Celebrate sustainability with a day of fun for the whole family this Saturday, April 20 from 11am to 3pm! Explore the gardens and grounds, check out the special activities and guests, and tour the first floors of Virginia’s historic home and the Cottage. Plus, enjoy a lunch with crepes and delicious tacos from Lyle’s Crepes Food Truck while listening to the sweet sounds of music from Southview & Northview Tri-M Music Honor Society.
Don’t forget to drop into the Welcome Center & Curiosity Shop and browse the large selection of once-loved books, magazines, art supplies, and more. There is always something new to discover, thanks to generous donations from the community. Bonus! Find a new addition for your garden with our annual yard sale of gently used garden items.
Go Green Day is a free event. Rain or shine.
Parking Info: Parking at 577 may be limited at times. Overflow parking will be available across the street at the medical center (28442 E River Rd, Perrysburg, OH 43551).
Check out the full schedule of events below.*
*Due to the cooler temperatures predicted for Saturday, some locations have been updated. Stay up-to-date by following us on Facebook and Instagram.
Plant a Terra Cotta Pot
Decorate a terra cotta pot and then plant it with seeds or a 577 greenhouse-grown basil seedling that will be perfect for the windowsill.
Learn about handmade seed paper and make a tag for a birthday or holiday gift.
Activity Time: 11am to 3pm
Location: Outdoor Stage
*Rain Location: Virginia’s House ~ Lounge
Sculpt Clay Air Fresheners
Learn a few simple steps from Emily, 577’s pottery coordinator, on how to cut and decorate a small disc that can be turned into an all-natural air freshener with a ribbon and a few drops of essential oils.
Activity Time: 11am to 3pm
Activity Location: Pottery Studio
*Note: Limit one per person. Pickup will be 10 to 14 days later after it can be fired.
Meet an Animal Ambassador
Visit with Lynn, Nature’s Nursery volunteer, and a surprise animal ambassador.
Learn how to safely support injured wildlife in our area, participate in an activity, ask questions about your wild neighbors, and enjoy spending time up close with our animal visitor.
Activity Time: 11am to 3pm
Location: Virginia’s House ~ Garage Studio
Tour 577’s Historic Homes
Tour the first floor of Virginia’s House to view the classroom spaces, learn more about classes and volunteering, and meet the staff. Enjoy reading in the Library or try a puzzle on the screened porch. The first floor of the Cottage will also be open for viewing.
Activity Time: 11am to 3pm
Location: Virginia’s House & Cottage
Enjoy a Picnic Lunch
Savor the outdoors with a picnic lunch from Lyle’s Crepes, a beloved Toledo food truck. Treat yourself to their scrumptious crepes and delicious tacos while enjoying the beauty of nature.
Activity Time: 11am to 3pm
Location: Virginia’s House ~ Circle Drive
*Menu items may vary and will be available while supplies last. Indoor seating will be available in Virginia’s House ~ Dining Room
All About Bats!
Nancy and John Salerno, 577 community instructors who lead the Kids Explore Nature series, will join us in the shop for the day. Nancy will be signing copies of her new children’s book ~ Little Bat. John will be available to talk about his handcrafted bat houses. Both items are available for purchase in the shop.
Activity Time: 11am to 3pm
Location: Curiosity Shop
Teddy Bear Repair & Care Clinic
Bring your clean, stuffed animal in need of a little tender loving care. Volunteers will work their magic to restore your beloved stuffed pet to its cozy best. No prior registration or fee is required.
Activity Time: 11am to 1pm
Location: Cottage
*Must be simple repairs. Limit one per person.
Visible Mending Lab
Join fiber artists Wren, 577 properties caretaker, and Ellen, 577 community instructor, to learn how to mend and/or embellish your favorite piece of clothes with hand sewing. Explore different techniques, tricks, and tips.
Activity Time: 11am to 1pm
Location: Virginia’s House ~ Library
*Must be simple repairs. No zippers or shoes. Limit one item per person.
Rain Gardens & Rain Barrels
Chat with Zoe, volunteer with the Toledo-Lucas County (TLC) Rain Garden Initiative, about rain gardens, rain barrels, and how to prevent stormwater pollution.
Don’t forget to check out the newly installed rain garden in the 577 Courtyard.
Activity Time: 11am to 1pm
Location: Virginia’s House ~ Garage Studio
Music in the Gardens
Enjoy the view of the gardens and river while listening to music from Southview & Northview Tri-M Music Honor Society. Tri-M is a student-led organization that consists of members from every ensemble at Northview and Southview ~ band, orchestra, and choir.
Activity Time: 1:30pm to 3pm
Location: Virginia’s House ~ Dining Room
Watercolor Trees
Drop into this fun, eco-friendly pop-up studio to create a beautiful watercolor tree on recycled book pages. Staff watercolor instructor Connie will give you the supplies and guidance needed, no experience is necessary and all ages are welcome. This full-circle Go Green Day activity allows us to capture the beauty of trees on pages we’ve collected from old or damaged books destined for the landfill.
Activity Time: 1pm to 3pm
Location: Virginia’s House ~ Lounge
Furoshiki Gift Wrapping Demo
Learn about furoshiki: the art of gift wrapping with fabric, from 577’s Executive Director Heather Gallant. Fabric and textiles come in such a wide range of patterns and textures that they make gorgeous, personalized gift wrap. Since it’s more pliable than paper, the fabric fits a wider range of gift shapes, and it’s reusable for many years to come.
Activity Time: 1pm to 3pm
Location: Cottage
Explore the Curiosity Shop
Drop into the Welcome Center & Curiosity Shop and browse the large selection of once-loved books, magazines, art supplies, garden items, and more. When you find that perfect item to take home, you save it from entering the waste stream!
Bonus! Bring a reusable bag for your purchased items and pick out a book for free, up to $4 in value. Only available 4/20/24.
Activity Time: 10am to 5pm
Earth Month Bingo
Walk around the 577 grounds to complete this fun Earth Month bingo board. Get a head start ~ the picture of the honeybee is a free space.
Bring your finished bingo sheet back to the Welcome Center to receive a special Earth Month prize from 577.
Activity Time: 10am to 5pm
Pickup Location: Curiosity Shop
*Activity available all month long!
Tree Trek Scavenger Hunt
Try this self-guided walking program featuring over 15 tree species leading you around the 577 grounds to learn about and experience these trees in a deeper way.
The curious will be “tree-ted” to interesting facts and inspiring quotes designed to help you explore the beauty and variety of nature’s gentle giants.
Activity Time: 10am to 5pm
Pickup Location: Curiosity Shop
*Activity available beginning April 20 through May 27.
Nature Frames
Take a unique photo using one of our nature frames. All you need is a camera to make magic!
What will you frame? Share your photos with us!
Tag us @577foundation on Facebook or Instagram
Email us at hello@577foundation.org
Activity Time: 10am to 5pm
Pickup Location: Curiosity Shop
Activity available all month long during Welcome Center & Curiosity Shop hours: Monday – Saturday, 10am to 5pm.
Read April’s StoryWalk® Book
Inspired by the many Indigenous-led movements across North America, April’s StoryWalk® Book We Are Water Protectors issues an urgent rallying cry to safeguard the Earth’s water from harm and corruption ~ a bold and lyrical picture book written by Carole Lindstrom and vibrantly illustrated by Michaela Goade.
Activity available all month long during 577’s open hours, daily, 9am to 5pm.
Explore the Gardens & Grounds
Take a break and enjoy nature by wandering the gardens and grounds of 577. Explore the flora and fauna of the Geodesic Biodome, read fun facts about rocks and bees in the Bee Room, and imagine what life would have been like living in an 1800s Log Home.
Did you know? If you follow the Riverwalk Trail, it takes you through an orchard and then down to the banks of the Maumee River!
577 is open daily, 9am to 5pm.
Recycled Bottle Cap Bench
The Recycled Bottle Cap Bench has been installed just in time for Go Green Day & Earth Month! Avery Bohman, 577’s program coordinator, began this special project in the spring of 2023 as a part of her internship. From May to July 2023, thanks to huge support from the community, we collected over 275 lbs. of caps ~ over four times the amount we needed to make one bench!
Have you stumbled across the bench on your way to the river? Go Green Day would be a great day to check it out! Stroll along the River Walk trail behind Virginia’s House, the bench is at the top of the stairs leading down to the river.
