Celebrating Earth Day and Global Service Day with kids

This is a weekend of celebrations. Thursday, April 22 marks the 40th anniversary of Earth Day, and families can celebrate by making a Native American talking stick or walking through the grounds of the Nassau County Museum of Art. The weekend marks Global Service Day, and the Town of Brookhaven is hosting its first "Youth Stock" and expecting 1,000 people.

Here are some events where you can take the kids. 

Museum art-making

Eco-Friendly Fun: A Family Workshop: 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Saturday at the Nassau County Museum of Art, 1 Museum Dr., Roslyn, 516-484-9337, nassaumuseum.org

Admission: $35 for one adult and one child, each additional person is $10; fee includes materials but not museum admission; advance registration required.

Walk the museum's nature trails to collect materials for art in this rain-or-shine event for youths 6 and older and their families. A museum educator will guide participants in finding ideas, materials and inspiration. Then community art specialist Iandry Randriamandroso will lead a hands-on workshop of art-making that will include collage, rubbings and printmaking. Randriamandroso ran the museum's Family Mural Workshop in February. 

Clothing drive

H&M will celebrate Earth Day with a clothing donation drive called Clothes for Kids. It will run in all H&M stores that carry the kids' collection, accepting donations of "gently worn" kids' clothes starting tomorrow through May 5. H&M has stores in Garden City, Hicksville, Lake Grove, Manhasset, Massapequa, Valley Stream and Westbury. Donations will support the Boys & Girls Clubs in local communities across the United States.

Making a talking stick

Talking With Trees: 1:30 to 3 p.m. Saturday at the Main Street Petite Gallery, 213 Main St., Huntington, 631-271-8423, ext. 14, huntingtonarts.org

Admission: $20 per child includes materials

Children ages 5 to 10 create symbolic American Indian talking sticks and learn about Native American traditions and ceremonies. At a powwow or a meeting, the chief holds the talking stick and nobody speaks until the stick is passed to him or her. "A talking stick is a ritual object in a sense, a symbol of reverence and respect in a group setting," says Eastport environmental artist Tonito Valderrama, who is running the event. The children will decorate the sticks with materials such as feathers, beads and shells. Each material has a specific ceremonial purpose.

For Global Youth Service Day

Brookhaven Youth Stock 2010: Noon to 6 p.m. Saturday at Bald Hill Town of Brookhaven Amphitheater, Farmingville, 632-451-8011, brookhaven.org

Admission: $3 a person in advance, $5 a person Saturday

This is the first time the town is holding an event to coincide with Global Youth Service Day, which was established in 1988. It spans the weekend and is celebrated in more than 100 countries. "I'm told it's the largest day of service in the world," says event coordinator Donna Napoli. The festival will show off young people ages 13 to 21 who are involved in Brookhaven's school and youth agencies. A fair will share volunteer opportunities from more than 50 groups. Entertainment will include 30 teen bands, a teen art show, bike and skateboard demos, and dance and talent shows. Other activities include a Velcro wall, a giant slide and an inflatable bouncer. Food such as hot dogs, snacks and drinks will be for sale. The event was conceived by teens who are part of the Brookhaven Town Youth Bureau Advisory Council.