Small Hands, Big Impact: Our Earth Day 2026 Cleanup at Humboldt Park

On April 18, MaNaBu Movement joined forces with Surfrider Foundation Chicago and the Chicago Park District at the 41st Annual Chicago Earth Day Cleanup at Humboldt Park. Our mission was simple: bring kids and families together to clean up the historic lagoon — and show children that their small actions carry real weight.

A Cold Start, Warm Hearts

We won’t sugarcoat it — it was cold. Overcast skies, layers on layers, and the kind of wind that comes off a lagoon in mid-April. But we came prepared. Hot chocolate was ready before the first volunteer arrived. And as families started gathering under the pavilion for the opening ceremony, the energy was already building.

The event brought together an incredible coalition of community partners. Alongside Surfrider and Chicago Park District, the 36th Ward, local organizations, and community volunteers all showed up ready to work. The message from the stage was clear: this is our park, our lagoon, our community — and taking care of it starts with us.

Tiny Hands, Real Work

What made this year’s cleanup different was who was doing the cleaning.

MaNaBu Movement’s activation was focused specifically on children ages 5 to 12 and their families. We didn’t want kids to just watch their parents pick up trash. We wanted them to feel it — the weight of a full bucket, the satisfaction of a clean shoreline, the pride of doing something that matters.

And they delivered. Armed with buckets, grabbers, and determination that far exceeded their height, these young volunteers fanned out around the lagoon — past the swan boats, along the water’s edge, through the grass — filling bucket after bucket.

By the Numbers

By the time the last bucket came in, the results spoke for themselves:

• 35 volunteers showed up to clean
• 15 bags / 45 lbs of trash collected from around the historic lagoon
• 20 children participated with their families
• 5 hours of combined volunteer effort

“I Helped the Earth Today”

At the heart of our activation was a simple idea: give children a moment to own what they did.

After the cleanup, kids gathered at the MaNaBu photo wall — a green banner reading “I HELPED THE EARTH TODAY” — to pose with their families, hold up their accomplishments, and sip hot chocolate with hands that had just been elbow-deep in a lagoon cleanup.

That banner wasn't just a photo opportunity. It was a statement. A child standing in front of those words, holding a cup of hot chocolate, wearing a smile that says I did something real today — that image carries more weight than any statistic.

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Our Partners Made It Possible

None of this happens alone. Surfrider Foundation Chicago brought their expertise, equipment, tent, and an incredible team of volunteers who helped organize and run the cleanup operation on the ground. Their commitment to protecting our waterways is the reason events like this exist.

Chicago Park District made Humboldt Park available, provided logistical support, and helped coordinate the broader 41st Annual Earth Day effort that brought hundreds of volunteers across the city.

A special thank you to Surfrider Chicago’s Volunteer Coordinator, Vice Chair, and Musical Outreach Ambassador for their hands-on support throughout the day.

Why This Matters

At MaNaBu, we believe in something that sounds almost too simple: great things grow from small, persistent steps.

A five-year-old picking up a plastic bottle from a lagoon shoreline isn’t going to reverse climate change. We know that. But that five-year-old is learning something no textbook can teach — that their actions matter, that the world around them is worth caring for, and that showing up is the first step to making a difference.

This is what real-world learning looks like. Not worksheets. Not lectures. A cold Saturday morning, a bucket, a lagoon, and the feeling of doing something that counts.

Looking Forward

This was just the beginning. MaNaBu Movement is expanding our Kids & Families Cleanup model to new cities, new partnerships, and new communities worldwide. We’re developing tools — from collectible achievement badges to plantable postcards — that turn every cleanup into an experience children remember and want to repeat.

If your organization, school, or community would like to bring a MaNaBu activation to your next environmental or community event, we’d love to hear from you.

Our Power, Our Planet. That was this year’s theme. And on a cold April morning in Chicago, a group of kids proved that it’s more than a slogan.

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MaNaBu Movement collaborated with Surfrider Foundation Chicago and the Chicago Park District at the 41st Annual Chicago Earth Day Cleanup at Humboldt Park. 

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