Earth Day Activities for the Whole Family
Earth Day is Thursday, April 22nd and there are tons of different ways to celebrate it.
Pick up litter - You can find litter just about anywhere. Take a walk around your neighborhood or park and see if you find any litter to pick up. Be careful around high-traffic areas and make sure to wear gloves to avoid picking up germs or harmful substances from the trash. A grabber or reacher tool can help reduce stress on the lower back while picking up trash, and it is also handy for grabbing trash out of brush. Visit the Spokane County Regional Solid Waste System (www.spoaknecountysolidwaste.org) to get a list of community litter cleanup events - or even better? Put together a team and register for Team Up to Clean Up!
Enjoy a nature walk - Another thing you can do outside on Earth Day is to pay close attention to the nature that surrounds you. Try keeping a notebook to write down the various things you notice about your environment, such as the color and type of trees, flowers, grasses and other plants that you see.
Plant a garden - Whether your garden is one pot or a whole yard, growing vegetables, fruits and ornamental plants all benefit the environment. Visit the Spokane Conservation District site (spokanecd.org) or the Spokane Master Gardener page on the WSU website to get details on all the types of native plants that thrive in our environment. You can use these lists to plan a vegetable garden or an ornamental garden full of plants that attract beneficial pollinators.
Have a car-free day - This is a fun challenge for Earth Day and makes us think about all the ways to get around without a car. Cars are so normal for our daily routine that going without them definitely shakes up the routine. If your family members have bicycles, you can ride as a family to your destination or just go around the block for fun. If something is within walking distance, try taking a stroll instead. Talk about how your day was different without a car. Which parts of it were difficult, and which parts of it were fun or enjoyable?
Create a craft from reused materials - Reusing materials is a great way to reduce waste. Try making a 3D painting of a daffodil by cutting up an egg carton. The shape of the egg-shaped crate is perfect for creating the center cup-shaped part of the daffodil. You can use a warm iron, with adult supervision of course, to melt shavings from old and broken crayons between wax paper to create