Earth Day!!!!

The celebration of Earth Day is on April 22nd and it began 1970. It has grown into a global event recognized by over 192 countries. Devoting special a day to helping for the earth is a way to demonstrate how much we care about the future of our planet. No matter what you like to do best, there's a way to get involved in Earth Day. You could plant a tree, make a meal with locally-grown vegetables, educate a family member, clean up trash in your neighborhood, set up a bird feeder or save power — the possibilities are endless. Remember, you don't have to wait for Earth Day to show your love for the planet we call home.

1) Learn more about the environment. Earth Day is a good time to make a commitment to learning more about the environment and how you can help to protect it. Read articles to get up to date on the current issues affecting the environment, like pollution, water shortages, and climate change. Or, learn about a region you've never considered before, like the Arctic, the deserts, or the rain forests. Not sure where to start? Check out your local news sources for information about environmental issues in your own backyard.

Understand how climate change works, and what you can do about it.

If you live in a city, look into urban environmental issues like contaminated drinking water and energy conservation.

If you live near a body of water, do research to find out whether it's healthy or in need of help.

Find out which species native to your area are under threat of extinction.

2) Join an environmental group. Think about the issues that concern you the most and if you haven't done so already, join a local group that undertakes activities to help protect the environment in your area. Earth Day is a great day to start getting involved. In almost any community, you'll find local groups that do the following:

Host clean-ups of local bodies of water and their shores

Fight air and water pollution

Plant trees and install community gardens

Protect habitats under threat of getting developed

Can't find a group? Consider starting your own.

3) Spread the word. Everyone has environmental knowledge they can share with others. Just talking about the environment with people who may not think about it that much is a good way to celebrate Earth Day. Talk to your parents, friends, teachers, siblings, and anyone else you'd like about the issues you care about most. Here are a few ways to educate others about the earth:

Give a speech at your local library on how to compost with worms

Take a group of children down to the recycling center to show them how things are recycled

Recite nature poems in the park

Offer to teach your office colleagues how to make environmentally-friendly choices at work during lunch hour