In the News
Spreading the word about our Unite for Earth Day events and all the great things our participants do...
Earth Day event promotes conservation, education
May 5, 2025
Laker Pioneer Newspaper
More than 100 gather in Orono for Earth Day
"On Monday, April 21, the 10th annual Unite for Earth Day was held at the Orono Nature Center and Learning Pavilion. There were over 130 participants including Girl Scouts, Cub Scouts, Scouts BSA Scouts, adults, and some siblings from the greater Orono, Westonka, and, new this year, Wayzata areas in attendance to unite together for education and conservation.
The EarthDay.org global theme for Earth Day 2025 was “Our Power, Our Planet”.
For Education, presentations on the Solar United Neighbor “SUN” Patch, the Cabot Creamery “Co-Op for Communities” Vinyl Sticker, the Daisy Girl Scouts “Make the World a Better Place” Petal Badge, and discussions on Pollinators including Insect Habitats, Bees, Monarch Butterflies, Native Wildflowers, and more with an Ecological Science Conservationist were offered.
For Conservation, it was cleaning up the nature center. This included cleaning up the outdoor classroom, fire pit learning circle, art installation, trails, platforms, and more. Participants were pulling Buckthorn, cutting out brush, hauling and spreading wood chips, removing downed limbs, picking up trash, and other activities.
The event had support from volunteers and businesses, including Cabot Creamery Co-Op, Solar United Neighbors, Rainbow Trees, Minnesota Board of Soil and Water Resources, Hennepin County Libraries, The City of Orono Public Works, Orono Schools grounds staff, plus all the participants.
Earth Day 2026 will be held on Monday, April 20, 2026."
Read the Laker Pioneer Article a thttps://www.hometownsource.com/laker_pioneer/community/more-than-100-gather-in-orono-for-earth-day/article_4c0d2eb8-0f65-44a1-a2e9-79c1b8ecd97f.html
Community Engagement and Local Action
April 4, 2025
Posted by Govind Tekale on the Karmactive Website
Earth Day 2025: ‘Our Power, Our Planet’ Aims to Triple Global Clean Energy by 2030
More than 100 gather in Orono for Earth Day
"Communities nationwide are preparing diverse activities for Earth Day 2025. At the Orono Nature Center in Minnesota, Scouts BSA, Girl Scouts, and volunteers will gather on April 22 for conservation activities, including invasive buckthorn removal and educational workshops.
“Unite for Earth Day 2025 will be held at the Orono Nature Center & Learning Pavilion, 685 N. Old Crystal Bay Road, Long Lake, MN,” states the official announcement. Participants are encouraged to “dress appropriately for the weather and to work,” with gloves recommended.
Educational initiatives include the Solar United Neighbors SUN Patch program and the Cabot Creamery Co-Ops for Community sticker program, allowing scouts to earn badges while learning about environmental conservation."
Earth Day event promotes conservation, education
May 9, 2024
Laker Pioneer Newspaper
"On April 22, over 70 Girl Scouts, Cub Scouts, Scouts BSA, and adults from the Orono and Westonka areas came together for education and conservation work at the ninth annual Unite for Earth Day held at the Orono Nature Center.
The global theme for Earth Day 2024 was “Planet vs. Plastics.” Stations with activities were offered to earn a free Cabot Creamery’s Sustainability patch. This patch program encourages making small changes toward a more sustainable home and community.
The activities taught participants how to reduce energy and food waste, to reuse food scraps with composting, and to recycle and up-cycle common items to make our community (and planet) healthier.
Daisy Girl Scouts (K-1st Grade), also had an opportunity to complete their Rose “Make the World a Better Place” Petal which focuses on how you can make a difference in the world around you and beyond. For conservation, participants did an annual clean-up at the Orono Nature Center including the popular activity of pulling Buckthorn using wood weed wrenches. Boy Scout troop members earned conservation hours credit.
The event had some super supporters for Unite for Earth Day 2024 and free goodies for participants. Cabot Creamery provided patches, pencils, stickers, temporary tattoos, coupons, and samples of their sharp cheddar cheese. All Seasons Wildbird Store provided refurbished birdfeeders and seed. The Friends of the Wayzata Library provided used children’s books. The City of Orono loaned organizers Wood Weed Wrenches. And the event had an enthusiastic electrical engineer from Excel Energy lead an education station. A super arborist from Rainbow Treecare led the conservation cleanup.
For more information, email uniteforearthday@gmail.com."
Orono Nature Center celebrates Earth Day
May 15, 2023
By Todd Abeln reporter.patriot@apgecm.com, Laker Pioneer Newspaper
"Orono’s Unite for Earth Day 2023 was held on Monday, April 24, with about 80 people participating at the Orono Nature Center and Pavilion.
Unite for Earth Day is an annual education and conservation event to unite Girl Scouts and Boy Scouts (including Scouts BSA, Cub Scouts, Venturers, and Explorers) from the Orono and Westonka area to work together in their communities for Earth Day.
Participants learned about the importance of expressing gratitude in both words and actions. The Kindergarten Daisy Girl Scouts worked on their “Make the World a Better Place” petal badge. The Scouts BSA and Venturers earned conservation hours.
United for Earth Day 2023 was supported by Cabot Creamery - the creamery provided patches, Vermont sharp cheddar cheese samples, stickers, temporary tattoos, chip clips, pencils, and coupons.
All Seasons Wild Bird Store provided lots of refurbished birdfeeders, birdseed, and information.
Earth Breeze donated full packages of their Laundry Detergent Eco Sheets for everyone.
Rainbow Treecare’s arborist volunteered time, expertise, and labor for the event; and the Orono Schools forestry committee chair shared his expertise and taught participants to clean up the pollinator garden and divide plants.
BSA Troop 571 Leaders led the efforts to educate participants while clearing nuckthorn and more; while Brownie Troop 18627 hosted a Wildflower Seed Bomb making station.
Mark your calendars for Unite for Earth Day 2024 which will be held on Monday, April 22, 2024."
EARTH DAY: MAKE THE WORLD A BETTER PLACE
March 2023
Northern Star Council eNavigator
"Unite for Earth Day at Orono Nature Center. Regular participating units are Scouts BSA Troops 571, 569, and 206, Orono Police Explorer post, Packs 285 & 206, and Venturing Crew 3695. In addition to the educational displays and mini-classes, people pick up trash, clear debris and vines from the fire pit area and trails, tighten up benches, remove buckthorn, and more! Participants arrive and leave based on their availability with school, clubs, sports, work, etc. Most people stay for about three hours - but stay as little or as long as you would like. Families and Friends are welcome to participate. Monday, April 24, 2:30 – 8:00 PM.
Registration is open: https://uniteforearthday.wixsite.com/home "
Be Scene: Orono and Long Lake
Earth Day
Summer 2022
Published in the West Metro Scene Magazine
"Events recognizing and encouraging environmental stewardship and conservation were held across the West metro in observance of Earth Day..."
Earth Day clean-up draws crowd in Orono
May 9, 2022
By Todd Abeln reporter.patriot@apgecm.com
For Unite for Earth Day 2022, Orono was back in-person with over 85 people participating in the annual event on Monday, April 25.
Girl and Boy Scout troops and dens, and families came to the Orono Nature Center and Pavilion between 2:30 and 8 p.m.
“We had people picking up trash, blowing and raking leaves, clearing debris from trails, moving mulch, spreading mulch on trails, clearing vines blocking trails, removing buckthorn, and more,” Unite for Earth Day organizer Melissa Stanfa-Brew said. “We appreciate the volunteer time from our arborists, naturalists, and grounds staff that supports this event.”....
Earth Day activities planned for April
April 7, 2022
By Todd Abeln reporter.patriot@agpecm.com
Earth Day is fast approaching and area groups are planning events around the annual holiday.
The annual Unite for Earth Day in Orono is scheduled for Monday, April 25. This event is hosted by the Orono and Westonka Girl Scouts and Boy Scouts at the Orono Nature Center and Learning Pavilion, at 685 Old Crystal Bay Rd N, Long Lake. Participants arrive and leave based on their availability with school, clubs, sports, work, etc. Most people stay for about three hours. All scouts, friends, and families are welcome....
Scouts Unite for Earth Day
May 1, 2021
Published in the Laker-Pioneer Newspaper
"Local Boy and Girl Scouts got together for the annual Unite for Earth Day at the Orono Nature Center on Monday, April 19..."
Your Donated Feeders Make a Difference!
April 29, 2019
All Season Wild Bird Store Post
YOUR DONATED FEEDERS MAKE A DIFFERENCE!
YOUR FEEDERS FOUND NEW HOMES WITH THE SCOUTS OF AMERICA, A NATURE CENTER AND WAYZATA SCHOOLS.
Local Scouts Celebrate Earth Day
May 2017
" On Monday April 21, Orono and Westonka Scouts United for Earth Day 2017. Over 80 Youth and Adults..."