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The Bay Backpack logo. A school backpack followed by a stylized writing of the words Bay Backpack.

Celebrate Earth Day All Month Long

by
Sarah Brzezinski

Earth Day was founded by Unites States Senator Gaylord Nelson from Wisconsin as a “national teach-in on the environment,” and was first held on April 22, 1970. It became a global event in 1990 with environmentally focused events taking place in 141 countries. This April, don’t just celebrate Earth Day on the 22nd, make it a month long celebration! Here are some resources and events to help you get started:

National Environmental Education Week: In 2011, National Environmental Education Week (EE Week), the nation’s largest environmental event, will be held from April 10-16. Here in the Chesapeake Bay Watershed we will be celebrating the 2011 EE Weeks’s focus on Ocean Connections in the nation’s largest estuary!

National Park Week: Celebrate National Parks Week from April 16-24, 2011 in one of our 364 national parks! This year’s focus, Healthy Parks, Healthy People, highlights the connection between human and environmental health and the vital role America’s national parks play in both.

International Year of the Forest: The United Nations General Assembly declared 2011 as the International Year of Forests to raise awareness on sustainable management, conservation and sustainable development of all types of forests. Learn more on their website!

US EPA Earth Day Website: This website contains information on how to find and get involved in local Earth Day Activities. It also provides teachers with links to EPA environmentally focused lesson plans

Tools to Reduce Waste in Schools: Use this resource to help your school and school district reduce the amount of waste you generate. This detailed resource will guide you through how to conduct a waste assessment and tell you how to start a waste reduction program or expand an existing one.

The Quest for Less: Activities and Resources for Teaching K-8: The Quest for Less is designed for teachers to use as one of the many tools in the development of lesson plans. The activities and concepts in this resource can be used to commemorate Earth Day through their focus on Natural Resources, Products, Waste, Source Reduction, Recycling, Composting, Landfills and Combustion, and Putting it all Together.

Bay Backpack Teacher Resources: Use our Teacher Resources section to find an activity or lesson plan related to the Chesapeake Bay for your Earth Day event!