Ahhh. Spring is here! If you live in Michigan, the unpredictable weather might make the season questionable until early May. However, Earth Day is right around the corner {April 22} and there are many different ways to celebrate! Whether there’s snow on the ground, puddles from all of the rain, or a bright, sunny day, here are some kid-friendly ideas to get outside and appreciate the planet we’ve been given to steward.
Take a trip to the zoo.
What better way to check out some awesome creatures than to take a trip to your local zoo! The Saginaw Children’s Zoo is hosting their Earth Day celebration on Saturday, April 20 in conjunction with reopening for the season. On this day, there will be stations where you can learn about wildlife and how to live sustainably as you visit some of your kiddo’s favorite animals!
Go on a nature hike.
I believe that one of the best ways to help little ones appreciate the Earth we’ve been given is to take them out into nature. Fresh air clears the mind and rejuvenates the soul; plus, it gets you and the kid{s} out of the house! Not sure exactly where to go in the mid-Michigan area? Check out some local places like the Tobico Marsh Trail at the Bay City State Park, Whiting Forest trails and new canopy walk at Dow Gardens, the Shiawassee Wildlife Refuge, and so many more. Just search for nature trails in your area.
Make nature art.
Rainy day forecast for Earth Day? No problem! Before Earth Day arrives, head to the store and grab a few cheap supplies {glue, tape, canvasses, paint, or even just some string}. Then have your kid{s} go outside and search for items to make some fun art. They could use pretty rocks, twigs, leaves, pine cones, and pine needles just to name a few. It will get their creative juices flowing and you’ll be able to spend some time bonding with them. It’s always fun to see what their little minds will create. Check out Pinterest if you need some great ideas!
Host a {COVID friendly and safe} clean-up party.
As an elementary school kid, on every Earth Day, we would have a field day. The staff at the school would do some sort of special cookout for us on the grills. All of the students would go out with trash bags, gloves, rakes, and yard bags to clean up the fields and playground, and we’d all enjoy lunch together afterward, followed up by a kickball tournament! Search in your area to see if there are any organized clean-up crews or make your own! Find a good spot that needs attention and simply clean it up! We all know how satisfying it is to see a clean area in our home, right? How much more satisfying would it be to contribute to a cleaner Earth?
Make recyclable art.
Got some leftover recyclable items? Grab some supplies and get crafty!
To give you one idea, turn an old 2-liter bottle into a bird feeder. A super simple, yet fun craft. This one can be done even with a smaller plastic bottle and some plastic spoons. Your family will reap the benefits all summer long! Just be sure to hang the feeder in a spot where you don’t mind having some bird poop.
Earth Day can be so much fun! Do you have anything you and your family like to do to celebrate? Share your ideas with us!
