Earth Day was a unified response to an environment in crisis — oil spills, smog, rivers so polluted they literally caught fire.

On April 22, 1970, 20 million Americans — 10% of the U.S. population at the time — took to the streets, college campuses and hundreds of cities to protest environmental ignorance and demand a new way forward for our planet.

The first Earth Day is credited with launching the modern environmental movement, and is now recognized as the planet’s largest civic event.

— www.earthday.org

It has been fifty years since the first Earth Day, and it’s just as important now to celebrate this day and continue their efforts. This year we are unable to take to the streets, but we can find ways to “protest environmental ignorance” by educating ourselves and everyone we know. 

The first Earth Day was so successful, that even politicians took notice. This one day event eventually led to the passing of many important environmental laws like the Clean Air Act, Clean Water Act, Safe Drinking Water Act, as well as laws to protect wilderness areas. The Environmental Protection Agency was even founded in December of 1970 and is celebrating their 50th anniversary this year as well. 

Unfortunately, in recent years many of these changes have been rolled back as corporations look to cut costs at the expense of the environment. That’s why it’s just as important now to keep educating ourselves about the current policy changes. 

If you think we aren’t affected by climate change because we aren’t by an ocean, then you might be surprised to find out that KC was ranked 5th out of cities to be most impacted by climate change. This is mostly due to the heat island caused by buildings in the metro, but we can also see the changes in the surrounding area with the Missouri River floods of the past few years. If you want to learn more, here is a KCUR broadcast for your listening pleasure. 

Things to do with kids

Meaningful activities to do with kids for earth day

If that wasn’t enough, here are 50 more activities to do with kids for earth day

Here are some activities as well as puzzles and printables with a more educational approach to earth day for kids

More activities here

Things for adults to do

Start composting! (seriously, what did you expect us to say? We are passionate about composting!)

Go ahead, do some earth day coloring pages even if you don’t have kids. You know you want to. 

Look into local politics 

Support journalists who are reporting on climate change

Join us tomorrow for a craft day, and make sure you tag us in your photos of activities through the week! We would love to see how you celebrate! 

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