the park ecology and history. The Growing Planet organization is supporting this project. To sign up visit www.growingplanet.org or call 1-866-GROWTREE.
Location: Junipero Serra County Park, Oak Cove Picnic Area, 1801 Crystal Springs Rd.
Saturday, April 17
San Francisquito Creek Clean-Up (Acterra Event)
Menlo Park
9:30 AM - 12:30 PM
Volunteers will meet on the Palo Alto side of El Palo Alto Park (corner of Alma and Palo Alto Ave), then fan up and down the creek with garbage bags in hand. Wear old shoes and clothes that can get wet and dirty, a hat, and sunscreen! The Watershed Council provides work gloves, garbage bags, snacks, and drinks. This is a great way to have a positive impact on a precious community resource! For more information contact Katie at 650-962-9876 or visit www.acterra.org/watershed/.
Location: El Palo Alto Park (corner of Alma and Palo Alto Ave)
Saturday, April 24
Arastradero Preserve Trail Day (Acterra Event)
Palo Alto
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Volunteers will re-route a steep section of the Redtail Loop Trail and repair eroded areas of the trail. Crew leaders will meet with volunteers at 9am and 1pm at the preserve parking lot, you can join us for the morning, afternoon or both sessions; crew leader's cell phone number will be on the kiosk in the parking lot if you miss the meet times. Lunch provided for volunteers. Volunteer Crew Leaders needed; training April 10. Please email Acterra's volunteer coodinators to be a Crew Leader. For large groups, contact David Tex Houston by email, or call 650-962-9876 ext.347.
Location: Arastradero Preserve, in the Palo Alto foothills
Saturday, April 24
San Bruno Mountain Habitat Restoration
9:00 am - 4:00 pm
Bring your family, friends and neighbors to remove invasive, non-native plants and restore the mountain's endangered native habitat. The work will take place on open space lands that the City of Brisbane has acquired in the Brisbane Acres. Please wear work clothes and sturdy shoes, bring gloves, hat, and sunscreen. The City will provide tools and training, lunch, a wildflower walk, and commemorative T-shirts for all volunteers. All ages and abilities welcome! For more information and to RSVP, call 415-508-2118.
Location: San Bruno Mountain, but no parking at work site so please use free hourly shuttle service from Brisbane City Hall.
Saturday, April 24
Beach Clean-ups
Montara, Half Moon Bay, El Granada
10:00 am - Noon
FAMILIES AND GROUPS OF ALL AGES WELCOME!
Join us in protecting coastal water quality and the special habitats off the San Mateo County coastline by removing harmful and life-threatening litter found on our beaches!
PICK A FAVORITE BEACH TO HELP TURN THE TIDE ON TRASH!
Meet Beach Captains at three beach sites:
- Montara State Beach, Montara
- Francis State Beach, Half Moon Bay
- Surfer's Beach, El Granada
Participants should wear sturdy shoes, layered clothing and sunscreen, and bring their own work gloves. Beach Clean Up supplies will be provided to all volunteers.
Parks in San Mateo County
San Mateo County Parks & Recreation Department
San Mateo County is lucky to have beautiful parks that provide habitat for a wide variety of plants and animals and give the residents of the county a feeling of open space and a place to play. The parks depend on volunteers to maintain the integrity of the habitat and the quality of the trails. There are also on-going naturalist-led hikes, wildflower walks and bird watching activities that you can participate in.
If you are interested in finding out more about visiting or volunteering at a particular San Mateo County park, visit the Parks & Recreation Department website.
Friends of the Parks
Many of the parks also have associated non-profit groups that organize volunteer activities and lead guided hikes. The following is a list of these organizations and links to their respective websites. Each individual website contains a schedule of upcoming activities.
- Friends of San Bruno Mountain, San Bruno
- Friends of Huddart and Wonderlich, Woodside
- Friends of Edgewood, Redwood City
- Volunteer Horse Patrol, Countywide
- Coyote Point Museum, San Mateo
- Coyote Point Marina, San Mateo
- Friends of Fitzgerald Marine Reserve, Moss Beach
- Heart of the Mountain, San Bruno
San Mateo County Parks and Recreation Foundation
San Mateo County Parks are also supported by the San Mateo County Parks and Recreation Foundation, a non-profit organization dedicated to providing additional financial support for the recreational, environmental and educational programs and projects of the San Mateo County Parks and Recreation Department. The Parks Foundation is governed by a volunteer Board of Directors and has a small staff. The foundation seeks grants and contributions from individuals, foundations and businesses. To find out more about the Parks Foundation, to make a donation or to volunteer visit the Parks Foundation website.