Earth Day/Israel at 70 Celebration

More than 70 Organizations Participating

The highlight of the JCC’s 7th annual Earth Day Community Celebration sponsored by Citizens Energy Group and Indianapolis Power & Light Company is a celebration of Israel at 70 and the ultimate demonstration of eco-friendly living. More than 70 organizations will be participating, each with a hands-on, earth-friendly activity (see the organization/activity list below). Alex Cicelsky, from the Kibbutz Lotan and Center for Creative Ecology in Israel, will be leading construction of geodesic domes. Founded in 1983, the Kibbutz Lotan is located in the Negev desert in southern Israel and is an eco-Jewish community focusing on organic food production, ecological building methods and permaculture design.

The event attracts between 2,000-3,500 visitors to the JCC’s 40-acre campus and is on Sunday, April 22 from noon to 4 pm. Tikkun olam is a Jewish value/tradition which translated means “repairing the world.” It implies that each person has a hand in working toward the betterment of his/her own existence as well as the lives of future generations. Participants of all backgrounds and faiths are welcome to this year’s event which includes participation by almost all organizations in the Jewish community. The event is free. Donations are appreciated.

Among this year’s highlights:

·         Help build a geodesic dome with our special guest from Kibbutz Lotan in Israel. To guarantee participation, register for a geodesic dome building team. It’s free. There will be a viewing area for those not participating in the build.

·         Family Learning Event. Prior to Earth Day is an “Israel at 70” Family Learning Event from 10 am-noon by and for those in the Jewish community. Activities include creating portraits of famous Israelis using everyday objects, make a map of Israel out of cardboard and other recycled materials, and use upcycled fabric to put together an Israeli flag. Finished projects will be on display during the JCC’s Earth Day Community Celebration.

·         Live Music on the WTTS Stage. Enjoy live music from the Holy Band (from the Holy Land). Also on the stage: Israeli Zumba. And there will be kosher Israeli street food for sale by the JCC’s J Café.

·         Tour two completely new tiny houses on site! Patrons may avoid the expected lines by registering for a preview tour of the tiny houses before Earth Day starts! There will be a $5 fee for preview tours of the rentable tiny house. Tours once Earth Day starts at noon are free.

·         Enter a raffle for a chance to win a top of the line drone from Robert’s Camera! It is operated by hand movements and has collision avoidance. Tickets for the raffle are $5 for a ticket (or $10 for 3 tickets). (Licensed by Indiana Charity Gaming.)

Fast Facts

Sunday, April 22 from noon-4 pm. Crowd-less preview tours of the two tiny houses begin at 9:30 am by registration only ($5 fee)
Family Learning Event is from 10 am-noon
Official title: JCC Earth Day Community Celebration
Co-sponsored by Citizens Energy Group and Indianapolis Power & Light Company
FREE admission, but donations accepted
More than 100 volunteers help put on the event
7th year for the event
About 3,500 visitors expected
70+ activities/organizations, all green-related
Almost a dozen food trucks and vendors; Kosher Israeli street food provided by the J Café
Live music on the WTTS Stage
40-acre Simon Jewish Community Campus
Webpage: www.JCCindy.org/community/ earth-day
Organizations and Their Activities 

Alexander Muss High School in Israel…………………… ………….. Israel Map Game

Alpha Chi Sigma Professional Chemistry Fraternity……………… Photosynthesis, the original solar cells

Anchor Health Chiropractic……………… ………………………… ….. Free health assessments using NASA technology

Bill Bailey…………………… ………………………… ……………………. Making music with everyday things

Big Brothers Big Sisters………………….. ………………………… …… Make wildflower seed balls – save the bees

Big Green (formerly Community Kitchens)………………… ……… Make veggie seed balls

Boy Scouts Crossroads of America Council………………….. …….. Make fire by friction and Run on a rope bridge

Chabad of Indiana………………….. ………………………… …………. Israel map art using seeds

Camp JCC/B wing…………………….. ………………………… ……….. Bring an old T-shirt or socks to repurpose with tie dye

Citizens Climate Lobby……………………. ………………………… ….. Write your congressman about climate change

*Citizens Energy…………………… ………………………… …………….. Virtual reality tour of Indy’s Big Dig

Commuter Connect………………….. ………………………… ……….. Play the Rush Hour Traffic game

Congregation Beth Shalom…………………… ……………………….. Write notes on seed paper, plant in a recycled container

Congregation Beth Shalom/Kevin Mercer…………………… …….. Live bee hive

Congregation Beth-El Zedeck…………………… …………………….. Make and play instruments fashioned from scrap wood

Congregation Etz Chaim……………………. ………………………… … Sephardic Cultural Experience-Bedouin Tent

Congregation Shaarey Tefilla………………….. ………………………. See how the Second Temple in Jerusalem was built

Cummins………………….. ………………………… …………………….. Pedal power and win a prize

Doterra Essential Oils…………………….. ………………………… …… Make natural hand sanitizer

eScrap Inc.**…………………… ………………………… ………………. Resale, reuse, rethink, and recycle electronic devices

Experience the Tiny Perspective………………. …………………….. Walk through a tiny house

Girl Scouts of Central Indiana STEM program………………….. …. It’s your planet – Love it!

Girl Scout Troop 2141 (meets at JCC)…………………….. …………. Make great things from recycled old t-shirts

Global Gifts……………………. ………………………… ………………… TBA

Green Alternatives, Inc……………………… ………………………… .. Solar powered popcorn

Habitat for Humanity of G.I……………………… …………………….. Repurpose and recycle materials

Hasten Hebrew Academy Indianapolis – HHAI…………………….. How plants purify water

Holliday park Nature Center…………………… ……………………… Identify trees and Make a necklace from a tree cookie!

Hoosier Environmental Council (HEC)……………………. …………. A quiz to test your knowledge of environmental issues

IHC’s Adamah Team…………………….. ………………………… ……. Plant a seed and watch it grow!

Indiana Dept. of Environmental Management……………….. ….. Learn about the garbage pie chart

Indiana Department of Natural Resources………………… ………. Naturalist at Fort Harrison State Park

Indiana Forest Alliance…………………. ………………………… ……. Nature trivia spinning wheel

Indiana Jewish Discovery Center…………………… ………………… Build the Western Wall (Kotel)

Indiana Parks Alliance…………………. ………………………… ……… Make a custom wearable button with a nature theme

Indianapolis BBYO Youth Organization……………… ………………. Decorate and fly Israeli kites

*Indianapolis Power & Light Company………………….. …………. Seed paper for note writing activity

Ivy Tech Community College………………….. ………………………. Be a Jedi in the woods

………………………… ………………………… ………………………… … Detrivores – view the microscopic life in a dead tree

………………………… ………………………… ………………………… … Write a short story or poem about the forest

………………………… ………………………… ………………………… … Create a colorful leaf collage

………………………… ………………………… ………………………… … A walk in the woods: What you’ve been missing

JCC Community Yoga School…………………… ……………………… Yoga (Adults 11 am-noon; kids noon-2 pm)

JCC Farmers Market…………………… ………………………… ……… A dozen local providers

Jefferson Electric Solar……………………. ………………………… ….. Solar powered popcorn

Jewish Community Relations Council………………….. ……………. Create art using solar paper

Jewish National Fund (JNF)……………………. ………………………. Take a tree to plant and spin the prize wheel

Keep Indianapolis Beautiful………………… ………………………… . Play native Plant Tic Tac Toe

Keren L Israel Investment Club…………………….. …………………. Sage advice from Great Sages

Kibbutz Lotan……………………. ………………………… ……………… Build a geodesic dome

Land Goods LLC……………………… ………………………… …………. Make bird nesting balls with alpaca fleece

LeafFilter……………….. ………………………… ……………………….. Demonstration of filter system for gutters

Marian University EcoLab…………………… ………………………… . Hands-on tree, leaf and seed activities

Old National Bank…………………….. ………………………… ………. Answer a question from Mother Earth and win some green ($2 bill)!

Purdue Extension Marion City…………………….. ………………….. Make a tree using recycled materials

………………………… ………………………… ………………………… … spinning wheel game to identify trees

………………………… ………………………… ………………………… … Play a game to learn why pollinators need your help

………………………… ………………………… ………………………… … make a mini-greenhouse

………………………… ………………………… ………………………… … make a compost pile for your home

………………………… ………………………… ………………………… … Make an insect from twigs, leaves and beads

Purdue Solar Racing Team…………………….. ………………………. Award-winning-solar-powered race vehicle

Sierra Club Hoosier Chapter………………….. ……………………….. Plant trees around a house to maximize benefits

………………………… ………………………… ………………………… … How an infrared thermometer measures temperature

………………………… ………………………… ………………………… … Tree placement and its effect on your interior climate

State Farm Insurance………………… ………………………… ………. Make a terrarium

Sycamore School…………………… ………………………… ………….. Make and decorate nature treasure boxes

………………………… ………………………… ………………………… … Write notes on seed paper and plant in a recycled container

Try It Tiny…………………….. ………………………… ………………….. Tour a tiny house and learn about minimalist lifestyle

Union of Concerned Scientists……………….. ………………………. Stump a Scientist! Write to your congressperson

White Pine Wilderness Academy………………….. ………………… Jedi training (balance and concentration activity)

………………………… ………………………… ………………………… … Walk in the woods and identify edible plants (herbs)

………………………… ………………………… ………………………… … Learn to carve cedar wood

………………………… ………………………… ………………………… … Learn to start a fire with flint

………………………… ………………………… ………………………… … Foam arrow war

Wings for West Africa and RecycleForce**……………. ………….. Recycling of electronic appliances (noon-3 pm only)

WTTS FM………………………. ………………………… ………………… Play TTS trivia game

Wild Spirit Salon/Monat Global…………………… ………………….. TBA

* Co-Sponsors of the Event

Food Trucks

Food trucks and vendors will be available on-site including kosher Israeli street food for sale by the JCC’s J Café. Other food offerings include BRICS ice cream, Market District’s Foodie Fleet, Great American Donut Co., Nacho Mama’s, Nicey Treat, NY Slice Pizza, Pierogi Love Indy, Three Spuds Cookin’ and The Twisted Sicilian.

Raffle

To raise money to support JCC programs and events like this one, the JCC will have a raffle for a top-of-the-line Spark drone provided by Roberts Camera. Tickets are $5 each or three tickets for $10. The drawing will be at end of the event on Sunday, Apr 22. Tickets are available in advance to win a top of the line drone. (Licensed by Indiana Charity Gaming.)

Sponsors

Co-premiere sponsors for the event are Citizens Energy Group and Indianapolis Power & Light Company. Presenting sponsors are Bruce and Marcia Sklare. Contributing sponsors are Lori Efroymson Aguilera and Sergio Aguilera. Supporting sponsors are Renny and Greg Silver and associate sponsor is the Payne Mencias Group at Merrill Lynch. Additional support is provided by Keren L. Israel Investment Club, Indianapolis Hebrew Congregation and State Farm Insurance and WTTS. Special thanks to Ilan Shamir of YourTrueNature.com and Roberts Camera.