Earth Day is coming. How are you planning to honor Mother Nature?
Our team at American Waste Control is already thinking up some special ways to commemorate Earth Day with their families. Here are some ideas on how you can celebrate with yours.
1. Take a Hike
Between school, work, and all kinds of extracurricular activities, it can be hard for busy families to “get back to nature” on a regular basis. Use Earth Day as an excuse to hit a nearby hiking trail or even camp out for the night. (In a pinch, a tent in your backyard will do nicely!) Ban electronics for the duration of your adventure or create a family mandate you can put into long-term effect—such as No Technology Tuesdays—so your new rededication to the great outdoors gets a little more of the kids’ undivided attention.
2. Plant a Seed
Flowers, bushes, and trees are all good ideas, but we particularly love planting vegetables and herbs. The ability to see easy-to-grow produce like green beans, tomatoes, lettuce, and rosemary flourish is neat as is, but when you also pick and eat the fruits of your labors the connection between the environment and our well-being becomes so much clearer.
3. Go on a Scavenger Hunt
Make a list of items native to your area and head to a park, field, or forest near your house where the kids have a good chance of finding their targets. The list can include anything from a bluebird to a dandelion to a four-leaf clover. The actual items aren’t nearly as important as the fun everyone will have learning how to identify various flora and fauna. They can track their results using the camera on their smartphone or a simple checklist, but encourage them to leave everything where they find it. The prize for the winner? A packet of seeds, their very own reusable shopping bag great for farmer’s markets, or a BPA-free water bottle so they can carry their own refreshments from home rather than buying single-use bottles while you’re out and about.
4. Volunteer with a Local Organization
Use a site like Volunteer Match to hook up with local organizations that concentrate on helping the environment and teaching the community about sustainable practices. In Tulsa, you can volunteer to foster an animal, plant herbs and crops at a vocational and disability assistance center, join the efforts of Keep Owasso Clean, and many other opportunities. Not only are these activities ideal for Earth Day, they’ll give your family more time together and your children more appreciation the world around them.
American Waste Control is dedicated to finding cost-effective and environmentally sound ways to dispose of waste. From making it easier for our neighbors in Green Country to recycle, to using decomposing trash, to generate renewable energy that powers local homes, we’re doing everything we can to embrace sustainability and inspire change. To learn more, read up on our mission.
