Easy Ways Families Can Celebrate Earth Day

We all know taking care of the Earth is important, but it’s easy to let the busyness of daily life push thoughts of being eco-friendly to the back burner. Being aware of the planet and making small changes is easier than you think.

Earth Day is the perfect opportunity to remind children how to appreciate and take care of our planet. Raising earth-conscious children has never been more important than it is today. The earth provides us with a place to call home, food, water, clothing, shelter and medicine. Fostering a love for our planet helps all of us live longer and healthier lives. And it doesn’t have to be overwhelming.

Start small by trying one activity a month or go all in and try all these fun activities with your kids today.

Plant something: It can be a lot of fun to plant and grow something together as a family. It doesn’t matter if it’s a tree, a flower or a seed, when we grow new things it helps the earth. Trees help replenish oxygen and keep the planet cool; flowers can help endangered species like bees; and growing your food helps reduce the impact of food transport on the environment.

Shop local for your veggies: Supporting local farms and growers is a great way to keep the earth healthy. The farmers that offer goods at farmers markets often minimize waste compared to conventional grocery stores. Many of them also use fewer harmful chemicals in their growing practices which helps keep the soil and water clean. Plus, you can find tasty new foods for your family to try. Children are much more likely to eat vegetables they choose. Take your kids to a farmers market, give them some money and let them choose and purchase vegetables. Check out the farmers market guide in North State Parent’s Spring/Summer Family Resource Guide.

Take your family to an Earth Day event: Local Earth Day festivals and events offer fun family activities that teach us how to think globally and act locally. Mount Shasta Bioregional Ecology Center (MSBEC) sponsors an exciting Earth Day festival every year. Join them April 27 this year in Mount Shasta City Park for a day packed with fun activities for the whole family, including a water blessing ceremony, an eco-art gallery, presentations, eco-art activities, food and craft and craft vendors, a nature walk and more. A benefit concert will be held that evening among the beautiful trees in nearby Spring Hill Nursery. mountshastaecology.org.

There are lots of fun and engaging ways to teach kids to care for the environment. Photos by Kimberly Parodi.

Recycling challenge: Teach kids to look for recycling symbols on packages to recycle as much as possible. At the end of a week see how much you recycle compared to how much you throw away. Try to get your recycling output to beat your trash output each week. Good Housekeeping has a webpage that explains basic recycling symbols and why various items are recycled, as well as how to find out what you can recycle in your municipality. Recycle Track Systems has charts of recycling symbols and their meanings broken down by material categories.

Make a recycled craft: Children love to get creative. Instead of grabbing the usual art supplies, use some of those recycled items to create something. You can have a theme or let everyone create whatever they want. This is a great, earth-friendly rainy-day activity! For inspiration, check out the We Are Teachers website packed with upcycling craft ideas.

Give it away: Instead of tossing things you no longer want or need in the trash, have a household collection day. Once your family gathers a group of items, make a family trip to the local donation center or give things to another family that could use them. You can even think about younger children who would enjoy playing with toys your kids have outgrown. It can be fun for children to see their favorite playthings being enjoyed by another child.

Make a birdfeeder: Gather pinecones or large sticks to use for the feeder. Cover them with a layer of peanut butter and roll in birdseed. Hang outdoors for birds to enjoy.

Get inspired: Watch the video of young poet Amanda Gorman reciting her poem, “Earthwise.” Kids and adults will be inspired to treat our planet well.

Just one thing: Swap out one plastic item for a more sustainable option from your household each month. Try reusable water bottles, travel mugs, straws, shopping bags or sandwich bags to reduce plastic waste.

Get outside: The best way to help children take care of the earth is to fall in love with it. Spending time outside, enjoying the beautiful creatures and landscapes is great for fresh air and exercise as well as learning to love this great big, beautiful planet we call home.

Commit to taking one hike, walk or bike ride each week this year. Make a chart to keep on the fridge to see your progress throughout the year. “Cycling is a great way to spend time with family (or ‘me time’), get out in the fresh air and get some exercise in the process,” says Rich Colgan, owner of Paradise Bikes. Rich advises parents that every kid should be taught how to ride a bike before they start school.

A map of popular biking trails in the North State can be found in North State Parent’s Spring/Summer Family Resource Guide. For more biking resources check out Shasta Living Streets, Mount Shasta Trail Association and Paradise Bike.

Leave No Trace: This is an effort to leave the planet in its most natural state. Do a little research about Leave No Trace and then have a fun family challenge. On your next outing see if you can cover your tracks and leave no trace that you were there. When we are intentional about taking care of the planet, everyone wins!