April 19, 2022| Environment
By: Holly Odgers
Earth Day is a day that was created to promote awareness and appreciation for the Earth's environment. The first Earth Day occurred in 1970 and has been celebrated on April 22 every year since. Today, almost 200 countries celebrate Earth Day, the largest environmental event worldwide!
That may seem big, but don’t forget that small actions lead to big changes. You can make a BIG difference on Earth Day by pledging to make small changes every day and taking action right in your own neighborhood. Take shorter showers to conserve water, pick up litter on a hike or in your neighborhood, or reuse a bottle or container for something new. Every little bit helps.
Use less waterWhen it comes to conserving water, small adjustments can have a big impact! Simply taking a 5-minute shower instead of a bath can save around 60 gallons of water!
Visit WaterUseItWisely.com for water-saving tips you can download, print, or share on social media. You will also find great games and activities to help you learn more about how you can conserve water.
Clean it upWe’re all taught not to litter, but unfortunately, trash still tends to collect in public areas. I bet you can think of a place right now that looks littered and neglected… Got one?
Doing a cleanup is a quick and easy way to make a BIG difference right where you live and play. It’s simple to do. All you really need are some gloves and a bag for trash. (Make sure to let your parents know and only work in safe areas). You can even make it extra fun by doing a cleanup scavenger hunt while you work!
You can also join us for our Adopt-A-Spot Community Cleanup on Saturday, April 24. Find out more HERE.
How long will it take?It takes just a moment for an item to be carelessly discarded or blown by the wind into the woods or a lake, but it can take many, many years for that item to break down and go away.
Test your knowledge about how long it takes litter to degrade by downloading the worksheet below.
Good luck!
Did you know that the average American throws away four pounds of trash daily? That is more than 1.5 tons of waste per person, per year!
There are lots of ways to reduce, reuse, and recycle our trash, click HERE for tips from reusethisbag.com.
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Read moreFor some great Earth Day reading, check out this sneak peek of "Lake Hopatcong Speaks Out," a children's book told from the perspective of Lake Hopatcong itself! The Lake implores readers to keep “stuff” from getting into it and what actions are needed to help keep it clean.
Let's all do our part. Happy Earth Day!
