Everyday is Earth Day 2020
We had a bunch of activities planned this year within Clear Creek County for Earth Day. Like so many events, we had to postpone them for the timebeing. We are looking to reschedule the Climate Reality Project speaker for a later date, but for now you can learn about the Climate Reality Project on their YouTube channel.
However, there’s no reason why we can’t all take part in Earth Day learning and activities from home. Below we’ve curated a variety of activities for youth and adults to celebrate Earth Day 2020 on April 22nd!
Interesting Insights about Emissions during the Lockdowns
COVID-19 has had a worldwide impact on communities, medical systems, and economies, but the world-wide lockdowns to stop the spread are also having environmental impacts. Satellite imagery of China, Italy, and the United States shows how air quality is quickly changing as emissions outputs around the world have decreased with so many of us staying home. These images show that we can make a huge, positive impact on the environment if everyone around the globe makes an effort to continue reducing emissions as we phase our way out of lockdowns.
Youth and Family Activities
- Celebrate Earth Day with The Lorax – Activities for kids to learn how to protect the earth with The Lorax as their guide! Visit Seussville for more.
- Make Seed Bombs with Native Plant Seeds – Make seed bombs, aka seed balls, with seeds for native flowers to spread around your property and garden, which will also support our native pollinators!
- Take a Nature Walk Alphabet Hunt – Download the activity PDF designed by Heather of Green. For your Growth.
- Your Plan, Your Planet – Small changes can make a big impact on our planet – We all want a healthy planet for today and tomorrow. The small choices we make each day can help us get there. Learn simple tips from Google, the California Academy of Sciences, and the Ellen MacArthur Foundation to help people and the planet thrive together.
- Build a Bird Feeder to Study Birds in your Neighborhood – Project info, and find more Earth Day themed projects and activities from ScienceBuddies.org.
- NEED.org – National Energy Education Development – The uncertainty of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) situation has caused many schools and educational institutions to close temporarily. We understand the need for engaging and hands-on ideas for teachers to use in distance learning or for families to use to keep kids thinking, exploring, and inquiring during this time. We pulled together some of our favorites for teachers, students, and families to utilize! Distance Learning Resources
Teen and Adult Activities
- Earth Day 2020 Checklist & Reduce Waste in Your Business – Download the PDF created by Heather of Green. For your Growth.
- Learn about snowpack, water storage, estimates and demands – Read about the current annual water supply from the local experts.
- Learn About Zero Waste from Juniperseed Mercantile – A guide to impactful sustainability practices for everyday life PDF brochure. Visit their website and sign up for their newsletter for free recipes along with the brochure.
- Films about Sustainability / Earth Day Focus
- Join the Portland EcoFilm Festival & Xerces for an Online Screening of Microcosmos – if you are interested in Pollinators and Beekeeping, be sure to catch this one.
- Films for Action – A list of the top 100 films that inspire a positive change in our world.
- Nature, Horticulture, and Sustainability Themed Webinars
- Spring Horticulture Webinars: CSU Extension webinars about horticulture and gardening
- WeatherTalk – April 30th 11am – This Webinar is the sixty-ninth in our series of “CoCoRaHS WeatherTalk” Webinars engaging experts in the fields of atmospheric science, climatology and other pertinent disciplines. More info.
- Xerces Society Webinar: Pesticides & Pollinators – Understanding the Risk – Thursday, April 23⋅11:00am – 12:30pm – This webinar will include foundational information on pesticides and how they impact ecosystems. More info.
- Xerces Society Webinar: Pesticides – Threats and Solutions – Thursday, April 30⋅11:00am – 12:30pm – What risks do pesticides pose to pollinators, and how can we address those risks in our backyards and communities? More info.
In celebration of the 50th anniversary of Earth Day, Keep America Beautiful has launched DoBeautifulThings.org, a website designed to showcase acts of kindness during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. Share yours with the hashtag #dobeautifulthings
Local Resources for Sustainability in Clear Creek County
EAS + Y — the Evergreen Alliance for Sustainability + You — lots of good local refill & recycling tips
Visit Scraps to Soil’s Facebook page for Earth Day posts and local tips throughout the year.- “All People Considered” on KYGT Wednesday April 22, 2020 at 5pm, on Earth Day, will feature our local NREL solar specialist, Otto Van Geet. 102.7, 103.9 and www.clearcreekradio.com.
Grow & Give Modern Victory Garden Project
Learn to grow food and donate extra locally. The resources are designed to help you grow your own food this year and beyond. You got this, Colorado! Colorado State University Extension & Master Gardeners are here to help every step of the way. More resources are added weekly and will change with the season.
Visit the Colorado Master Gardeners webpage to learn more about the project.Mountain Gardening Specific Resources
- VIDEO: Vegetable Gardening in the Mountains (49:35)
- Colorado Mountain Gardening Basics – Fact Sheet #7.244
- Vegetable Gardening in the Mountains – Fact Sheet #7.248
Spring snowstorm predicted? No problem — cold crops like spinach can be planted ahead of a snow. Spinach will sprout when conditions are right.
Denver Post, The Know: How to start a garden in Colorado during the coronavirus shutdown, Sick of being shut indoors? Get out and start planning that garden
