Earth Weekend

Celebrate Earth Day by cleaning the beach and collect a reward for your efforts: FREE admission to Heal the Bay’s Santa Monica Pier Aquarium.

The weekend-long festivities feature special presentations and activities for all ages and an offer of free admission to everyone who first cleans the beach. Participate in Heal the Bay’s monthly Nothin’ But Sand cleanup from 10 a.m. to noon Saturday, April 21st at Santa Monica Beach/Ocean Park location or pick up supplies at a beach cleanup station in front of the Aquarium to clean the beach near the Pier between 11:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. April 21st or 22nd. Either way, the reward is FREE admission to the Aquarium.

In addition to learning how to make every day Earth Day and lessen your impact on the ocean environment, there is always the opportunity to touch live animals and check the more than 100 species exhibited – all marine life found in the Santa Monica Bay.

The youngest visitors can shake their tail feathers to a musical performance by Birdie’s Playhouse at 1:00 p.m. on Saturday, April 21st. The award-winning, upbeat music is all about wildlife -- with a Latin twist. Birdie's Playhouse has been featured at the Natural History Museum, Kidspace and the New Children's Museums. Their CD, “The Wild World of Wildlife,” has received a Parent’s Choice award and an NAPPA Gold award.

The Aquarium will host an artistic opening Sunday from 1:00 to 2:00 p.m., featuring artwork and poetry created by students from PS 1 Pluralistic School located in Santa Monica. The school’s third- and fourth-grade students’ work will remain on exhibit in the Aquarium’s Dorothy Green Room through May 20th.

Face painting, an arts and crafts activity station, scavenger hunts, marine-themed films and story times, as well as naturalists’ presentations will be ongoing inside the marine science education center both days. Visitors can also check out marine life off the West end of the Pier at a wildlife observation station, equipped with binoculars and field guides.