Earth Day 2013 is only a couple weeks away, this year on Monday, April 22. Spring is finally springing and early spring is the best time to introduce kids to activities to make them more planet-aware. Green consciousness is said to be the way to help save our planet and Earth Day is a step in that direction. The theme for Earth Day 2013 is The faces of Climate Change.
Earth Day History
Founded in 1970 as a day of education about environmental issues, Earth Day is now a globally celebrated holiday that is sometimes extended into Earth Week, a full seven days of events focused on green awareness. The brainchild of Senator Gaylord Nelson and inspired by the antiwar protests of the late 1960s, Earth Day was originally aimed at creating a mass environmental movement. It began as a "national teach-in on the environment" and was held on April 22 to maximize the number of students that could be reached on university campuses. By raising public awareness of air and water pollution, Nelson hoped to bring environmental causes into the national spotlight.
In 1970, President Richard Nixon and Congress established the U.S. EPA in response to the growing public demand for cleaner water, air and land. EPA was tasked with the challenging goal of repairing the damage already done to the environment and to establish guidelines to help Americans in making a cleaner and safer environment a reality.
The mission of the Environmental Protection Agency is to protect human health and the environment. Since 1970, EPA has been working for a cleaner, healthier environment for the American people.
Albany Area Activities
Learn:
CNSE Children's Museum of Science and Technology is presenting an Earth Day Celebration: Reduce, Reuse, Recycle Workshop. Learn about the three R's (reduce, reuse, recycle) this Earth Day at CNSE CMOST. Join in and investigate the different ways that kids can learn to reduce, reuse and recycle at home. The program is for ages 4+, and pre-registration is required. The program is free for CNSE CMOST members, $2.00 for non-members plus admission to the museum. Call 518-235-2120.
Volunteer:
The Wilton Wildlife Preserve and Park is hosting an Earth Day volunteers activity at Old Gick and Opdahl Farms. Give back to the Earth by helping on the trails and habitats at the Preserve & Park. There will be two projects: planting lupine seeds in the meadows of Old Gick Farm, and clearing trail and preparing to build boardwalk at the new parking area at Opdahl Farm. Registration is required by Wednesday, April 17th. More information visit: http://www.wiltonpreserve.org/calendar or call 518-450-0321.
Scavenger Hunt:
The The Wilton Wildlife Preserve and Park is also having an earth day Scavenger Hunt at Fox Parcel on Rte 50. Spend Earth Day outdoors as a nature detective at the Wilton Wildlife Preserve & Park and walk the trails of the Fox Parcel. Naturalists will help you identify the flora and fauna on the list while putting your senses to the test! Preregistration is required by Friday, April 19. For more information visit: http://www.wiltonpreserve.org/calendar or call 518-450-0321.
Help clean up Erie Canal
On April 20, you can join communities across the state for an Earth Day Community Clean-Up, by participating in the Statewide Erie Canalway Clean Sweep. Clean-Up is scheduled from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. rain or shine at the Vischer Ferry Nature & Historic Preserve. Park at the Whipple Bridge or Ferry Drive entrances. Trash bags will be provided. Please dress for hiking/walking and bring gloves. There will be a limited number of free event t-shirts available.
The following weekend, learn some history at the Grand Opening Ribbon Cutting of the new footbridge connecting the outer Lock wall to the center of the Historic Double Lock 19 of the Erie canal on April 29 at 1 p.m. The footbridge was designed, constructed and installed by Shenendehowa students and community volunteers and made possible through donations from Clifton Park’s Southern Saratoga Chamber of Commerce and local businesses. The Town Historian will provide a brief look-back to 1825,
describing the lock’s importance to the local community, the Erie Canal and how it functioned from day-to-day for almost 100 years.
Act local:
Many local owns are hosting special events and activities for kids (and parents). If you live near Clifton Park, you can-
G.R.E.E.N. Committee Tree Sapling Give Away.
Join Clifton Park G.R.E.E.N. “Government Re-Thinking Energy & Environment NOW” committee to “green” the town with a tree sapling give-away for kids. The Town will be at Shenendehowa High School East from 6:30 p.m. - 9:00 p.m. on April 19 during the Science & Health Discovery Night. Stop by and green up your yard.
Keep checking your local news and community events calendars for more Earth Day activities near you or here for some free ideas, giveaways and activities to celebrate Earth Day 2013.
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