Happy Earth Week, Adventurers!

Did you know that the concept of Earth Day was invented by Wisconsin Senator Gaylord Nelson? Today, the legacy is still alive and well in Wisconsin and the greater Milwaukee area, including the North Shore.

Here are family-friendly events and activities to celebrate the occasion.

Arbor Day Celebrations

Arbor Day is observed on the last Friday of April, which in 2025 falls on Friday, April 25th. North Shore communities have ways for residents to participate in this celebration of trees.  

The Village of Fox Point will host its 55th annual Arbor Day celebration on Friday at 2 pm at Mapledale School. The program includes the Wisconsin DNR’s Regional Forestry Coordinator presenting the Tree City Flag to the community in recognition of Fox Point’s commitment to urban forestry.

In Bayside, residents have the opportunity to participate in the Bayside Adopt-a-Tree program. This initiative allows residents to purchase selected tree species for planting in the public right-of-way or on their private property.

Shorewood will host its 2025 Arbor Day Celebration on Friday at 10 am at River Park. The Department of Public Works (DPW) Forestry division will be planting new trees, an effort supported in part by a grant from the Shorewood Men's Club. The community is invited to attend this event, which also marks Shorewood's 29th consecutive year as a Tree City USA.  

Milwaukee River Clean-Ups

This Saturday, join fellow North Shore families at one of these convenient cleanup sites from the many Milwaukee clean-up locations:

• Kletzsch Park (Glendale): Volunteers will gather at the Kletzsch Park Pavilion on the east side of the Parkway (6560 N Milwaukee River Pkwy).

• Klode Park (Whitefish Bay): Meet in the Klode Park parking lot, near the intersection of Shore Drive and Belle Avenue.

• Hubbard Park (Shorewood): Volunteers meet at the flag pole near the circle turnaround through the tunnel (3565 N Morris Blvd).

• Lincoln Park (Milwaukee/Glendale):

  • Blatz Pavilion

  • Picnic Area #2

  • Sea of the Ear Sculpture

  • Picnic Area #5

A huge shout out to Milwaukee Riverkeeper for their 30th annual river clean-up this weekend!

Watch FernGully with the director

Oscar-nominated director Bill Kroyer will visit Cedarburg on May 3 for a special screening of the beloved animated film FernGully: The Last Rainforest. Kroyer will share exclusive behind-the-scenes insights, discuss the film's groundbreaking animation techniques, and explore its enduring conservation message.

Appreciate Atwater Park

Keeping this beautiful Shorewood natural landscape intact has been a long-term effort. Over the years, storms and erosion have threatened the bluff’s stability, leading to ongoing restoration efforts to protect the shoreline and maintain safe public access.

In 1997, heavy rains caused significant erosion and damaged the pathways leading from the upper park to the beach. The village responded by securing FEMA funding for initial restoration efforts, focusing on retaining structures to stabilize the slope.

In July 2010, intense storms led to catastrophic bluff failures, causing further erosion and destruction of the beach access. In 2012, a large-scale restoration project was launched, combining structural stabilization with native vegetation planting to protect against future erosion. Since then, ongoing funding has helped manage invasive species, strengthen vegetation, and maintain the health of the bluff. Read about the latest updated projects.

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