“A true conservationist is a man who knows that the world is not given by his fathers, but borrowed from his children.” ~ John James Audubon

Earth Day is coming and this year is the perfect time to increase mindfulness and create a fun and sustainable event around Earth Day. Earth Day is an opportunity for your children to learn more about the Earth, learn more about their impact and learn how to enact sustainable practices year round.

1. Buy plants and flowers and beautify a forgotten part of your neighborhood.

2. Do a neighborhood trash cleanup.

3. Throw an Earth Day reduce, reuse and recycle gathering where people in the neighborhood can all bring clothing and items that others can up-cycle in their homes (you can have paint and simple craft tools to aid with the repurposing).

4. Join a conservation group.

5. Take a tour of a nature conservatory.

6. Have your kids make treasure out of trash. Take photos and share online to bring awareness.

7. Take a virtual tour or an actual tour of a trash dump or treatment plant. Know where your waste is going to reduce your environmental footprint.

8. Learn about how the Earth was formed. Plot out the years in your house for how long humans have been inhabiting Earth in relation to its existence. Awe-inspring indeed!

9. Have your kids research an environmental issue that directly impacts them. In California, the drought is a huge one!

10. Have your kids create a PSA (public service announcement) on how kids like them can help conserve and advocate for their environmental issue of choice. If you do make a great PSA, send it to elephant journal!

11. Host a movie night and screen an Earth friendly documentary: The Planet Earth, An Inconvenient Truth or any other environmental movie that has impacted the way you see the globe.

12. Plant a garden. This can be done in an apartment.

13. Visit a local farmers market and have you kids interview the vendors about their food choice. Again try to film it and make a video to pass around!

14. Go to the beach, fly a kite to learn more about wind, ride the waves to learn about currents and clean up once you are there.

15. Go on a wonderful family hike. Take notes, photos and accounts of the local flora and fauna.

16. Visit a national park—many have wonderful accommodations for the disabled.

17. Make your kids energy vampire hunters. Unplug electronics that are simply plugged in and off and explain the importance of energy conservation.

18. Trash challenge: for a week see who in the family can create the least amount of trash.

19. Do kid yoga or take your kids to a yoga class.

20. Think about how you are going to extend some of these practices throughout the year!

Remember: “Keep close to Nature’s heart…and break clear away, once in awhile, and climb a mountain or spend a week in the woods. Wash your spirit clean.” ~ John Muir

Happy Earth Day and let’s make this an Earth Year!

Relephant: 

10 Ways to Celebrate Earth Day with Our Children.

Author: Katie Schellenberg

Editor: Renee Picard 

Photo: Pixoto