Learn to be a better steward of our environment; five days of events leading up to Earth Day

Earth Day is April 22, and there are several events scheduled on San Juan Island in the week leading up to that day.

Earth Day is April 22, and there are several events scheduled on San Juan Island in the week leading up to that day.

(Sunday events were incorrectly listed as Saturday events in The Journal.)

Thursday
— Planning for Pacific Northwest Climate Change, noon to 3:45 p.m., U.W. Friday Harbor Labs Commons. A workshop designed for educators, emergency responders, planners, policy makers, public outreach groups, scientists and the general public. Presentations from the U.W. Climate Impacts Group and Joint Institute for the Study of the Atmosphere and Ocean.

— Friends of the San Juans’ free lecture series, “Toxins in Our Water: Problems and Solutions,” 7 p.m., U.W. Friday Harbor Labs Commons.

The first lecture is “Canary in the Aquarium: How Detergents in Stormwater Harm/Kill Marine Animals in Friday Harbor.” The presenter is Dr. Mike Kaill, biologist and manager of the Spring Street Landing aquarium.

Kaill and future presenters will discuss topics such as how stormwater is carrying toxic levels of detergent into our marine waters; how products we think are benign, from shampoo to weed-and-feed, are not as simple as we think; and how hormones and other chemicals that can shift our metabolism are getting through our water treatment plants.

For more information, call 378-2319 or visit www.sanjuans.org.

Friday through Sunday
— “Sustainable San Juans: Greening Your Home, Business and Food.”

Sustainable San Juans starts with a celebration of the 30th anniversary of the founding of The Whale Museum, the San Juan Preservation Trust and the Friends of the San Juans. The public is invited to a party, Friday, 3-5 p.m., at The Whale Museum on First Street.

A stewardship fair and workshop is scheduled Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., at Friday Harbor Middle School. The fair will feature displays from local stewardship groups and green businesses, as well as presentation of the 2009 Good Steward Awards, a lunch prepared by the Experience Food Project and local chefs, and a series of workshops on how to live green at home, in the kitchen and at work. Registration is $5 before the event or $10 at the door.

Sunday, several field trips will be offered: farm tours, wildflower walks, shoreline wildlife viewing and water-based trips.

Sustainable San Juans is sponsored by the Stewardship Network of the San Juans and the San Juan Island Community Foundation.

To register, call 378-2319 or visit www.stewardshipsjc.org.

Saturday
— Earth Day Creation Fest, 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., at the Gardens at Ackley’s Corner, 76 Gilbert Lane, Friday Harbor.

Ackley’s Corner is a community garden facilitated by local organic food advocates in partnership with the Seventh-day Adventist Church, which owns the land. Barbara Low said the event is a “free event for people who appreciate our earth and its Creator.” The event will feature children’s activities, free food and workshops.

Sunday
— San Juan Farm Flavors: A Narrated Farm Tour, 9 a.m. to noon. To sign up, call Naoni Zervas at 378-4730 (limited to 14). Cost: Free.

— San Juan Food Co-op Open House, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Surina Business Park, 50 Malcom St., No. 701, Friday Harbor. Call Cloud, 378-4065; or Steffi at 317-7566.

— Earth Day Beach Clean-Up, noon to 2 p.m., South Beach parking lot, San Juan Island. Call Jana, 378-2319.

— Land-Based Wildlife Watching on San Juan, noon to 3 p.m. To sign up, call The Whale Museum, 378-4730. Cost: $30 (includes transportation).

— Friday Harbor Wastewater Treatment Plant Tour, 1 p.m. To sign up, call 378-2810 (limited to 20). Cost: Free.

— Flowers and Ancient Gardens on Lopez Island, 2-5 p.m. Meet at Agate Beach County Park on the south end of Lopez Island. Free. Call 468-2808.

— A Sampler of the New Trails at Roche Harbor, 2:30-4 p.m. Meet at the parking lot across from the OPALCO station at the corner of Roche Harbor and West Valley Roads, San Juan Island. Meet Mike Buettell.