This post was originally published on April 8, 2016 and updated on April 11, 2019

 

Earth Day is Every Day!

You hear this phrase all the time.  In one very important sense, it’s true.  We should be considering our impact on our planet home every day, with all of our decisions.  But is there any value in actually taking time out to celebrate a single “Earth Day” each year?  Yes, I believe there is.

Like any holiday, celebrations remind us of things that are important to us that we may have lost track of in our busy schedules.  Celebrations help us rejoice and come together as communities with shared values.  So I believe it’s well worth taking note on April 22nd of all the activities that effect our environment and having a little fun together in the process.

So, what should you do for Earth Day?

 

Visit a National Park
The single best thing you can do for the environmental is to get outside.  People fight to protect what they love, and they only love what they know.  So go introduce yourself to the beautiful places in your area.  To facilitate this, the National Park Service offers “Free Entrance” Day to all parks countrywide on April 20. 

You can also check your state for a state park near you.

Volunteer
There are so many beach, trail and forest clean-up efforts centered around Earth Day.  This is a great time to chip in a few hours, get outside, and meet up with other caring folks.  While there’s no single website or link that covers every area, a quick web search should point you in the right direction for a local event.

For example “Oregon Earth Day Clean Up” produced these helpful links:
EarthShare Oregon Volunteer Opportunities
SOLVE Oregon’s Environmental Clean Up

If you’re feeling ambitious, Earth Day might just be the time to schedule your next vacation.  What about something adventurous with a side of helping the planet?  EarthWatch Institute has some absolutely amazing volunteer vacations.  Many of them are unique opportunities you might otherwise never get a chance to do, like their newest one counting wildlife and checking reforestation efforts in Brazil.

You can take action in other ways as well. Sign a pledge, plant a tree or find out how to reduce your footprint.

 

Donate
Chip in a few hard-earned bucks to an environmental charity.  There are so many great organizations, you can definitely find one that resonates with your values.  Choose one of the environmental charities that we support, or find one that resonates with you and your priorities.  Charity Navigator rates charities based on how they use funds that are collected.  It’s a great way to ensure the charity you give to is using your money wisely.  The Better Business Bureau’s Wise Giving Guide also helps donors make more informed giving decisions.

 

Watch and Learn
Stay informed on environmental issues.  There are a lot of ways to learn that are fun as well as informative.  For example, Portland holds an Eco Film Festival as does the University of Miami.  Even if you don’t live in Oregon or Florida, you can check out any of these environmental documentaries to learn more about our planet.

 

Vote for the Environment
The League of Conservation Voters is a non-partisan, political action group that “works to turn environmental values into national, state and local priorities.” Check them out to find out how your elected representatives are voting when it comes to the environment.

Contact your Senators and Congressperson to let them know you’re pro-environment.

 

Attend a Fair or Festival
Many conscious businesses, artists and organizations spend a lot of time and effort to set up earth day festivals.  So if you’re lucky enough to have one in your area, go check it out.  Learn, mingle and just enjoy all of the effort.

The best way to find a local event is to do a web search using your city name, check with your local paper or contact your city hall.

 

Whatever you decide to do, just taking a moment out of our busy schedules to notice all of the ways our every day decisions effect the long-term health of our planet will be amazing.   Please tell me what your plans are in the comments or other ideas you’d like to share.