By Lynette Cox
RESTORE: Healthy Planet, Healthy Us at Bernheim
Renew your spirit and celebrate the planet on April 18, 2026
Clermont, Ky., April 9, 2026 – Bernheim Forest and Arboretum is excited to announce the return of RESTORE: Healthy Planet, Healthy Us, an Earth Day celebration. This free community event will be held from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday, April 18, 2026.
This special Earth Day event celebrates the beauty of our planet and offers free activities that inspire hope, joy, and community health. During Restore, visitors can embrace the spring season through self-care, educational experiences, and sustainable practices.
Restore will be held at the Visitor Center at Bernheim. More than 20 community partners will host a variety of activities for guests of all ages, including:
Free Electronics Recycling – Bluegrass Recycle is providing free recycling of electronics from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Items accepted include stereos, VCRs, DVD players, old video games, computers, wires, cables, chargers, battery backup units, power supplies, LCD monitors, keyboards, printers, phones, and tablets. They’ll destroy any data bearing materials such as hard drives and flash drives at their facility in Jeffersonville, Ind. Please note items not accepted are alkaline batteries, CRT or tube type TVs or monitors or biohazards of any kind.
Tree Giveaway and Plant Sale – Bernheim’s horticulture team will be giving away native tree saplings, including pawpaw, eastern redbud, and yellow-poplar. Plus, don’t miss the Herb and Vegetable Plant Sale. A wide variety of plants will be available to get your garden started and get planting tips from the horticulture team.
Activities for Families – STEAM Chemist, Jerald Smith, will delight the crowd with science experiments. Children of all ages will enjoy hands-on nature discovery stations, tree climbing with Grand Canopy Tree Service, as well as arts and crafts. Learn how beavers are helping restore wetlands and where to find evidence of beavers at Bernheim. Attendees can also take part in planting willows at the Springhouse Restoration Site, and kids can enjoy building their own “beaver lodge,” using natural materials in Playcosystem.
Self-Care Activities for All – Take part in activities designed to promote a healthy mind, body, and spirit, including drop-in yoga sessions, cooking demonstrations from Isaac’s Café, and take a spin on an e-bike from Pedego Electric Bikes.
Special Presentations – Winners of the 2026 Isaac Wolfe Bernheim Climate Hero Awards will be announced during a special presentation. Discover how the honorees are taking action for a healthier planet and inspiring others.
Community Partners – Engage with community partners to learn ways to support healthy living and a healthy planet. Representatives from Kentucky Resources Council, Greater Louisville Sierra Club, Food Literacy Project, the University of Louisville Sustainability Council and others will be available to answer questions. Find a list of community partners and activities at Bernheim.org/restore.
Bernheim is grateful for the support of our sponsors, including Swope Family of Dealerships, Owsley Brown II Family Foundation, REP Rents, Bluegrass Recycle, and the Beaver Institute.
