Earth Day Activities for the Family

Fun Earth Day Activities for the Family

Next week we will be celebrating Earth Day! In fact, April 22, 2025 is 55 years that we are celebrating the modern movement of environmental protection.  Here are some fun Earth Day activities and facts to help celebrate the national holiday.

Earth Day Facts

• On the first Earth Day in 1970, more than 20 million people participated!
• Congress authorized the creation of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency by the end of that year.
• Although Earth Day originated in the United States, it went global in 1990 and by 2000, more than 180 countries participated.
• Some schools and communities celebrate Earth Day for a whole week to expand the time frame that people focus on the earth and how they can preserve it.

Earth Day Activities

Let’s start with gardening! Plant trees, herbs, or wild flowers with the family. Here is Recycled Can and Mason Jar Vases, the perfect container to plant flowers in. You can also make Recycled Plastic Bottle Planter Pots, plant a Kitchen Herb Garden, or plant a pretty amaryllis bulb. I have some tips for Gardening With Your Kids.

🌎 Eco-Friendly Crafts

Get Crafty- Upcycled old things into something new!

• Upcycled Art Projects – Use bottle caps, cardboard, or plastic bags to create art.

• DIY Bird Feeders – Use toilet paper rolls, peanut butter, and birdseed.

• Paint Rocks – With Earth Day messages or animal designs, then leave them around town.

• T-shirt Tote Bags – Turn old shirts into reusable shopping bags—no sewing needed!

Here are some creative trash to treasure ideas:

• Teacup Bird Feeder Repurposing Idea
• How to Make a Recycled Magazine Frame
• Macramé Mason Jar Hanging Lantern

🌱 Outdoor Adventures

• Nature Scavenger Hunt – Make a checklist of things to find (feather, pinecone, bug, etc.).

• Hiking or Nature Walk – Visit a local park or trail and observe plants and wildlife.

• Picnic in the Park – Bring reusable utensils and pack zero-waste snacks.

• Plant a Tree or Garden – Start a veggie garden or plant native flowers for pollinators.

🧹 Clean-Up Missions

Clean up! Clean up! – Teach children about littering, walk around a park, beach, or neighborhood and clear it of litter.

• Neighborhood Clean-Up – Grab gloves and bags, and clean up a park or street.

• Beach or River Cleanup – Make it a game: who can collect the most trash?

• Recycle Sort Challenge – Teach kids how to sort recyclables with a timed game.

Reduce, Reuse, Recycle – Be sure to teach your kids everyday about recycling glass, paper, and plastic. Don’t forget to take your reusable bags to the grocery store!

📚 Learn Together

Get Educated- Take the kids to the local library and learn about recycling, climate change, pollution, or endangered species. Have a talk with your family about water conservation both inside and outside the house.

• Watch a Nature Documentary – Pick one from Disney+, Netflix, or YouTube.

• Read Earth-Themed Books – Great titles: The Lorax, Compost Stew, We Are Water Protectors.

• Eco Trivia Night – Test family knowledge with Earth Day trivia or quizzes.

🌟 Other Fun Ideas

• Zero-Waste Challenge – Try to go a whole day without producing trash.

• Make Homemade Paper – Recycle old paper into handmade sheets.

• Start a Compost Bin – A fun long-term project that teaches about food waste.

How will you celebrate Earth Day next week?