Earth Day in Quarantine

Tomorrow (April 22nd) is Earth Day, one of my personal favorite holidays! Since we're all still stuck at home, why not take the opportunity to do some Earth Day crafts or get outside and celebrate (while still practicing social distancing, of course). One quick Google search puts endless Earth Day activities in front of you, so I'll just list a few ideas that I may be doing myself.

1. Virtual Celebrations
If you live somewhere that's too populated to go outside for activities, you can still get involved! The Museum of the City of New York has posted a video with Earth Day stories on their website, a pledge that you can take part in, and lots of activities and resources that you can take advantage of.
https://www.mcny.org/education/earthday
Other websites are hosting events at certain times and have ideas for crafts, snacks, and much more! One of the best that I've found is from the website that I've linked below.
https://www.exploratorium.edu/visit/calendar/exploratorium-virtual-earth-day-celebration-4-22-2020

2. Roadside Cleanup
If you live in an area that allows you to get outside, do it! Grab a trash bag and go for a walk; collect as much trash from the side of the road as you can. You can get out into the sunshine and fresh air, while improving the environment around you.

3. Plant a Garden

Photo from Fish and Wildlife Service

If you're already out and about grabbing essentials, purchase some seeds and supplies, too! If you don't have an area outside, you can always make an indoor planter (I would recommend a small herb garden). If you are able to plant outdoors, pollinator gardens and native plants can have a positive impact on the ecosystem surrounding your home. I'm planning on planting my own little pollinator garden tomorrow with my niece; it will be a great opportunity to make environmental stewardship fun for her.

4. Do an Experiment
If you're quarantined with a kiddo, there are a lot of fun experiments that you can do with them! One that I found involves cutting a sponge into the shape of a fish and exposing it to different "pollutants" (represented by water with food dye).
https://theowlteacher.com/polluting-fish-for-earth-day-or-any-day/

5. Watch a Documentary or Movie
Another activity for those that can't get outside is to watch a nature-related documentary or movie. My favorites are The Lorax and Before the Flood, which can both be found on Hulu.