5 Ways to Celebrate Earth Day

After a long winter, Spring invites us to embrace the natural beauty all around us and get outside! Rhode Island has so many beautiful beaches, trails, and sanctuaries to explore. April has turned out to be exceptionally warm this year and many families have begun gathering outdoors.

Earth Day is Saturday, April 22nd and there are many events across the state and things you can do at home to celebrate.

Here are some ways that people of all ages can celebrate Earth Day this year:

1. Learn about your local habitat by taking a mindful walk on the beautiful trails across the state.

Check out Alltrail's list of top-rated trails in Rhode Island. At the start of many trailheads, there are bulletin boards outlining the plants and wildlife to look out for. Read these with your children to add a scavenger hunt aspect to your walk! Check the reviews to see which hikes are accessible for children and/or pets.

You could also grab your binoculars and walk at the many Audobon locations across the state. The Audobon Society of Rhode Island Earth Day events can be found on their calendar.

2. Participate in a local clean-up event or organize your own.

What better way to celebrate the Earth than cleaning up our area and restoring the beautiful landscape for everyone to enjoy? Find a list of local clean-up events from Save the Bay and Litter-Free Rhody.

You can also clean up your own neighborhood or local park by organizing family and friends! Gather your materials (gloves, bag, and comfortable shoes) and clean up the land near where you live.

3. Start (or work in) a garden.

Take this as your invitation to start a garden in your backyard or volunteer at a local farm or community garden. If you don’t have much outdoor space, choose a sunny window to start an indoor herb garden.

4. Visit a secondhand clothing store or sustainability shop.

Shop at a secondhand clothing store or sustainability shop and support their mission to reduce waste! Shopping secondhand can greatly reduce the amount of clothing and products that end up in a landfill. Check their socials for Earth Day events and/or giveaways.

5. Shop at a local farmer’s market and prepare a plant-based meal.

After a day outside, make a nourishing meal using ingredients from a local farmer’s market. Focus on purchasing seasonal produce to prepare a plant-based meal.

Earthday.org provides a list of climate-friendly recipes to enjoy with your family. Meat production accounts for a large number of greenhouse gas emissions. Even one plant-based meal a week can have a positive impact environmentally. Cook a meal together and enjoy. Maybe you will be inspired to start “Meatless Mondays” in your household!

While these suggestions are fun for the day, many can be applied every day of the year! We can all do our part to preserve the natural beauty of the Ocean State. Earth Day, every day.

Laura Dzialo is an educator and freelance writer based in Riverside, Rhode Island. Connect with her on Instagram where you can find tips for how to live a more mindful life.