Earlier this year, Montshire Museum of Science staff were discussing ideas for a spring event.

“We were spitballing ideas for events that we could do leading into our summer exhibition,” said Honor Hingston-Cox, media and public relations manager at the Montshire. “We tossed around Pi Day. No one was really inspired.”

Then, they turned to Earth Day, which seemed like the perfect fit for “Under the Arctic: Digging Into Permafrost,” which is set to open at the Norwich-based museum in May. The inaugural Earth Day Festival will take place from 10:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., on April 22, at 1 Montshire Rd., in Norwich. All activities are included in admission costs: $18 for adults, $15 for children two to 17 and free for children under two. For more information, visit montshire.org/calendar/event-detail/earth-day.

There are three parts to the event: composting, mindfulness and repairing. At the “Compost Petting Zoo,” attendees can look at different ways to compost, from kitchen counter methods to backyard piles. There will be also be mindfulness walks through the museum’s grounds that focus on connecting to nature.

“What we found is in our approach to the young kids, we really needed to emphasize that nature connection because you don’t care for what you don’t love,” Hingston-Cox said. “We need to make those connections early so that kids see the value in the outdoors and learn to love it and therefore will take steps to protect it.”

People can learn how to fix their clothes from members of the Upper Valley Sew-Op and repair broken lamps Hingston-Cox has collected from Listen Community Services. (People can either donate the lamps back to Listen, or make a monetary donation and take them home.) Artist Kris Cairelli will instruct participants in how to create collages using recycled materials.

“When we were looking at hands-on things that you can do to make a difference and repairing your stuff kept bubbling up to the top,” Hingston-Cox said, adding that making repairs prolongs the item’s life, keeps them useful, delays replacement costs and keeps objects out of the landfill, which in turn helps the Earth. “It’s not an obvious link, but we hope to make that connection for folks.”

Montshire staff chose to focus on hands-on activities that give people a sense of agency when it comes to taking care of the planet.

“We want this to be empowering and different and positive,” Hingston-Cox said. “I think we’re going to hit those marks.”

Here’s a look at other Earth Day events taking place in the Upper Valley. Events take place on April 22, unless otherwise noted.

Earth Day Celebration in South Royalton: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Building a Local Economy (BALE), 35 S. Windsor St., and South Royalton Green, Chelsea Street. Includes live fiddle music, no dig garden presentation, free garden seed distribution, child-friendly yoga, electronic waste collection, veggie block printing and e-bike demonstration. balevt@gmail.com or 802-498-8438.

Earth Day at the Library in Thetford: 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., Latham Memorial Library, 16 Library Rd. Play “Ecosystem Bingo: A Scavenger Hunt,” designed by Cat Buxton or take a short walk to Zebedee Wetland. Includes seed giveaway. All ages welcome. thetfordlibrary.org.

Earth Day Celebration in Quechee: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., VINS Nature Center, 149 Natures Way. Learn about the ways different materials decompose, how invasive species can impact ecosystems and Green Up Day activities in Vermont. Includes live bird demonstrations and guided tours. $16-$19, children under three are free. vinsweb.org/event/earth-day-celebration-4-23.

Upper Valley Young Professionals Guided Spring Hike in Hanover: 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., Greensboro Ridge Natural Preserve, Velvet Rocks Drive. Join the Upper Valley Young Professionals for an Earth Day hike with the Hanover Conservancy. This event is open to any young person (20-40, but near peers are welcome) who lives or works in the UV. Free. Register at eventbrite.com/e/576566615267.

Singalong Concert with Annie Patterson & Peter Blood in Hanover: 5 to 7 p.m., Hanover Friends Meetinghouse, 43 Lebanon St. Folk music activists perform concert in honor of Earth Day. A light meal of pizza, salad and beverages will be served at the meetinghouse at 4 p.m. Tickets: riseupandsing.org/events. Free; donations accepted for No Coal/No Gas.

Wilderness Survival Shelter Building Workshop in Claremont: April 23, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., Claremont Savings Bank Community Center, 152 South St. Learn how to build simple, expedient shelters before moving on to more advanced structures using tarps and natural materials during this family friendly workshop taught by James Esdon in honor of Earth Day. Participants will need to bring a daypack with snacks, water, work gloves and windbreaker/rain gear. Free. Registration required: claremontnh.com/programs-and-registrations-page.

Editor’s note: Please submit Earth Day events via our online Calendar system, CitySpark, which can be found at calendar.vnews.com.

Liz Sauchelli can be reached at esauchelli@vnews.com or 603-727-3221.

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