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:
- 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
- Volunteer to help the local environment
- Visit TreeHugger.com to get informed, interact and take more action
2009 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 4 – Eat Local 2009: 11th Annual Exhibition of Farmers, 9:15 a.m. - 2 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 visit KC Food Circle.
- April 4 - 19 – 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 Lakeside Nature Center.
- April 17 – Science City’s 2009 Earth Day Celebration, 9:30 a.m. - 5:30 p.m., Kansas City, Mo. - Science City will present new and innovative ideas for living an eco-friendly lifestyle. Activities include a variety of activities for kids of all ages: face painting, seed planting, and scavenger hunts For more information, visit Science City.
- April 18 & 25, May 1, 2 & 9 – Green Day Festivals: A Picnic for Our Planet, Kansas City metro area - StoneLion Puppet Theatre will hold these free festivals throughout the KC metro area to celebrate the planet, teach environmental awareness and engage our attendees in hands-on art. The events feature environmental activities, puppet-making, art projects, games and musical performances. For more information, visit StoneLion Puppets.
- Imagine KC: Live! broadcast and satellite events – a live, televised public forum will be presented on Kansas City Public Television (KCPT) from 7–8:30 p.m. What should our region spend money on in order to create a more sustainable future? You'll tell our region's leaders what Greater Kansas City's long-term goals should be. Have a watch party with friends and see what people are talking about.
- April 22 - May 22 – KC Clean Streams event - The Blue River Watershed Association (BRWA) is organizing this event which includes kids and 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 22 and May 22 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 (816) 309-0980.
- April 25 – Habitat for Humanity ReStore Earth Day sale, 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. For more information, visit ReStore or call (816) 231-6889.
- April 25 – 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 Missouri’s Budd Park. For information or to sign up, contact Alissa Jensen at (816) 561-1061, ext. 135 or, or Angela Schreffler.
- May 2 – Earth Day UNDERground: Exchange City & EarthWorks, 10 a.m. – 1 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, Simply Make A Difference puppet show, and Holly Hughes, EarthWorks globe artist. Admission: children $2, adults $5. For more information, call (816) 751-4100 or visit The Learning Exchange.
- May 9 – Kansas City EarthWalk and EarthFest, 10 a.m. – 4 p.m., Kansas City, Mo. - Celebrate Earth Day at this free outdoor festival featuring Five Green Villages that will help make your life greener. Each village will feature interactive displays, product demos and workshops. Bring the entire family to enjoy a performance by Eco Elvis, StoneLion Puppet Theatre, a giant puppet pageant and more. Take a 2.5 mile green fundraising walk along Brush Creek to support Bridging The Gap. Register online through May 1, 2009. For more information, call (816) 561-1087 or visit EarthDayKC.org.
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.
