Starting next week, the town will host its annual "Keep Los Gatos Beautiful" month, offering residents a chance to help clean up the town through different events and activities.

The aim of the month-long campaign is not simply to recruit volunteers to spruce up areas of the town, but to educate residents about ways to be environmentally friendly year-round.

"It's an awareness campaign," said Lauren Tacké, Los Gatos recycling coordinator. "It's a great opportunity to help people learn what they can do to make their community a beautiful and safe place."

"Keep Los Gatos Beautiful" started three years ago as an outgrowth of Earth Day activities. Rather than cram a number of events into one day, organizers decided to spread the activities throughout one month.

"We thought it would be nice because there are so many people in the town concerned about keeping Los Gatos beautiful," Tacké said.

Over the years, the program has grown to include more than seven planned events. On the slate this year is a park and trail cleanup, school beautification events at Los Gatos High School and Raymond J. Fisher Middle School and an Arbor Day celebration at Oak Meadow Park. Volunteers are also being recruited to work on homes owned by senior citizens, to help those individuals with yard maintenance and general house upkeep.

Kathy Winkelman, who is organizing Fisher's beautification event, said community involvement is the main reason her group is joining the effort.

"We like to do town events and we like to be part of the town community," she said.

Having students at Fisher volunteer to clean up their school might also encourage the middle schoolers to "think twice before they throw something out," she added.

Activities are not limited to those on the town-sponsored list. Residents who cannot participate in these events are encouraged to look around their own neighborhoods and design projects specific to their areas. Tacké said that a number of neighborhoods planted flowers or cleaned up common areas during last year's campaign.

But if a self-initiated project is out of reach, there are everyday steps to becoming environmentally friendly, Tacké said.

Suggestions include using compact fluorescent lamps, which can use up to 75 percent less energy than regular bulbs, or taking cloth bags to tote home groceries.

For residents who wish to participate in year-round beautification projects, the town also offers a number of opportunities to get involved.

One example is the "adopt a planter" project, hosted by the Los Gatos Beautification Committee. The town recently installed new planter boxes on N. Santa Cruz Avenue and recruited volunteers to plant flowers and maintain the boxes throughout the year. Box owners are responsible for making sure the flowers are healthy and growing.

"When we go to town with our friends, it's fun to say, 'That's our planter,' " said Michelle Nelson, who has adopted a planter with other families in her neighborhood. Nelson said her neighborhood is contemplating a red, white and blue color scheme for the Fourth of July.

Events for "Keep Los Gatos Beautiful" will begin April 4.

Park and Trail Cleanup: Volunteers are needed to clean up Los Gatos parks and trails throughout April. Contact the Los Gatos Department of Parks and Public Works at 408.399.5776.

Farmers Market: Visit exhibits on April 4, 18 and 25 held by the Santa Clara County home composting group, West Valley Clean Water Program and Los Gatos Parks Commission. The market will be held on Montebello Way at the corner of Main Street and N. Santa Cruz Avenue.

School Beautification Events: Help the students at Fisher Middle School or Los Gatos High School clean up and beautify their school on April 24, 9 a.m. to noon. Bring gardening gloves. Contact Kathy Winkelman at 408.640.6628 for more information about the Fisher Middle School event or Tonya McQuade at 408.354.2730, ext. 368, for more information about Los Gatos High School activities.

Earth Day: Earth Day is April 22, but giveaways will be available during the month of April at the Los Gatos Library, 110 E. Main St., and the Los Gatos Senior Center, 208 E. Main St.

Arbor Day: Enjoy an Arbor Day celebration at noon on April 30, with refreshments and a tree-planting ceremony at Oak Meadow Park. The Los Gatos­Monte Sereno Police Pipe and Drum Band will hold a special performance. Contact the parks and public works department for more information at 408.399.5776.