Art&Seek Jr. is one mom‘s quest to find activities to end the seemingly endless chorus of the “I’m Bored Blues” while having fun herself.  Impossible you say? Check back on Tuesdays for kid-friendly events that are fun for adults, too.

As my good friend Kermit says, “it’s not easy being green.” In my particular case, it’s not ease that trips me up from being green, it’s memory. It never fails, I’m in the check out line at the grocery store when I remember I’ve left my reusable bags in the car. If I even entertain the idea of using plastic grocery store bags” just this one time,” my 9-year-old will lecture me about the evils of plastic bags. “Those are bad for sea animals!” she says looking up at me incredulously. “Sea turtles eat plastic bags and then they die. You don’t want to kill the sea turtles, do you, mommy?” It’s the trembling lip and the big eyes that send me back out to the car every time.

Although it can be a teensy bit disconcerting to get a dressing down on environmental awareness in front of the checker at Kroger, it makes my heart feel good to know that future generations have taken the task of being green seriously. If Ms. Veazey’s third graders are any indication, Mother Earth is indeed in good hands.

Celebrate Earth Day and future stewardship of the planet with one of these family-friendly events

Come meet some bats at Earth Day Texas.
Photo: USFWS/Ann Froschauer

Give Mother Earth a big ol’ hug at the 2015 Earth Day Texas Festival. The annual outdoor shin-dig has the parental approval trifecta–family-friendly, fun and free! Also, don’t tell the wee ones, but it’s educational, too. That makes it a “can’t miss” event. Kids can learn all about weather, oceans, and environmental trends with NOAA’s giant animated orb, meet some cute, little Mexican free-tailed bats, and find out what it’s like to be an astronaut at NASA’s interactive mobile exhibit. Catch the festivities all weekend long at the land of corny dogs and Big Tex, aka Fair Park.

Speaking of festivals, you and the kiddos won’t want to miss the 10th Annual Prairie Fest, a free, outdoor festival that celebrates the natural world. You’ll find tons of kids activities like prairie wildflower tours, storytellers and science hikes and they all happen among the beautiful backdrop of the Tandy Hills Natural Area in Fort Worth. The wildflowers are in full bloom and this is one of the best places in the DFW area to catch them in all their glory. The fun happens this Saturday from 11 a.m. to sunset.

Spring has sprung at Nash Farm in Grapevine. Photo: Grapevine Convention & Visitors Bureau

If it’s spring that means it’s time for spring cleaning. Take part in the biggest cleanup of them all in Lewisville at the 29th Annual Keep Lewisville Beautiful Spring Clean Up. Teams of volunteers will spread out all over Lewisville and spiff up those areas in need of a little TLC. Keep Lewisville Beautiful will provide all materials needed and even offers lunch, drinks, goody bags, and door prizes. There will also various awards to be given out after the clean up for adult and youth categories, such as “most unusual piece of trash found” and “most trash collected.” The event takes place this Saturday from 8 a.m. to noon at the Lewisville Residential Convenience Center.

Paint some peace flags this Earth Day. Photo: Farm to Market Workshop

Kids with a green thumb should head to Nash Farm in Grapevine this Saturday for Farmhouse on the Grape Vine Prairie – Spring Planting. They can visit the herb and kitchen gardens and see what would have been grown in the 19th century. They can also try their hand at planting seeds, watering the gardens and preparing herbs to take home to grow. The monthly series is designed for 3rd-7th grade students, but all ages are welcome.

Stop by Urban Acres this Saturday for Grow North Texas/Farm to Market Workshop’s Peace Flags to Honor our Earth Workshop. The tinies can paint with sponges, stencils and natural dyes to create strings of flags to decorate the Farmstead at Urban Acres. There will be stories and songs celebrating Mom Earth and kids can take home their own string of flags to hang and send good wishes into the breeze!

Therese Powell is an Art&Seek calendar coordinator and KERA-TV producer. She spends most of her free time seeking out adventures for her 9-year-old daughter, Rose. Tell us about your quirky kid adventures by leaving a comment. Or e-mail Therese at tpowell@kera.org.