Earth Day is this Week

Earth Day 2021 is this Thursday, April 22. After a year which so many people stayed indoors, this is a great time to go out and enjoy Mother Earth! Take this opportunity to explore the outdoors or broaden your understanding of our global environment. Unsure of what to do? Here are some fun activities you can do with the whole family.

Participate in an Earth Day Community Event

The Earth gives so much to us–it’s up to us to make sure that we give back as well. Make a difference in your community by doing a neighborhood cleanup. Some cities, such as Bradenton, have coordinated volunteer shifts and sign-ups for a city-wide clean up and beautification effort on Saturday, April 24. There are options to pick up litter, paint houses, prepare and plant community garden beds, and more. If your town doesn’t have an organized program, consider getting some family members for a couple friends together and help take care of your neighborhood by collecting litter or starting your own little pollinator garden. Or, visit a local farmer’s market to give back to your community and enjoy some fresh produce.

Knowledge is Power

If topics like sustainability, clean energy, low-impact agriculture, and living a greener life interest you, then you won’t want to miss the number of educational webinars and climate summits that are being shared this week. The national charity EarthDay.Org is hosting a three-day online event, where climate activists around the globe will be giving speeches and presentations on our world’s current environmental strengths and weaknesses, and what we can do to help. There will be no shortage of information and riveting conversation, so be sure to check them out. The UF/IFAS extension for Sarasota County is also hosting a webinar on Thursday about sustainability in the home, and the daily choices you can make that will help create a positive impact on our earth.

Get Crafty with It

Activities and crafts are a great way to initiate earth-related conversations with children (these activities are fun for adults too, even if you don’t have kids). You can have fun making your own paper, creating towers or instruments out of recycled materials, or make some simple bird feeders to hang outside. Incorporate a lesson into your activities with fun scientific experiments–use vegetable oil on water to discuss oil spills, learn together about the soil in your backyard, or teach them about scientific observation by starting a nature journal and seeing what they notice about the nature in your own backyard.

Go on an Earth Day Wildlife Walk

Spring has definitely sprung, and we have so much wildlife to observe. Head over to a park or nature preserve, bring a friend or your kids, and see how many different types of wildlife you see. Bring along a pair of binoculars and an ID book if you want to get into the nitty-gritty of the animals you see, or just enjoy spending time communing with nature.

Plant a Tree, or a Whole Garden

Many local organizations do free tree or plant giveaways around this time–check with your favorite groups to see what kind of Earth Day events they have going on. Even if you can’t find a free giveaway, this is a great opportunity to get started on those garden projects you may have been putting off. Buy that tree you’ve had your eye on, start that flower garden, or bring nature’s beauty to your house with a few hanging plants to decorate a porch or bright room. Get the kids in your life involved and teach them about the important role plants play in our daily lives.