Earth Day. Have you ever really thought about it? It's not like other holidays, right? There aren't many traditions or celebrations that happen on Earth Day. No ball drop. No egg hunts. No candles. No green rivers. No hearts or pumpkins. No must-have foods. It's strange that no one has been inspired to create a backstory, a ritual or some other way that the world could celebrate Earth Day.
The holiday has been around since 1970, and over 193 countries celebrate Earth Day around the world. As I researched this article, I found plenty of ideas on ways to recognize the day. And these are good ideas. Here are a few:
- walk, ride your bike, or carpool in order to get from place to place
- plant a tree or garden
- switch to paperless billing
- stop drinking bottled water
- pick up litter
Do you know what is missing from this list? CONNECTION.
After all, the best holidays are those that celebrate our connections - to family, friends, community, and in this case, Earth. So, we thought we would give you some suggestions on how to do that this Earth Day right here in our community. We are blessed to live in an area with abundant opportunities to enjoy all the bounties of the Earth. Plan a day with your family exploring one of the many nature preserves we have in the area.
Two of our favorites for great family hikes are Anne Springs Close Greenway in Fort Mill and Twelve Mile Creek Greenway which has trailheads in both Waxhaw and Walnut Creek and boasts an incredible 180-foot-long suspension bridge. Invite some friends to join your family and pack a picnic. Another great idea is to stock up on those tasty treats the Earth provides each Spring - strawberries! Visit Hall Family Farm (relocated to Lancaster) for some of Earth's bounty. Take the kids and friends for lots of wide-open space, sunshine and fun. These are awesome ways to connect with our planet and each other!
But what about protecting the Earth we love? Developing an appreciation for what Earth provides for us is so important. When connections to our world form, so does loyalty, love and appreciation. Any mother or father will also tell you that connections compel us to protect what is dear to us. As we all feel more connected to our planet, the natural response is to consider how you can protect it. Do you wonder what you and your family can do to protect our Earth? We encourage you to UPCYCLE!
More upcycling means you can get creative with your useless or unwanted items by repurposing it—basically, turning trash into treasure. Creating something new such as artwork, toys or jewelry is both satisfying and one of the best ways to protect the environment. Not only does it keep items out of the trash, it can prevent having to purchase new items, which require lots of resources to produce. Children love making things; so instead of heading to the craft store, check out your recycle bin first and let their imaginations soar! We presented you with an amazing Earth Day upcycle project that we hope you enjoy with your kids this Earth Day.
IDEA Lab Kids supports environmental protection through upcycling. We share ideas and activities with kids using materials that can be recycled or can be found at home. We believe in nurturing their green mindsets through our activities at the Lab to become better leaders and innovators tomorrow. Choose IDEA Lab Kids Marvin for your child's summer camp experience. We have four camp locations - Waxhaw, Monroe, Weddington and Lancaster - and offer over 20 different themes this summer ranging from chemistry to engineering and visual arts to robotics. Make the most of the summer, and give your kids the hands-on problem solving and critical thinking skills that help them ease back into the school in the Fall. Mac Kid readers can use KID15 to save an additional 15% on top of the early bird 10% discount until May 1.
Learn More HERE
Find your sense of joy and wonder about our Earth this week. Connect with nature and its beauties. Share those experiences with your family and friends. Challenge your family to create something from upcycled materials as a project you do together. While there may not be grand traditions around Earth Day, you can use this day to create your own meaningful traditions and rituals with your family and community that will protect our Earth and build strong connections. Happy Earth Day!
Egg Carton Sea Turtles
This is a very simple upcycle project you can do with your children. But, boy oh boy! It is an Earth Day project full of learning, discussion and problem solving.
The craft is easy, but protecting sea turtles from humans is not. While you are making this craft with your kids, it's a great opportunity to bring the concept of protecting earth down to a level they can connect to in real life. Kids love turtles. They are connected to them in such a fundamental way, that they will want to protect them. Start building a "green" mindset in your children with this activity.
The materials needed are:
- Empty Egg carton - for the shell
- Green Paint - 2 shades
- Cardboard – for the legs and tail
- Pom Poms – for the head
- Googly Eyes
- Body Template - use to trace on cardboard and cut out
Brain Blast about Sea Turtles
- Worldwide, six of the seven sea turtle species are classified as threatened or endangered due to human actions and lifestyles.
- Slaughtered for their eggs, meat, skin, and shells, sea turtles suffer from poaching and over-exploitation. They also face habitat destruction and accidental capture—known as bycatch—in fishing gear.
- Pollution is a big problem. Plastics, discarded fishing gear, petroleum by-products, and other debris harm and kill sea turtles through ingestion and entanglement. Light pollution disrupts nesting behavior and causes hatchling death by leading them away from the sea. Chemical pollutants can weaken sea turtles’ immune systems, making them susceptible to disease.
- Sea turtle habitats are degraded and destroyed by coastal development. This includes both shoreline and seafloor alterations, such as nesting beach degradation, seafloor dredging, vessel traffic, construction, and alteration of vegetation.
Explore and Imagine
- What can be done to save more sea turtles.
- Is there anything that he can do to help the sea turtles?
- If you have been to the beach and seen protected sea turtle nests, explain that these help to prevent the extinction of sea turtles.
- What is climate change, and how does it impact sea turtles?
