Wednesday, April 22 marks 50 years of celebrating Earth Day. Unlike the first 49, this one will be celebrated at home.
The first Earth Day on April 22, 1970, had a goal of raising awareness about mankind’s role in protecting our natural world. On that day, 20 million Americans ventured outdoors and protested in favor of a more eco-conscious society and protecting the planet. Earth Day quickly became recognized as the planet’s largest civic event.
As a result of COVID-19 and the need for social distancing, getting together this year as a community is not an option. However, that doesn’t mean families cannot celebrate Earth Day without wandering too far from home.
The theme for Earth Day 2020 is climate action.
Just a few ways to celebrate at home:
• Plant a tree.
• Create a terrarium.
• Build a fairy garden.
• Go on a field trip to the backyard.
• Craft a nature collage using leaves, flowers, pieces of bark, etc.
• Education yourself about pollution.
• Watch a nature show.
• Pick up trash around you home or neighborhood.
• Begin a recycling program.
• Build a birdhouse.
• Make a pinecone and peanut butter bird feeder.
• Start a compost bin.
• Write down a pledge to change a negative habit to protect the Earth.
Climate action was selected for 2020 because climate change represents the biggest challenge to the future of humanity and the life-support systems that make our world habitable.