History of Earth Day
In the spring of 1970, Senator Gaylord Nelson created Earth Day as a way to convince the government that radical changes needed to be made to protect our environment. Around 20 million Americans around the country celebrated the first Earth Day. Today, people around the world celebrate Earth Day.
The first demonstration successfully convinced President Nixon and Congress that the American people were concerned about the environment and wanted something done to protect it. The Environment Protection Agency (EPA) was started later that same year.
Between now and April 22nd, Earth Day, there are hundreds of environmental projects you can register to participate in. For more inspiration, consider visiting Earth Day Network or follow them on Facebook and/or Twitter. This environmental website suggests pledges you can take to improve the environment. You can also sign environmental pledges. These ideas will help you stay motivated throughout the year.
Earth Day Celebration Ideas
Let’s make every day Earth Day! I have listed some fun ideas below for you to consider.
- Organize something at your child’s school or in your neighborhood. Use neighborhood email lists and message boards to get your message out. Get a carpooling/ride-share schedule organized. Ask people to sign up and participate in a neighborhood cleanup effort. Do you have a park or a river nearby that needs debris picked up? Plant trees, build birdhouses, or get a neighborhood recycling group together to collect items like batteries, newspapers, electronic (computer monitors), aluminum cans, and glass for the recycling center!
- Donate to environmental causes. If you can’t make a difference with your time, make a positive change with your dimes. Consider donating to charitable organizations that take care of the environment like the World Wildlife Fund, Earthjustice, and Friends of Earth.
- Reward yourself with free Earth Day incentives. Celebrate Earth Day by enjoying the great outdoors. In honor of Earth Day and National Park Week, U.S. National Parks are offering free admission between April 16th and April 24th.
