Earth Day

There are actually two Earth Days that are celebrated annually, once on the March equinox, and another on April 22. Earth Day is truly a unique day of celebration, where people across the globe come together to observe and commemorate Mother Nature and all that she does for us. This environmental recognition goes beyond national boundaries and politics, and brings everyone together for a great cause. If you've been shy about celebrating this day in the past, now is the perfect time to join in on the fun! Everything these days is about recycling, saving energy, and going green, and this guide will give you everything you need to know to plan a successful Earth Day! If you're more interested on general tips on being environmentally friendly, check out this green guide. 

Top Earth Day Activities

Planting Trees

Planting trees is a great way to "give back" to the environment. It's also a great activity for friends and family to bond together while improving health and quality of life. Here's what you'll need to get started:

  • Plan ahead so that there is enough room for the tree to grow. Keep in mind how much sunlight it needs, as well as how big it gets at it's fullest.
  • Tree seeds  or a young baby tree
  • A shovel 
  • Check out this site for some helpful tips on how to properly plant a tree.

Learning About the Environment

If anything, Earth Day is about learning and being more conscious about the environment. It's the perfect opportunity to educate yourself on all the major environmental issues that are affecting us today, and picking up tips on how to prevent them! 

  • Go to the library and read up on the environment. Everything is "going green" these days, so there shouldn't be a problem finding material.
  • Video documentaries are also a great way to educate yourself.
  • Planet Earth  and An Inconvenient Truth  are two very popular documentaries that deal with nature.
Reduce, Reuse, Recycle

Recycling is something we should be doing on a daily basis, so for those of you who've been feeling a bit guilty for not, Earth Day is the perfect time to redeem yourself. Making small changes in your daily routine to save energy, reduce gas emissions, and produce less garbage is another great way to say thank you as well. 

  • Having a separate recycle bin  at home is a must!
  • Use cloth grocery bags  when you go to the supermarket instead of wasting plastic bags.
  • Take the bus, or even better, walk to where you need to go!

Wearing Green

For those of you who want to express your support for Earth Day in another way, wearing green (or even brown) is the way to go. Don't worry if green isn't in your wardrobe though, any apparel promoting Earth Day, nature, and conservation is fine. Remember, even the little things count!

Picking Up Litter

A great Earth Day activity for the community or even smaller groups of friends and families is picking up litter. Similar to planting trees, it's a great activity for bonding and building community relationships. 

External Links

  • Wikipedia -- History and development of Earth Day.
  • EPA -- Great site with tons of information on how to help with the environment.