Celebrated worldwide on April 22, Earth Day is a day all about protecting our environment by thinking globally while acting locally.
Locally, the South Clayton Recreation Center in Hampton is hosting a family-friendly Earth Day event on Friday, April 22.
We've rounded up a few other nearby Earth Day events and activities and compiled 20 ideas for how your family can celebrate Earth Day and develop sustainable practices that protect our environment.
Local Community Events |
- Earth Day Celebration in Hampton on Friday, April 22 at the South Clayton Recreation Center
- Create eco-friendly arts and crafts, visit family fun stations, and bring items to reuse or recycle. Free admission.
- Hands on Atlanta Day - take the day to volunteer on an Earth Day project
- Arabia Mountain Trash Grab - clean up this beautiful nature preserve on Saturday April 23, all tools provided
- Heads Creek Reservoir Trash Cleanup, hosted by the Griffin Environmental Council on April 23 at 9:00 a.m. Help protect the water quality of the reservoir and celebrate Earth Day.
Celebrate Earth Day Every Day |
Celebrate Earth Day EVERY day by doing just a few things that are easy for you and your family, but will have a big impact when we all follow these good Earth-friendly practices:
At home:
- Buy dry goods in bulk, since they typically use less packaging.
- Start seeds and map out a family garden, or sign up for a CSA to cut down on the carbon footprint of your grocery bill.
- How to Sprout Seeds in your Home
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- Work on ways to reduce food waste, including meal planning, storing items properly, finding new ways to use leftovers, and preserving food you can’t use fast enough by freezing, canning, or dehydrating.
- Turn off lights when you leave a room and shut off the water when you’re not using it.
- Use white vinegar, baking soda, and lemon as your primary cleaning agents.
- Invest in energy efficient light bulbs and rechargeable batteries.
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- Review which recyclables your local facility accepts, as they may add to their list periodically.
- Ditch commercial air fresheners and diffuse essential oils instead.
- Try an Earth-friendly craft:
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Outside:
- Take a hike and enjoy being in nature. Bring a pair of gloves and a bag so you can pick up any trash you find along the way.
- Start a compost bin to use in your garden and flowerbeds.
- Make or buy a rain barrel and use the water you collect to water your plants.
- Learn about invasive species in your area and what you can do to help.
- Plant bee-friendly flowers. Honeysuckle and Sunflowers are native pollinators.
- Start a PUL (pick up liter) walking club and see who can pick up the most trash on the walk.
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At school:
- Find out what your school currently recycles and if there is anything else you can add.
- Talk with your school about alternative recycling programs that accept snack bar wrappers, juice pouches, and even offer fundraising options.
- Pack reusable lunch supplies including lunch bags, sandwich containers, and a stainless steel water bottle.
- Don't throw away unused milk cartons, yogurt, fruit, and condiment packets. Many teachers keep extras for students who forget snack.
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