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Earth Day - April 22

Earth Day, celebrated every year on April 22, is a day to promote environmental citizenship, celebrate environmental progress and promote action to protect the planet.

Founded by Wisconsin Senator Gaylord Nelson, Earth Day was first celebrated on April 22, 1970. American Heritage Magazine called the first Earth Day "one of the most remarkable happenings in the history of democracy." Earth Day was an instant success, drawing 20 million participants the first year.

Senator Nelson started Earth Day because he was troubled that the environment was not an issue in the politics of the country. He believed strongly that education is the key to changing people's attitudes about the environment, and he devoted much of his energy to that challenge. He died on July 3, 2005 at the age of 89.

Earth Day provides an opportunity to start new projects or revitalize existing projects to help protect the environment. Some ideas:

• Use safer alternatives to household cleaning supplies
• Start recycling at home, school, church or work
• Conserve and protect local water
• Reduce and prevent air pollution
• Use alternative transportation such as the bus, carpooling, walking or biking

2008 Events

Earth Day events are planned throughout the region, and many of these events are listed here. For more information about events in your community, contact your local city, school or neighborhood organization.

• April 5 - Eat Local 2008: 10th Annual Exhibition of Farmers, 9:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m., Independence, Mo. -  This exhibition will feature organic vegetables available on-site and through memberships, free range meats, eggs and dairy products, veggie seedlings, plants for spring gardens, music by Eco-Troubadour Stan Slaughter, and a free Directory of Local Organic and Free Range Food Producers. For more information, call (913) 334-0556 or go visit www.kcfoodcircle.org/events.
• April 5 - 18th Project Blue River Rescue, 9 a.m. - 4 p.m., Kansas City, Mo. - The Friends of Lakeside Nature Center’s Blue River Stream Team #175 invites the public to join the largest one-day stream clean-up in Missouri. There is something for everyone to do: from planting trees and litter pick-up to storm drain stenciling and water quality monitoring. Tools, bags and gloves provided. Worksites appropriate for ability. For more information, call (816) 513-8960 or visit /www.lakesidenaturecenter.org/2008%20Blue%20River%20Rescue%20ed.pdf.
• April 12 - 8th Annual Earth Fair, 10:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m., Prairie Village, Kan.  - There will be more than 50 exhibitors who will cover every facet of sustainable choices at the 2008 Earth Fair. Attendees will be able to use an interactive computer program to measure how their lifestyles impact our environment. There will be a fashion show featuring recycled clothing for school wear and presentations on global climate change, home insulation, geothermal energy systems and native perennials. Eco Elvis and choral groups will provide entertainment. There will be an organic lunch and fair trade products for sale. For more information contact Margaret Thomas at margaretthomas@gmail.com or visit www.pvkansas.com/aboutpv/annual_events/earthfair.shtml.
  
• April 12 and 19 - Earth Festival: A Birthday Party for Rachel Carson, Kansas City, Mo. - StoneLion Puppet Theatre will hold these celebrations at Kansas City, Mo. community centers in order to bring “education through art” directly to the neighborhoods. Each celebration centers around StoneLion Puppet Theatre’s acclaimed performance of Backyard Buggin’ teaching the importance of ecosystem in our backyards. The events also feature puppet-making, planting projects and musical performances. Local environmental organizations will share information about how individuals and businesses can be good stewards of the earth. For more information, visit www.stonelionpuppets.org.
  
• April 18 - KC Clean Streams event - The Blue River Watershed Association (BRWA) is organizing this event, which includes over 3,000 kids and more than 85 teachers from schools all over the KC Metro area. Students and community members work together to clean up our local streams and waterways in an important effort to teach environmental stewardship and community involvement to area school children. This year, teachers are asked to pick a day between April 18 and the end of the school year to hold their cleanup event. They can go to a creek or stream or pick up trash around the school yard. Free trash bags and gloves as well as teacher packets will be provided. For more information, contact Kate Delehunt at kdelehunt@brwa.net  or (816) 309-0980.
• April 18 – Science City’s 2008 Earth Day Celebration, 9:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m., Kansas City, Mo. - Science City will present new and innovative ideas for living an eco-friendly lifestyle. Activities include: tree seedling giveaway, story time each hour with a follow-up activity, an eco-facts scavenger hunt, building a sculpture from recycled materials,  face painting and a performance by Eco Elvis. For more information, visit www.sciencecity.com/earthday.cfm.
  
• April 19 - Habitat for Humanity ReStore Earth Day sale and rain barrel demonstration, 9 a.m. – 4 p.m., Kansas City, Mo. - To celebrate Earth Day, Habitat for Humanity ReStore will take 10 percent off all used items in the store. At 10 a.m. customers can learn how to make and set-up rain barrels. Rain barrels and kits will be on sale for $30. For more information, call (816) 231-6889 or visit www.restorekc.org.
• April 19 - Kansas City EarthWalk and EarthFest, 9 a.m. – 2 p.m., Shawnee, Kans. -  Celebrate Earth Day at this free outdoor festival featuring more than 80 exhibitors and vendors, family entertainment and environmentally friendly activities. EarthFest features environmental topics such as recycling, climate change, energy efficiency, air quality, alternative transportation and more. Children’s singer Jim Cosgrove & The Hiccups will entertain on the main stage. You can also take steps for a sustainable planet with the 12th annual EarthWalk. Choose from a 2.7- or 1.5-mile course and raise funds for Bridging The Gap and its programs. For more information, call (816) 561-1087 or visit www.earthdaykc.org.
• April 19 – Celebrate Earth Day With Wilma, 10 a.m. – 4 p.m., Kansas City, Mo. -  Friends of Lakeside Nature Center's box turtle, Wilma, will be 75. Have a slice of her cake and make her a card. The event also features crafts, a storyteller, animal presentations and a puppet show. For more information, call (816) 513- 8960 or visit www.lakesidenaturecenter.org.
• April 26 - Earth Day at EarthWorks, 10 a.m. – 2 p.m., Kansas City, Mo. – This event will feature activities for all ages: gardening, composting and recycling, energy conservation and wildlife awareness. Special guests include Eco Elvis and Holly Hughes, EarthWorks globe artist. Admission: children $2, adults $5. For more information, call (816) 751-4100 or visit www.lx.org.
• April 26 – Heartland Tree Alliance Arbor Day, 9 a.m. – 12 noon., Kansas City, Mo. - Help beautify the  community and address local air quality issues by joining Bridging The Gap's Heartland Tree Alliance program to plant trees in Kansas City’s Montgall Park.  For more information, contact Angela Schreffler at angela.schreffler@bridgingthegap.org or (816) 561-1061, ext. 110.

MARC Environmental Programs participates in a number of local events to promote cleaner air, cleaner water and less waste. For more information, contact Matt Riggs at mriggs@marc.org or 816/474-8326.

Earth Day Network

Founded by the organizers of the first Earth Day in 1970, Earth Day Network promotes environmental citizenship and year round progressive action worldwide.