This year April 22nd marks the 53rd anniversary of an important holiday, Earth Day! How did Earth Day start, and why is it important? The idea of having laws, policy, or rules to protect natural resources such as trees, fresh water, and clean soil started in the 1960s. At that time there were no environmental policies in place to protect the natural environment, and it was normal for humans and corporations to continue to deforest lands, destroy the soils, and pollute waters with chemicals. In 1969 Gaylord Nelson, a US Senator, began the work of creating what we now know as Earth Day. This work culminated on April 22nd, 1970 with marches across the nation advocating for a healthy, sustainable environment. These demonstrations of 20 million people led to the holiday we celebrate every April 22nd! Not only did this environmental awareness bring the annual celebration of Earth Day, but it also helped create the Environmental Protection Agency, which in turn created important acts such as the Clean Air Act, the Safe Drinking Water Act, the Endangered Species Act, and more. It’s important to recognize that Gaylord’s environmental awareness of the destruction from exponential human growth and his fight to increase sustainable actions was not a new concept or something he did first, but rather he brought this perspective to policymakers. And so Earth Day is celebrated to remember the progress we made to protect the environment and to further reflect on honoring, healing, and growing the relationship humans have with and in nature. 

Not only should we value and take care of nature to keep a healthy ecological balance for all species, but the environment provides people with innumerable mental and physical health benefits. Aside from just providing the basic resources for food, water, and air we need to live, nature has been proven to also boost the immune system, reduce stress, accelerate healing from injury, and improve sleep. The earth currently faces a lot of stress from the climate crisis and it is more important now than ever to strengthen the relationship we have with nature. Humans are a part of nature and we should begin to shift our perspective that humans are not separate from our environment, as we are more connected than apart. This viewpoint is held by many Indigenous cultures and we continue to further our own knowledge, and relationship as we learn, listen and work alongside their communities. If we heal the environment, and our relationship with it, we can heal ourselves. 

In celebration of Earth Day, and to help grow our relationship with nature, we created a variety of fun different nature-based activities that anyone can do in any weather or season. There are three different coloring pages, a word search, and an outdoor bingo! Feel free to download, share, and/or print these activities. For example, you can save these coloring pages for when it is raining outside and you want to color in your favorite bird or fish. Or maybe one day while you're birdwatching, and want to detail the bird or squirrel you see on a nearby tree branch or bird feeder. If you're in the competition mood, challenge your siblings, grandparents, or friends to see who can find all the words in the word search or put your shoes on and explore outdoors to see who has the best eagle-eyes to win Bingo! Although these are only suggestions, we hope that they will get your ideas and creativity flowing like the Raquette River.

As previously stated, the more connected humans are to the outdoors, the more health benefits in both green and blue spaces. Green spaces include areas with many trees, plants, and flowers such as The Remington Recreation Trail, or Higley Flow State Park; and blue spaces include water-based areas like the Saint Regis River, Black Lake, or Rainbow Falls. Scientific research continues to find that the higher the biodiversity an area has, the better benefits humans and earth gain. Some environmentalists like Robin Wall Kimmerer, a professor at SUNY ESF, plant ecologist, and member of the Potawatomi nation, suggest improving the relationship by describing nature less objectively, and as more of a living being. For example, you could refer to your backyard Robin as a neighbor, or give flowers a wave on your walks. Other suggestions include buying less often and less items, reuse and reduce whenever possible, compost leftover food scraps, plant native flowers, stop mowing your lawn, and spend more play or recreational time outdoors. 

“Earth Day is everyday,” so we encourage everyone to find what they love about the outdoors and develop habits to help heal earth. If you want to get more involved, you can also share your photos of your nature sightings on our website, and follow us on social media to learn about upcoming programs that will help you celebrate Earth Day everyday!