Earth Day 2020: How to Celebrate the 50th Anniversary at Home
Published on April 21, 2020
April 22, 2020 marks the 50th anniversary of Earth Day, a global civic event that launched the environmental movement we know today.
Though our celebrations may look different this year due to COVID-19, the City of Huntsville’s Operation Green Team encourages everyone to celebrate in their own way while continuing to practice safe social distancing.
“It’s an important time to realize how we are all connected and how our personal choices can make a big difference in protecting the Earth,” said Joy McKee, director of Operation Green Team. “Please safely take part in keeping Huntsville clean and green this Earth Day and beyond.”
Wondering how you can celebrate Earth Day while staying home? Here are a few ideas:
- Pick up litter around your neighborhood. Free trash bags, pickup sticks and other supplies are available from Operation Green Team. Call 256-532-5326 to schedule a pickup outside Operation Green Team’s office on 3242 Leeman Ferry Road S.W.
- Start a compost bin. If you have an extra plastic bin in your garage, make your own with this helpful DIY tutorial. Here’s 15 tips to get you started!
- Learn with NASA. Explore NASA’s new digital collection of at-home science activities, videos and more.
- Plant something and watch it grow! What a perfect time to start a garden or plant some wildflowers. Choose water-efficient and drought-tolerant plants to add to your landscape. Native plants are a great choice. Plant them in the right place and you’ll spend less time and money watering your landscape and more time enjoying it. The Alabama Cooperative Extension System’s home planting guide is a great place to start.
- Rethink your recycling bin. Use Earth Day to review what goes in your recycling bin with the whole family. The City’s Solid Waste Disposal Authority has a recycling guide here.
- Enjoy nature’s beauty. Get outside or enjoy a national park virtually. The National Park Service has multiple online national park tours and webcams here.
- Get creative. Make these upcycled suncatchers with plastic that would otherwise go in the trash or your recycling bin. Plus, they’ll look beautiful in your window as you take an Earth Day stroll.
- Watch a movie. This list of films features great choices to get kids thinking.
- Make an Earth-themed treat. Just for fun, add an Earth-themed treat to your celebration. It’s the perfect excuse to try dirt pudding worm cups!
For more information, visit Operation Green Team’s website or call 256-532-5326.
