Earth Day, which happens every year on April 22, is the perfect time to educate your little ones about the importance of respecting nature and keeping our environment healthy.
There are a ton of ways to make Earth Day come alive in your backyard or online. Here are some ideas you and your kids won’t want to miss:
- 24 Hours of Action: Earth Day Network is encouraging people to take part in video teach-ins, virtual performances and more.
- NASA Celebrates 50 Years of Earth Day: Online events, stories and resources will bring people together virtually to celebrate #EarthDayAtHome.
- American Museum of Natural History EarthFest at Home: Watch parties, activities, trivia and more will be presented virtually throughout the day on Wednesday, April 22. If you can’t tune it at listed times, the museum’s OLogy website has many lessons and activities to explore.
- Five Days of Earth Day: The Michigan Department of Natural Resources education team has developed a series of short videos that highlight many aspects of what it means to enjoy, share and take care of the world around us.
- Kalamazoo Virtual Celebration: The Kalamazoo Nature Center and Kalamazoo Climate Crisis Coalition have teamed up to offer a number of virtual events and activities you and your family can enjoy from home.
- Grass River Natural Area Hosts Virtual Movie Screening: Watch the short film Feel of Vision independently and then join in on a virtual discussion at 7 p.m. on Earth Day with the film’s subject, Lonnie Bedwell, a white-water kayaker who is completely blind.
- Detroit River Coalition Launches eEarth Day Challenge: In place of an in-person cleanup, the coalition is challenging people to choose one single-use plastic item they use frequently and make the switch to recycled or reusable items. This is a great opportunity to work with your kids to identify how you use plastic and if there are changes you could make to reduce your impact.
At-home activities you can do together include:
- Starting a DIY window garden
- Planting a patio salad garden
- Starting a compost pile
- Planning a more eco-friendly yard
- Take a nature walk (there are some great ideas to make the experience educational, here)
How will you be celebrating Earth Day this year? Share with us in the comments.
Here are a few Earth-friendly blogs to explore:
• 8 Reasons Why You Should Plant a Tree for Earth Day
• Wear Your Conscience: 5 Michigan Shops to “Green” Up Your Wardrobe
• Reduce, Reuse, Recycle with Arts and Scraps
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