The first Earth Day in 1970 enlisted 20 million Americans and is credited with launching the modern environmental movement. It is now recognized as the planet’s largest civic event and it led to passage of landmark environmental laws in the United States, including the Clean Air, Clear Water, and Endangered Species acts. Many countries soon adopted similar laws, and the United Nations chose Earth Day 2016 to sign the Paris climate agreement.
Yet despite the numerous successes surrounding Earth Day, we still face many conservation challenges at home, in our nation, and globally. Earth Day 50offers suggestions on ways to mark the occasion (and make a difference) and Pennsylvania's celebration partners have a few ideas of our own. The first is to host 50 service projects across the state during the month of April. Keep an eye on our calendar for opportunities to come out and be a steward of your state parks and forests. Work for a company and want to have a volunteer day? Contact us! Have a youth group you want to engage? Shoot us an email!
Other ideas as we start our planning: viewings of the documentaries produced in conjunction with the Pennsylvania Conservation Heritage Projectat locations around Pennsylvania. Want to show one of the documentaries? Reach out to Jenna atjbehringer(at)paparksandforests.org and she will make it happen for you. Pair the documentary with a panel or discussion and use the lessons of the past to inform the future.
We’d like to work with libraries to feature conservation themed books and speakers during April. Work or volunteer at a library? Please reach out to see how we might work together. Have a favorite book? Let us know that as we build a reading list for book clubs and individuals.
Any way that you can think of to be involved or promote Earth Day in April (and actually all year) is welcome. Sign up and be a part of the celebration.
