Anyone who knows me well knows that Earth Day is one of my favorite holidays. It really is! I love that
there is a day set aside to remind people about this place we call home and to raise awareness about the importance of taking care of it. What we do and how we live our lives have a huge impact on our environment. If we want our children and grandchildren, and other future generations, to grow up with clean air, water, and a healthy planet it is up to us to do what we can to care for it, as well as teach the next generation to do the same.
Whether you take the kids on a nice nature walk (I have plenty of places you can explore in the nature activities area), or go to one of these events below, do something. Talk to them about the importance of caring for our planet and ways that they can do so. They are never to young or old to get them learning about things like recycling, nature, doing beach clean-ups, taking reusable bags to the store, etc.
Here are some opportunities to get involved for Earth Day 2013, which by the way is April 22nd.
Calculate your family's environmental footprint here.
Learn ways to go green here.
Southeast Museum of Photography
This is located at Daytona State College. They are having Earth Week Films featuring films about caring for our planet. The list of flims and times can be found here.
Central Florida Earth Day Festival - April 20, 2013
This Earth Day festival is held in Orlando each year. It's a great event for the whole family. There are scheduled events, presentations, stuff for the kids, lots of good food, too! You can find more information here.
Be Seen Going Green - April 20, 2013
This free event will be held at the Lyonia Environmental Center and will focus on recycling. Reservations are required. You can find more info here.
Edgewater Party for the Planet
On April 20, 2013 there will be an Earth Day celebration in Edgewater. You can find more info here.
St. Johns River Clean-up
This is a great family-friendly way to help clean up the area. It will be held on April 20, 2013. You can find more information here.
Earth Day Festival 2013
This one is being held on April 20, 2013 in Titusville at the Enchanged Forest Sanctuary. You can find more details here.
Earth Day Celebration
This celebration will be held on April 20, 2013 at the Love's Whole Foods in Ormond Beach. It will be from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. They will have free samples, coloring activities, raffles, giveaways, demos, and a plant sale.
StetsonU Keeps it Green for Earth Day 2013
Stetson University is inviting the public to attend their Earth Day activities on April 20, 2013. It is free and will include environmental education for the whole family. You can find more info here.
24th Annual Earth Day
Washington Oaks State Park, located in Palm Coast, will be having an Earth Day celebration on April 20 & 21, 2013. The celebration will take place from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. There will be live entertainment, environmental groups, raffle prizes, plant sale, bake sale, and arts and crafts. There is a park entrance fee of $10 per carload of 8 people. You can find more information on the park here.
Earth Day Celebration - April 21, 2013
Held at the Lyonia Environmental Center, they are having an Earth Day Celebration. They are having kids decorate paper bags that will be given to be used at grocery stores (VCM note: Seriously? Yikes! Paper or plastic? Neither! Take your own reusable bags to stores!). You can find more info here.
Free National Park Admission Week - April 21-26, 2013
All this week you can get into national parks for free. Find more info here.
DeLand Green Affair - April 27, 2013
This green living event will take place on West Indiana in Downtown DeLand. There will be fun for the whole family, including green living information. Find more information here.
Nature Matters - April 27, 2013
This event will take place at the Disney Wilderness Preserve. You can find more info here.
Additionally, consider setting up a tour of the county transfer station and landfill. It will help teach your children about where things go when we take them to the curb, as well as the importance of recycling.
Also, be sure to join Volusia County Curb Alert. The site is for posting curb alerts throughout the country. Curb alerts are when people put out items for the garbage that can be re-used or repurposed still. You simply post it with the address so someone can rescue it from going to the landfill. Or, if you see something someone has posted that you would like to have, go get it. Together, we can keep more things out of the landfill.
