Earth Day at Wesselman Woods

Saturday, April 19 from 10 AM to 2 PM

Each year, Wesselman Woods celebrates Earth Day with a free community event centered around how individuals can make a difference in their personal lives and in the community at-large.

This multi-organization day celebrates nature and promotes sustainability, environmental, and ecological education.

Earth Day 2025 will take place at the Wesselman Woods Nature Center on Saturday, April 19 with free guided activities at tables from 10 AM to 2 PM

Wesselman Woods trails and the Welborn Baptist Foundation Nature Playscape will be available for free from 9 AM to 5 PM.

Local food trucks will be available outside of the gates of WW from 11 AM to 2 PM.

In 2025, over 25 organizations who are also passionate about the future of our planet will join us to enhance this celebration with their own activities and information.

Questions? Contact us at 812-479-0771 or via email.

Additional Activities Schedule*

• 10 a.m. – Guided Hikes

• 10:30 a.m. – Animal Encounter

• 11 a.m. – Storytime

• 11:30 a.m. – Guided Hikes and Storytime

• Noon – Animal Encounter

• 1 p.m. – Storytime

• 1:30 p.m. – Guided Hikes

• 2 p.m. – Animal Encounter

*activities may change or be cancelled based on weather

FOOD VENDORS

Food trucks will be available outside of the Wesselman Woods gates from 11 AM to 2 PM

• Uncle G’s Lemon Smashers

  • Shakeups, chicken bacon ranch subs, walking tacos, strombolis, chili dogs, hot dogs, chips

• Bluegrass BBQ & Southern Grill

  • Pulled pork, smoked sausage, grilled chicken, grilled burger, hot dogs, veggie burgers, mac and cheese, cole slaw, potato salad

• Taqueria del Valle

  • Tortas, quesadillas, papas, burritos, quesabirrias, tacos

• 3 Chicks Fudgery

  • Fudge, mini donuts, smoothies

• Tootie’s Kettle Crack

  •  Small-batch fresh made kettlecorn, caramel corn and gourmet popcorn

• Kingdom Grounds Coffee

• Espresso, tea, hot chocolate

Thank you to our 2025 sponsors!

Find out more about our sponsors online: Window World • Methodist Temple UMC • Edward Jones  • Torian Insurance • Romain Subaru • Granted • Thomas A & Sharon K Ruder Foundation • Schnucks • Ancient Roots Native Nursery

Earth Day at Wesselman Woods

Saturday, April 20 from 10 AM to 2 PM

Together, we can Change Culture for the Climate!

Each year, Wesselman Woods celebrates Earth Day with a free community event centered around how individuals can make a difference in their personal lives and in the community at-large. This multi-organization day celebrates nature and promotes sustainability, environmental, and ecological education.

Earth Day 2024 will take place at the Wesselman Woods Nature Center on Saturday, April 20 with free guided activities at tables from 10 AM to 2 PM

(Wesselman Woods trails and the Welborn Baptist Foundation Nature Playscape will be available for free from 9 AM to 5 PM.)  

Local food trucks will be available outside of the gates of WW from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Over 25 organizations who are also passionate about the future of our planet will join us this year to enhance this celebration with their own activities and information. With their help, we can begin to “change culture for the climate.”

We are so fortunate to have the largest tract of urban old-growth forest right here in Evansville so experience this ecological and cultural treasure by joining us at Wesselman Woods to celebrate all things EARTH!

Questions? Contact us at 812-479-0771 or via email.

Additional Activities Schedule:

10 a.m. – Guided Hikes

10:30 a.m. – Animal Encounter

11 a.m. – Storytime

11:30 a.m. – Guided Hikes

Noon – Animal Encounter

1 p.m. – Storytime

1:30 p.m. – Guided Hikes

2 p.m. – Animal Encounter

Community Partners

• Ancient Roots Native Nursery

• Vanderburgh County CISMA

• Climate Collaborative

• Indiana Department of Natural Resources

• Evansville Audubon Society

• Evansville Jr. Rockhounds

• EVPL

• Faith, Hope, Action

• Fly Fishing Club

• Indiana Native Plant Society

• International Crane Foundation

• Second Nature

• Seton Harvest

• Solar United Neighbors

• Susan Fowler

• Southwestern Indiana Master Gardeners Association

• Sycamore Land Trust

• Evansville Trails Coalition

• Tristate Creation Care

• University of Evansville

• Urban Seeds 

• Wild Birds Unlimited

• Woods & Stems

• Wessleman Woods Book by Meghan Reffett

• Ziliak Books

FOOD VENDORS

Food trucks will be available outside of the Wesselman Woods gates from 11 AM to 2 PM

• Bodine’s Newsstand

• Brisket Biscuit

• Cinia's Salvadorian Kitchen

• Little Jimmy’s Italian Ices of Southern Indiana

• Nathan’s Famous Food Truck

• Nicholson’s Old Fashioned

• Sabor Colombia

• Zia Smoke BBQ LLC

THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS!

Window World | Methodist Temple UMC | Torian Insurance | Romain Subaru | Schnucks | Ancient Roots Native Nursery

Celebrate Earth Day with Us!

Visit for free between 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. each day and make sure to stop by during special hours for giveaways and free nature-themed fun! Both days will feature educational activities, guided hikes, animal encounters, special community guests, and local food trucks.

If you have any questions about the event, please contact our Director of Environmental Education, Kailene Goldsberry, at 812-479-0771 or via email, kailene@wesselmanwoods.org.

Celebrate Earth Day with Us!

Visit for free between 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. each day and make sure to stop by during special hours for giveaways and free nature-themed fun! Both days will feature educational activities, guided hikes, animal encounters, special community guests, and local food trucks.

If you have any questions about the event, please contact our Director of Environmental Education, Kailene Goldsberry, at 812-479-0771 or via email, kailene@wesselmanwoods.org.

Celebrate Earth Day with US!

Join the Wesselman Woods team at our second property, Howell Wetlands!

Location: 1400 S Tekoppel Ave, Evansville, IN 47712

Each year, Wesselman Woods (WW) celebrates the planet with a community event. In 2022, we are taking the party to Howell Wetlands (HW) on Friday, April 22, and Saturday, April 23, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. each day.

This free event will include educational activities like macro-invertebrate fishing, guided hikes, animal encounters, and special community guests including:

• Cooperative Invasive Species Management Areas (CISMA) - How to manage invasive plants in the local ecosystem

• Evansville Vanderburgh Public Library (Friday-only) - Library card sign-ups & AirBeam2 air quality sensors

• Girl Scouts - Importance of Trees: Air pollution and erosion activities & Planting station

• International Crane Foundation

• Purdue Extension - Nature of Teaching

• Seton Harvest - Lifecycle of a Seed: Everyone will plant seeds to take home (while supplies last)

• Sixth and Zero (Friday-only)

• Southwestern Indiana Master Gardner Association (SWIMGA) - Planting/Pollinator Station

• Urban Seeds

• A bug hunt with local photographer and arthropod enthusiast Kevin Weiner

• Storm Water and the Water Cycle with Amber Elkins, University of Evansville Manager of Environmental, Health and Safety (Friday-only)

• Storytime with Susan Fowler (Friday-only)

Local food trucks will also be in attendance, including:

• Chino Taco (Friday-only)

• Kona Ice (Friday-only)

• Travelin’ Tom’s Coffee (Friday-only)

• Twist Truck Ice Cream (Saturday-only)

• Cinia’s Salvadorian Kitchen (Saturday-only)

HW is the largest urban wetlands in Indiana, one of only five urban wetlands parks in the State. HW features 35 acres of marshland, bald cypress slough, oxbow lake, lowland hardwood forest, and upland meadow. This wide variety of habitats makes HW an excellent location for a variety of wildlife. You’re invited to explore over 2 miles of hiking trails, wooden walkways, and bridges with us during Earth Day.

If you have any questions about the event, please contact our Director of Environmental Education, Kailene Goldsberry, at 812-479-0771 or via email, kailene@wesselmanwoods.org.

Celebrate Earth Day with US!

Join the Wesselman Woods team at our second property, Howell Wetlands!

Location: 1400 S Tekoppel Ave, Evansville, IN 47712

Each year, Wesselman Woods (WW) celebrates the planet with a community event. In 2022, we are taking the party to Howell Wetlands (HW) on Friday, April 22, and Saturday, April 23, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. each day.

This free event will include educational activities like macro-invertebrate fishing, guided hikes, animal encounters, and special community guests including:

• Cooperative Invasive Species Management Areas (CISMA) - How to manage invasive plants in the local ecosystem

• Evansville Vanderburgh Public Library (Friday-only) - Library card sign-ups & AirBeam2 air quality sensors

• Girl Scouts - Importance of Trees: Air pollution and erosion activities & Planting station

• International Crane Foundation

• Purdue Extension - Nature of Teaching

• Seton Harvest - Lifecycle of a Seed: Everyone will plant seeds to take home (while supplies last)

• Sixth and Zero (Friday-only)

• Southwestern Indiana Master Gardner Association (SWIMGA) - Planting/Pollinator Station

• Urban Seeds

• A bug hunt with local photographer and arthropod enthusiast Kevin Weiner

• Storm Water and the Water Cycle with Amber Elkins, University of Evansville Manager of Environmental, Health and Safety (Friday-only)

• Storytime with Susan Fowler (Friday-only)

Local food trucks will also be in attendance, including:

• Chino Taco (Friday-only)

• Kona Ice (Friday-only)

• Travelin’ Tom’s Coffee (Friday-only)

• Twist Truck Ice Cream (Saturday-only)

• Cinia’s Salvadorian Kitchen (Saturday-only)

HW is the largest urban wetlands in Indiana, one of only five urban wetlands parks in the State. HW features 35 acres of marshland, bald cypress slough, oxbow lake, lowland hardwood forest, and upland meadow. This wide variety of habitats makes HW an excellent location for a variety of wildlife. You’re invited to explore over 2 miles of hiking trails, wooden walkways, and bridges with us during Earth Day.

If you have any questions about the event, please contact our Director of Environmental Education, Kailene Goldsberry, at 812-479-0771 or via email, kailene@wesselmanwoods.org.