Artist Boat is hosting its annual Educators Earth Day on Saturday April 22. This free event is held at Artist Boat’s Coastal Heritage Preserve, 600 acre conservation preserve on Galveston West Bay. Educators will experience Artist Boat’s Eco-Art programs and learn how to integrate the disciplines of art and science in experimental learning. Educators choose 3 of the 4 programs to attend and professional development credit hours will be awarded after the completion of 3 sessions. Programs include; Artist Boat’s Eco-Art Kayak Adventure, Artist Boat’s Walking Adventure, Artist Boat’s Habitat Restoration Adventure and a special workshop on Creative Movement in the Classroom presented by Young Audiences of Houston’s Teaching Artist Becky Valls. Educators may attend the event free of charge once they register and may bring one guests over the age of 11. Space is limited with first come first serve. The event is from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. For more information and to sign up call 409-770-0722. Artist Boat is located 2627 Avenue O, Galveston.

Continuing Artist Boat’s Earth Day celebrations on April 21 and 22 with Birding Adventures led by bird specialist, Karla Klay. Klay has over 15 years of birding experience on the Texas Gulf Coast and has led birders through the swamp and marsh in search of that rare bird. Each day the event is from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and $150 per person, which includes the bus trip to Bolivar Peninsula on April 21 or Galveston Island on April 22. Breakfast, lunch, and binoculars are also provided. Meet at 7:45 a.m. at. Artist Boat, located 2627 Avenue O, Galveston. These tours will take you deeper into the world of birds during the peak week of birding in the Galveston area. Call and reserve your spot early.

Beautify-the-Bucket is another event on April 22 by Artist Boat and is an art competition for the blue trash barrels placed on the beaches to encourage proper disposal. Painted barrels are due back April 18 for the April 22 competition. Sign up and have your art work displayed. This compliments Artist Boat’s art benches project S.I.T. (Seawall Interpretive Trail) that are along Seawall and now up to 70 beautiful hand-painted benches about Galveston’s natural and cultural heritage. Download the registration and information packet at www.artistboat.org/beautify-the-bucket-competition and beautify one of the blue trash cans that are destined for Galveston beaches.

Artists Boat is a non-profit organization providing hands-on experience for people of all ages through Eco-Art Programs that allow them to interact and learn about marine and coastal environments and the preservation through the sciences and arts. Programs take place in kayaks, aboard vessels, by foot, on campuses, in classrooms and in places of natural significance. Access their website at www.artistboat.org. Celebrate Earth Day with Artist Boat and their many programs.

- Domino Taylor