The first Earth Day was observed on April 22, 1970, giving a voice to the environment and implementing an emerging awareness of human impact on the planet.

To contribute to this global movement and help protect the natural world, here are ten ways to celebrate Earth Day (today and every day)!

1. Become a Virtual Ambassador

Post a picture from your favorite park on social media and add a caption on why you love it! Sharing outdoor spaces with friends and family can inspire them to explore the natural world and discover the beauty of natural areas close to home.

As more people experience and enjoy the great outdoors, especially in their own community, the bigger the effort in caring for the environment and raising awareness to protect it.

Visiting a Three Rivers Park? Share your photos with us! Tag @threeriversparks on Instagram or Facebook and use the hashtag #EarthDay.

2. Read a Nature Book

Learn a little more about the natural world and environmental stewardship with a good book. 

Here are some favorites from Three Rivers Park District staff:

• Braiding Sweetgrass by Robin Wall Kimmerer
• The Hidden Life of Trees by Peter Wohlleben
• The Sound of a Wild Snail Eating by Elisabeth Tova Bailey
• How to Be a Good Creature by Sy Montogmery
• Anything by Mary Oliver

Tip: Check out the 14 Best Nature Books according to Magers and Quinn, a Minneapolis bookstore familiar to many park enthusiasts. 

3. Try Birdwatching

Birds are gorgeous, intelligent creatures and really fun to see in the wild (or from your windows at home!) No matter where you are, look up at the sky and watch the birds around you. 

Tip: Try using a birding checklist as a guide and keep track of what you see. 

How many different birds do you notice? What are they doing? Do you hear different bird calls and songs? 

Getting to know a little bit more about the outside world around you increases awareness and deepens your understanding of what happens in the natural world every day.

4. Plant a Garden

Get close to the earth this spring and dig in the dirt! Planting a garden is a great way to show some love to the Earth while helping you get outside to enjoy nature right from your own backyard.

New to gardening? Check out this beginner’s guide and learn gardening basics from staff at Gale Woods Farm. You’ll be enjoying your own produce in no time!

5. Explore Your Own Backyard

This is a great way to celebrate Earth Day all year long. Take a walk through your yard or in your neighborhood and notice nature as the seasons change around you. Look for swelling buds on trees and busy wildlife scavenging for food. Listen for happy birds whistling through the neighborhood and frogs croaking in nearby ponds.

Tip: Keep track of your seasonal notes in a journal and write down what you see, smell and hear on your backyard adventure. 

Did you find any wildflowers? How about snakes slithering about? Did you see any insects? 

6. Participate in Citizen Science

Citizen science is voluntary participation in scientific research that offers the opportunity to collaborate with professional scientists by collecting data from the natural world. This is an excellent way to contribute to a greater cause and celebrate Earth!

From monitoring bird nests to listening for frog and toad calls, there are a variety of ways you can contribute to science, including:

• Documenting plant and wildlife via the iNaturalist app
• Surveying monarch populations
• Measuring night-sky brightness
• Visit a Chronolog site at a Three Rivers park

Tip: Explore this database of citizen science projects and find something that sparks your interest!

7. Practice Leave No Trace

Leave No Trace is a set of outdoor ethics and best practices that promote conservation and help reduce human impact on the outside world.

Some of these best practices to remember when exploring your own neighborhood, visiting a park or enjoying a trail include: 

• Plan ahead and prepare – Proper planning helps you enjoy park visits safely and minimizes resource damage to the land.
• Travel on durable surfaces – The goal of adventuring in the outdoors is to move through natural areas while avoiding damage to land and waterways. Stay on designated trails.
• Dispose of waste properly – Always dispose of trash and recyclables properly and pick up after your pet.
• Leave what you find – Leave rocks, leaves, twigs and other natural objects where you see them. Take only photos, leave only footprints.
• Respect wildlife – Observe wildlife from a safe distance and travel quietly on trails.
• Be considerate of other visitors – Remember to use proper trail etiquette, keep six feet of distance between yourself and others, and refrain from gathering at entrances and in parking lots.

8. Visit a Nature Center

Nature centers are an excellent place to learn more about the plants and animals native to the area and a great option to get up close and personal with wildlife!

Plan a visit with your family or friends to a nature center near you and meet snakes, amphibians, birds and more. Learn about the unique characteristics of these animals from our staff of naturalists and discover the importance of environmental stewardship to protect these species and the habitats they live in.

9. Spend a Day in the Park

Immersing yourself in nature is a beautiful way to celebrate the earth and connect with the outdoors!

Get out for a hike through the woods or go for a bike ride along forested trails. Pack a picnic lunch and bask in the natural beauty around you or go for a paddle around your favorite lake.

Enjoying the natural world and all it has to offer can be a great reminder of why it’s so important to preserve and protect it.

Tip: Don't forget to follow guidance from Leave No Trace to reduce your impact during your visit. 

10. Volunteer

Help the natural world in your community by volunteering! 

There are a number of ongoing and seasonal volunteer opportunities to get involved at Three Rivers, including invasive species removal, prairie seed collection, Adopt A Trail and more.

This Earth Day, discover what interests you and join a national effort to care for our planet — today and every day!