10 Ways to Celebrate Earth Day

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It’s time once again to celebrate Earth Day by participating in activities that show our appreciation for the natural beauty of our planet and our committment to combating environmental pollution. The first Earth Day was held April 22, 1970 as a nationwide demonstration, petitioning the government to put environmental issues on the political agenda. Thousands of schools and about 20 million demonstrators participated in the original Earth Day. Earth Day was such a success that it is now celebrated annually.

People everywhere get involved in community events and family traditions that help to sustain our natural environment. What? Your family doesn’t have an Earth Day tradition? Well it’s never too late to start! Below are 10 examples of Earth Day family traditions to get you thinking.

Ideas

• Plant a tree in your back yard: Besides being a fun activity for your family, planting trees help to lower greenhouse gas emissions, and they provide a habitat for a variety of other plants and animals. Go to your local nursery, and pick out the perfect tree for your yard. Lifetime trailers make it easy to haul the tree home. More trees in your yard can actually lower your cooling bill by providing shade over your house.
• Make pine cone birdfeeders- Attract birds right to your yard and watch them as they enjoy a healthy snack. Making pine cone bird feeders is a fun and easy activity for children, click here for instructions.
• Visit a nearby recycling facility- Recycling processes are fascinating and fun to watch. If you save up recyclable materials to drop off during the visit, you’ll earn some extra change you can use to treat everyone to ice cream cones afterwards!
• Sit down with the family and set specific goals to recycle and save energy- It’s often as easy as changing your light bulbs, adjusting the setting on your fridge, or making a routine trip to a nearby recycling bin.
• Plant a vegetable garden- April is the perfect time to plan your garden. Section off an area of your yard, or use a Lifetime Raised Garden Bed Kit, and decide what you’d like to grow this year. If you don’t have a yard, window boxes and large pots work just as well.  You can also create a nutritious fertilizer for your garden by recycling kitchen scraps and grass clippings in a Lifetime Composter. Let the children choose new types of fruits or vegetables to try out each year, and give them responsibilities in the garden.
• Plant flowers at a local non-profit organization or church. Contact the organization prior to planting. Most of these organizations are thrilled when someone offers to beautify their grounds.
• Go on a nature hike- Nature hikes are a great way to appreciate the beauty of our planet. Pick a park or nearby trail, or visit a new place every year on Earth Day.
• Clean up litter at a local park- Parks provide places for everyone in the community to enjoy nature. Unfortunately, litter detracts from their beauty and can be dangerous to people and animals. Bring bags and wear gloves to pick up unsightly trash from your city park.
• Attend an Earth Day event- Earth Day events are held across the nation and are full of fun activities for both kids and adults.  Nationwide events can be seen at www.earthday.net. so you can pick an event close to you.
• Cook a special Earth Day meal using healthy, organic foods- Invite the friends and family over to share a healthy, home-cooked meal. Provide comfortable dining accommodations with Lifetime tables and chairs. Get creative and decorate with an "Earth Day" theme using leaves or potted plants, and let each guest take a plant home to add to their garden. See table decorating tips at “Eco-Friendly Dinner Party”.