While Oakland County offers a variety of Earth Day events to celebrate and protect the environment, there are also plenty of ways to get involved from the comfort of your home! Participating in Earth Day activities as a family not only teaches kids the importance of caring for the planet but also helps create lasting habits that support sustainability.
Below are some fun, kid-friendly Earth Day activities that will inspire your family to make a positive impact on the environment:
1. Plant a Tree or Garden
Spend time planting a tree, flowers, or vegetables in your backyard or a community garden. It’s a great way to contribute to the environment and teach kids about nature’s importance.
It’s also a great way to connect your kids to how food is grown. Never gardened before? No worries! There are many resources for beginners available online. The Old Farmer’s Almanac has a comprehensive beginner friendly guide. You can also look into planting a rain garden to reduce the risk of flooding near your home – the Huron River Watershed Council has an educational meeting about rain gardens in May.
2. Create a Nature Scavenger Hunt
Set up a scavenger hunt where kids find items in nature, like pinecones, leaves, rocks, or flowers. This can be done in your yard, at a park, or on a nature trail. Here is an example of a printable scavenger hunt for kids – but you can also make your own at home by identifying your local plants and wildlife!
3. Make Eco-Friendly Crafts
Use recycled materials to make arts and crafts projects. You can create bird feeders from old toilet paper rolls or make plant pots out of egg cartons. Click here for craft ideas and how-tos.
4. Learn About Sustainability Together
Watch documentaries or read books about nature and environmental conservation. Discuss ways your family can live more sustainably and reduce waste. Younger kids tend to engage with stories about nature and animals, which inspire them to connect with and value their environment. Here’s a list of great picture books for the youngest kiddos in your life. Movies such as Wall-E, The Lorax, and Ferngully can also inspire young kids.
Older kids tend to engage with stories that show empowering problem-solving, as it can inspire them to take action. Look for books that show young activist changing the world! Here are some examples for the tween age-range.
Finally, older teens may enjoy non-fiction, such as How to Change Everything, but they may also find fiction more engaging. Consider looking for “cli-fi” (climate fiction) stories to inspire hope in a better world. Here are some cli-fi short stories to explore.
5. Visit a Local Nature Reserve or Park
Explore local nature reserves or parks, take a hike, bike, or simply enjoying the beauty of the outdoors. This is a great way to connect with nature and learn about local wildlife. Oakland County has parks throughout the county with free programming for kids and adults, including adaptive recreation with disability accommodations. Explore the available programming and find your nearby parks here. You can also visit the Detroit Zoo, the Belle Isle Conservatory and Aquarium, or explore other online tools such as AllTrails to identify outdoor opportunities wherever you may be.
6. Make a Birdhouse or Feeders
Build a birdhouse or simple bird feeders together using recycled materials. Hang them up in your yard and observe the wildlife they attract.
7. Have an Eco-Friendly Picnic
Pack a picnic using reusable containers, utensils, and cloth napkins. Go to a local park or nature area to enjoy a sustainable, plastic-free meal outdoors.
8. Host a Clothing Swap
Encourage sustainable fashion by organizing a clothing swap with friends or neighbors. It’s a fun way to give old clothes new life while reducing waste. Teach kids that hand-me-downs are an exciting way to get new clothes and show them the value of passing on their old clothes to new owners. Organizing a kids clothing swap in your community can be even more helpful as young grow out of their wardrobe quickly. Older kids and adults can explore the Earth Day fashion for the earth toolkits for other sustainable fashion activities.
9. Create a Wildlife Habitat
Teach kids how to create a small wildlife habitat in your yard, whether it’s a butterfly garden, a bee hotel, or a small pond for frogs and insects.
10. Bike or Walk Instead of Driving
Celebrate Earth Day by biking or walking instead of driving to your destination. This helps reduce your carbon footprint and teaches kids about eco-friendly transportation. Biking offers a healthier, more active lifestyle and helps kids achieve confidence and transportation independence. E-bikes are also a great option for longer distance commuting.
You can explore nearby trails using AllTrails, TrailLink, or similar online tools. The Michigan League of Bicyclists hosts local resources and events about cycling and cycling safety. Finally, make sure you have the correct gear to keep yourself and the kids safe – REI offers a guide on age-appropriate cycling gear.
11. Start an Eco-Friendly Challenge
Set up a family challenge to reduce energy consumption, conserve water, or recycle more. Track progress throughout the week or month to see how much your family can achieve.
12. Learn to Identify Local Plants and Animals
Take a walk in a local park or nature trail and teach kids to identify native plants, trees, and animals. You could bring a field guide or download a plant and animal identification app, such a Merlin for birding or iNaturalist. Local watershed councils such as the Huron River Watershed Council, Clinton River Watershed Council, and Rouge River Watershed Council, host citizen science events where you and your family can help identify and count or remove invasive species. For example, HRWC has a bug collection volunteer event on Saturday, April 26th.
These activities are a great way to bond with loved ones while taking care of our planet!
Learn more about our Office of Sustainability‘s efforts to protect drinking water, reduce the county government’s own emissions and energy use, and promote cleaner transportation alternatives.
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