(Buford, Ga., April 25, 2017) – More than one billion people worldwide now participate in Earth Day activities each April.  The Gwinnett Environmental and Heritage Center (GEHC) plans to join in the global celebration and promote more sustainable and environmentally conscious decisions in our daily lives at its first annual GreenFest.

The GreenFest event takes place at the GEHC on Sunday, April 30, 2017, from 1 p.m. until 6 p.m.  The program fee for the event is $8 per person. Children two-years-old and younger and GEHC members are free.

The event includes lots of crafts, games and activities that encourage people to get in touch with nature.  Guests can roll up their sleeves and assist with the planting of the Chesser-Williams Heritage Garden, learn about the practice of composting and discover how to establish a home vermiculture bin.

Throughout the event, special tours and hikes are set for specific times.  Visitors can enjoy an extended, guided trek into the GEHC Forest at 3 p.m. The trek includes a local tree identification investigation, birding, a look at the animals that call the forest home and much more. (Come prepared to walk one to two miles and wear appropriate footwear.)

Ever wonder what happens to the water when you flush your toilet, run your dishwasher or wash your clothes?  Wonder no more!  Enjoy a guided tour of the F. Wayne Hill Water Resources Plant on the GEHC’s tram.  Discover the amazing process Gwinnett County utilizes to treat your wastewater. Tours take place at 2 p.m. and 4 p.m.

Children assist with natural pest control by participating in a Ladybug Lookout class at 3 p.m. and 5 p.m.  They learn the ladybug’s lifecycle and discover the many benefits of having ladybugs in the backyard. Stories and songs under the trees takes place at 1:30 p.m. and 5:30 p.m. as families enjoy spending time together in nature. 

The event includes local agencies and vendors offering tips on home gardening, natural alternatives for home products and more.  Groups scheduled to participate include the Gwinnett County Cooperative Extension, Dances With Bees, Kauai Coffee, Anita’s Balms, Gwinnett County Bee Keepers and Piedmont Beekeepers.

The event also offers guests the last opportunity to experience the Abracadabra: Everyday Magic exhibit as it closes on April 30.  The exhibit highlights the science and math behind common magic tricks and games and was created by the Children’s Museum of Cleveland in Cleveland, Ohio.

To pre-register for GreenFest, visit www.gwinnettEHC.org.  Program fees can also be paid at the door on the day of the event.