15 Fun Ways to Celebrate Earth Day

Earth Day has come a long way since its beginnings in 1970!

The celebration of Earth Day has spread globally with almost every country in the world now hosting environmentally-focused events, since Earth Day is all about celebrating our beautiful planet and learning ways to be active in taking care of it.

But in light of COVID-19, getting together with your community to celebrate may not be an option, which is why you can do these 15 fun Earth Day kid activities on your own or with your immediate family, without straying too far from home. Here are the best Earth Day activities for adults and kids.

1. Pick up litter

Help clean up the planet this Earth Day by spending time picking up litter around your neighborhood, school or local park. Better yet, encourage your friends to pick their own areas to clean so you can spread the Earth Day goodness around.

2. Plant a tree.

Trees can help with soil erosion and contribute to dealing with carbon emissions, so make your mark—and give the next generation a greener future, too—by planting a few trees this Earth Day. The best part is, you can do this just about anywhere!

3. Make a call-to-action to share on social media.

Get your environmentally-conscious message out there and show your support for Earth Day 2020 by posting an educational video on your social media feed. Give your friends an #EarthDayChallenge to try, like picking up 15 pieces of litter, or simply share a few facts about global warming or rainforest preservation to help spread awareness.

4. Plan your own Earth Day science experiment.

This Earth Day, try out a cool science experiment to show how different disasters can affect our planet. For example, pour oil into a tub of water to see how difficult it is to clean up and why it’s so important that we keep oil spills from ruining our planet’s oceans.

5. Raise awareness about e-waste

E-waste is the disposed trash from our modern electronic devices, such as batteries or computer parts. With more and more digital devices being made every day, shedding light on the issue by posting about it on social media can be a great—and totally modern—way to celebrate Earth Day. Just be sure to share information about how to recycle electronic waste properly, too!

6. Build birdhouse or bird feeder.

Share your home with all of the Earth’s creatures by building a birdhouse or bird feeder out of recycled materials, such as an old cardboard box or milk jug, to help out your local avian population.

7. DIY a dry seed bomb.

Get your hands dirty with this fun and crafty activity that will help you get start on the planting season. To make, combine one part seeds, five parts compost, and 3 parts clay powder or clay soil (this helps it all stick together) in a bowl. Add a few drop of water at a time as you mix the whole thing together. Shape it into balls, then lay them out in the sun to dry. They’ll be ready to plant within a couple of days!

8. Build a terrarium.

Building a terrarium is a neat project to try any time of year, but especially on Earth Day! Not only is it a great way to bring a little bit of nature indoors, it makes for some cool bedroom decor, too.

9. Build a bug hotel.

Every animal on Earth has a special role to play in keeping our environment healthy—even the little critters! A bug hotel attracts beneficial insects that help control pests and gives them a place to nest during colder months, so they’ll stay close to your garden year-round. Make one by filling a small wood box with dried grasses, bark and pinecones.

10. Brainstorm energy-friendly ideas for around the house.

Cut back on energy waste and come up with a list of ideas that will make your home save energy this Earth Day, such as switching to LED bulbs, turning off the AC when you’re not home and other simple, energy-efficient ideas.

11. Go on a nature scavenger hunt.

Learn about local flora and fauna this Earth Day by searching for flowers, plants and trees native to your region around your neighborhood. Look for a regionalist list of native plants online to help guide your search!

12. Start a compost bin in your backyard.

Start a composting bin for your home this Earth Day. This eco-friendly way of disposing of veggie scraps and other bio-degradable waste products not only cuts back on the amount of trash you produce and send to landfills, but it creates a nutrient-rich compost mixture that can give your garden a boost!

13. Petition your local government to start a community garden.

Starting a community garden is a fantastic way to bring people together and help feed under-served communities. If you’re still practicing social distancing and can’t go door-to-door looking for signatures just yet, you can till get the paperwork going by researching how to petition your local government to carve out a plot of land for this specific purpose!

14. Craft a nature collage.

Celebrate Earth Day this year by making an all-natural art collage with things you’ve founding in nature, like leaves, pressed flowers, pieces of bark and other small items. Collect items while you’re out for a hike or exploring your local nature trail.

15. Check out Earth Day’s official website for events happening near you.

Earth Day is celebrated across the world and many cities and schools put on official events in celebration. Visit Earth Day network to find an event near you!

Courtesy of Parade