Getting Into Earth Day

Here are the major events planned in Orange County for Earth Day:

FULLERTON

Today, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., the Fullerton College Biology Club will sponsor “Many Cultures--One Earth,” an information fair, at the college.

ANAHEIM

The city is holding a “Let’s Make a Difference” Environmental Faire on Sunday from noon to 4 p.m. at Peralta Canyon Park at 115 N. Pinney Drive. More than 30 environmental information booths, a play area with a 6-foot Earth ball, musical entertainment, crafts and refreshments. Pine seedlings will be given away, along with canvas grocery bags that children can decorate. Admission is free. For more information, call (714) 254-5191.

IRVINE

UC Irvine will celebrate Earth Day at the campus’ Gateway Plaza on Saturday with about 30 environmental group booths open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and free nature tours of the 200-acre San Joaquin Marsh at 9 a.m., 11 a.m. and 5 p.m. Also, from 11:30 to 1 p.m. at building SS1, Room 203, two professors and three graduate students will speak on the balance of ecology and science.

ORANGE

It’s not only Earth Day, but Creek Week in Orange, sponsored by the Santiago Creek Greenway Alliance. The kickoff will be a creek cleanup in the area around Hart Park on Saturday, starting with an opening ceremony at 9 a.m. Special nature walks for children also will be held.

GARDEN GROVE

Flower and tree planting, about 40 display booths, a mini-farmer’s market and environmentally oriented games for children will be featured at the Garden Grove Civic Center at Euclid Street and Acacia Parkway on Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. For more information, call (714) 741-5006.

SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO

On Saturday from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., Caspers Wilderness Park will feature ecology exhibits, live bluegrass music, hayrides and presentations by park rangers. Special children’s activities include a petting zoo, snake show, coloring areas and a visit by Smokey the Bear. Admission is free, but parking in the lot is $2. Call the park at (714) 728-0235 for more information.

LAGUNA NIGUEL

An eco-fair will be held Saturday at the new Plaza de la Paz on La Paz Parkway from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Included will be an American Indian dance and singers, an endangered species exhibit, a rain forest puppet show, natural history museum exhibits, craft demonstrations and talks by experts on wildlife and ecological issues. Fossils of an extinct whale were recently found when the shopping center was developed, and some will be exhibited. A schedule of events is available at the shopping center.

NEWPORT BEACH

At Upper Newport Bay on Sunday, state Fish and Game officials will host tree plantings, fishing seminars, animal demonstrations, kelp pressing and fish printing. Nature tours will be held every 30 minutes. The free event is at the Big Canyon parking lot on Back Bay Drive from 10:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. For more information, call (714) 640-6746.

On Monday at 10 a.m., about 400 students from Newport Elementary School plus their parents will be cleaning up the beach from Newport Pier down to 6th Street, about 15 blocks. Students are collecting donations from the community that will go towards a fund to buy computers and other school equipment.

ALISO VIEJO

At the Museum of Natural History and Science of Orange County, workshops to combine art with nature will be held on Sunday for children from 5 to 12. Youngsters will make rubbings, prints and clay impressions from noon until 5. The workshops are free with admission to the museum: $6 for adults, $3 for children 4 through 18 and seniors. Children 3 and under are free. The museum is located at 150 Columbia St. For directions or more information, call (714) 362-9195.

COSTA MESA

Orange Coast College celebrates Earth Day on Monday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. with speeches and displays sponsored by Students for Social Responsibility.

At Nordstrom in South Coast Plaza on Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., shoppers are asked to bring recyclable aluminum cans, glass, plastic bottles, cardboard, paper bags and office paper to the north parking lot at Sunflower Avenue and Bear Street. Money from the recycling will be used to purchase trees for parks in the county.

SAN CLEMENTE

Children at Las Palmas Model Elementary School and their parents will plant 40 trees at Mira Costa Park and help clean up litter at San Clemente State Beach on April 26.

SANTA ANA

About 15 booths will be staffed at Rancho Santiago College by campus clubs and outside groups on Monday from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. “Making Peace with the Earth” will be the theme.