Although Earth Day is not until Tuesday, craft and nature activities will begin at 10 a.m. Saturday at Elachee.

Staff members will take children and adults on wildflower and birding hikes through the nature preserve and show kids how to recognize native species, care for streams and rivers and make crafts using recycled materials. Kids can even choose their own wildflower seeds and plant them in pots they can take home.

Participants can also experience a close-up encounter with Elachee wildlife such as gopher tortoises, corn snakes and exotic uromastyx lizards.

"The wildflowers are just exploding in the woods and the birds are migrating in and it will be a great day for hikes," said Peter Gordon, education director at Elachee.

Gordon said an animal curator will also take children and parents on a tour of the live animal room at Elachee, where an array of native reptiles resides.

He added that there will be a special scavenger hunt throughout the day, where kids can search for cut-outs of Eddie Earth. If children find all the hidden Eddie Earths, they can redeem them for a treat in the center's gift shop.

The highlight of the day will come at 1 p.m. when the Save Our American Raptors educational group from Canton will hold a one-hour flighted raptor show.

SOAR will bring raptors such as bald eagles, American kestrels and Harlan's hawks to the nature preserve.

Some of the birds will fly from one trained educator to another, allowing folks to have a close look at the birds.