Earth Day Event

Woman and 2 children stand in front of a Green Newton booth on a sunny day

We created an Earth Day event to motivate residents to take action steps to increase energy efficiency in their homes and on the road.

Newton, MA

Highlights

  • Activities for kids and food trucks were a draw to bring families to learn

  • number of participants + connections made with vendors

    it was a good opportunity to promote Green Newton initiatives

  • Around $4,000

    Some of the expenses included:

    $500 for face painting by high school students. $100 for each of 5 students

    $350 for Goats of Dover Petting Zoo

    $100 for forks, spoons, napkins for food vendors

    $100 for music

    $120 for audio equipment

    $100 Facebook ads

    $693 for custodial fees

    $250 for compostables

  • 7 sponsors + charged a fee for each of the exhibitors

  • For more information contact Marcia at marcia@greennewton.org

Steps to implement

In Advance of event:

1. Recruit volunteers + event sponsors

2. Design, print + display around community yard signs/ banners + handouts

3. Enlist group of adults + student volunteer to meet for a few months every other week.

4. Plan activities, food trucks, reach out to potential vendors

5. Create a list of supplies to order + get from storage

6. Work with custodians to coordinate tables/chairs and waste management

7. Ask for raffle and cookie donations

Publicity – ask attendees to bring their water bottles

1. Sandwich boards + yard signs at least 2 weeks before event (ask churches)

2. Hang Banners at 2 major intersections

3. Post on Facebook groups, google groups

4. Local calendars + publications

5. flyers/posters

6. FB, Instagram, e-newsletters, google groups community newsletters

7. Invite politicians + media

8. Slides on TVs in City Hall lobby

Activities

1. Music – high school students

2. Goats of Dover

3. Thrifting clothing booth

4. Facepainting- 5 high school students

5. Cornhole with climate action steps written on bags

6. Large Jenga game with climate action steps on blocks

7. hula hoops + large chalk for drawing on sidewalk

8. Energy efficiency posters for coloring

9. Big tree branch in weighted container – folks write action steps on paper leaves + attach

10. Roulette wheel with graphics of climate action steps

11. Table-top model house with energy efficiency features

12. Large poster of energy efficiency upgrades from MassCEC Graphic

13. Raffle + scavenger hunt card to check off visited vendors

14. EV bus + EV cars (mark off spaces) – order special EV flags

15. Food trucks + Kettel Corn

16. Handout free milkweed packets from Beyond Pesticides & collect signatures for e-news

17. Eco-Treat Trail: trivia cards that facilitate conversations with vendors; cookies as prizes

18. Green Tool Garage: electric/battery powered tool corner

Create a list of needed supplies

1. Inventory where everything is stored

2. Activity related items + office supplies

3. Tables + chairs + canopy tent with weights + bungee cords

4. tablets + hotspot + clipboard with e-news signup sheets + photo, video permission forms

5. Supplies for EV cars- car flags- checkered and Ask an EV car owner

6. Printed banners, posters, yard signs, parking signs, bathroom/water sign

Making it Great!

  • What worked well

  • What worked less well

    It was an extremely windy day that caused damage to tents, despite having weights and our handouts flew all over the area. That made it very challenging.

  • Advice

    Try to get sponsor funding.

    Offer fun activities for kids.

    Enlist a lot of volunteers to plan it and be there the day of including set up + take down.

Additional Resources