Celebrating Earth Day

This year’s Earth Day, coming up on Monday, April 22, will mark our country’s 54th year celebrating our planet. The first Earth Day in 1970 originated from a desire to fight for environmental causes and oppose environmental degradation, with the Environmental Protection Agency being established just months after and subsequently passing laws to ensure cleaner air and water. If you’re looking for ways to celebrate Earth Day this year, keep reading!

1. Earth Day Celebration at Idlewild Park and Junior Naturalists!

On Saturday, April 20 there will be an Earth Day celebration at Idlewild Park from 10am to 6pm. There will be shopping, food vendors and opportunities to learn more about our environment. Coincidentally, our monthly Junior Naturalist Program for families with kids of all ages will be taking place the same day from 10am to 1pm at Rainbow Ridge Park! This month’s theme is ecology and we’ll also be celebrating Earth Day early with fun games and activities. If you’re looking for something to do with the whole family, be sure not to miss these two events.

2. Start a compost

Composting helps to protect our climate by reducing waste and methane emissions from landfills. It also helps to build healthy soil which is of interest if you are a plant parent or gardener, as it can help your plants or crops grow stronger and healthier! We had a lovely volunteer write a blog on apartment-friendly composting a few months ago, proving that you don’t need a ton of space or fancy tools to get started. Check it out here!

3. Clean up an outdoor space

While organizations like us at the Parks Foundation and Keep Truckee Meadows Beautiful often host park clean-ups and trail maintenance events, picking up trash is a worthwhile activity that can be done at any time. Go to your favorite park or open space, bring a trash bag with you, and see how much you can improve the area simply by picking up any debris you find. If you want to have even more fun with it, you can introduce geocaching into the mix with our Cache for Trash program at Rosewood Nature Study Area. Pick up any trash you see while walking the trails, and afterwards one of our awesome Visitor Center hosts will give you the coordinates to a nearby geocache. What a fun and rewarding experience!

4. Plant something!

There’s nothing quite like getting your hands dirty in some soil and connecting with the earth. Whether it be through getting a new plant and securing it in its pot, or adding on to your outdoor garden, both are great ways to celebrate the variety of living things our great planet has to offer. If you’re interested in visiting a plant shop, Natural Selection and Sierra Water Gardens are both awesome, locally owned options.

5. Visit/donate to a thrift shop

Fast fashion is a well-known cause of waste on our planet. One way to combat this is to shop second hand whenever possible, and to avoid over consuming and mindless shopping in the first place. Thrift shops rely on community donations, and with it being the spring season, cleaning out your closet is a great way to both celebrate Earth Day and clear your physical space and mind! My favorite thrift shops in Reno are St. Vincent’s and the SPCA Thrift Store.

6. Plan a trip to visit a state park

Visiting a state park is a great way to explore your surroundings and learn more about the natural history of the state you live in. There are 27 state parks in Nevada, so lots of options to choose from depending on how far you want to travel. Plus, you can even check out passes to visit them at a Washoe County Library, making this an even more accessible option for all.

In conclusion, Earth Day is an awesome opportunity to appreciate the space around you and make moves towards protecting our natural resources, no matter how big or small. How will you celebrate Earth Day this year? Comment below any fun activities or traditions I may have missed!

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About the Author

Born and raised in the Truckee Meadows, Dayna studied International Business Marketing at the University of Nevada, Reno. After graduating in 2021, she spent 2 months in India pursuing her passion by studying yoga and becoming a certified instructor. Now, Dayna is excited to join the Truckee Meadows Parks Foundation promoting one of her favorite things, the outdoors! In her free time, Dayna can be found practicing yoga, exploring the world around her, or cozying up in her hammock with a good book.