Earth Day 2020

Wednesday, April 22, 2020 is the 50th Anniversary of Earth Day!

Earth Day



Here are the links to sites that were shown in the video:

Climate Change

Climate Change is the biggest environmental concern facing the world today.It can seem like an overwhelming task to reduce the rate of global warming, but each of us doing our part can have a collective effect.The following links will give you information and activities to better understand Climate Change and what you can do to help slow it down.

Short videos on the basics of Climate Science:

Links for Climate Change Information:

Climate Change Activities and Resources

Plants

Conservation including Waterways and Parks

Here's how to make a 'No Sew T-Shirt Bag"

Here are some things you can start thinking about doing that are yard and garden related. The theme for Earth Day 2020 is climate action so start in your own back yard with some of these ideas. 

  1. Plant a tree. Trees help purify the air, give wildlife a home, and planting them isn't as difficult as you might think. We’ll share planting advise on Arbor Day. Or if you want to plant before then, check out: How to Plant Trees and Shrubs
  2. Start a compost pile. Composting takes your kitchen scraps and converts them to nutrient-rich food for your soil. You'll add less trash to the landfill and make your plants happy. More advise can be found here: http://gardening.cals.cornell.edu/garden-guidance/...
  3. Use a rain barrel. Conserving rainwater is a great way to make less impact on the earth while growing a greener garden. A rain barrel is also a relatively easy DIY project: http://cceonondaga.org/resources/how-to-build-a-ra...
  4. Switch to a reel mower. Switching to a non-gas-powered reel mower not only saves you money, but also means less toxic gasses going into the air. Plus, it's great exercise!Even if you only use the reel mower every other time you mow, you'll be making a positive impact on the environment and the air quality in your neighborhood.
  5. Water smartly. Give your garden a drink during the coolest part of the day, so more water has a chance to seep into the ground before it evaporates.

We are exactly a week away from the 50th anniversary of Earth Day and the theme is climate action! To protect public health the celebration is going digital, but there are many things you can do as a family to speak up at home. One of the easiest ways you can get ready and let your neighbors know they can get involved is by making an Earth Day sign for your window. You can even re-purpose some of your recyclables to make a classic cardboard sign. Earth Day Network suggested some short and meaningful phrases below:

“Food waste isn’t in good taste.”
“The climate is changing, why aren’t we?”
“No Nature, no future.”
“Less plastic would be fantastic!”
“Respect existence or expect resistance.”

For more ideas go to www.earthday.org and don't forget to share your window signs with us!

Artist for the Earth is a global campaign to connect with artists EVERYWHERE as a way to encourage people to get involved and take action when it comes to our environment. Art has a way of connecting us personally whether we are involved with it live and in person or virtually. We have hope, hope that if we are emotionally connected to what is happening with our planet we too will want to take action.

WHAT YOU CAN DO?

  • Sign up to be an Artist for the Earth.
  • Create a short film or skit about Earth Day or the environment.
  • Choreograph and perform a dance to highlight to tell the story of the beauty of our earth
  • Design an Earth Day poster and display it.
  • If you are a composer, write a song about Earth Day or an environmental issue.
  • If you are a teacher or administrator in a school, have students to share their art in honor of Earth Day
  • Create a trash to art virtual workshop.
  • Participate in the Environmental journalism contests: "The Scoop" and "The Scoop High School" by writing a poem, an essay or a short story.
  • Practice sustainability in your own artwork, REDUCE, REUSE, RECYCLE

Check out https://www.earthday.org/campaign/artists-for-the-earth/ to sign up to be an Artist of the Earth and to view the art gallery, dance, musical, and theatre pieces that tell the story of our earth.

AND don’t forget to make an Earth Day sign for your yard or your window!

Looking to get in the mood for Earth Week and the 50th Anniversary of Earth Day next Wednesday? Plan out your “stay at home” movie weekend (whatever days those are at this point!) with some of the following movie titles that “showcase the majesty of our planet and the fierce power and beauty of nature itself”. If you don’t happen to own them already, just “Google” them and the 1st result will show what services carry them or have them available. The list includes Everest, Gorillas in the Mist, Avatar, and the classic Western, The Searchers. The entire list can be found here: https://www.readersdigest.ca/…/environmental-movies-earth-…/ . And don’t forget An Inconvenient Truth. The climate is changing.

Do you know how Earth Day was established? “During the 1960s, changing public attitudes and the availability of scientific information that hinted at effects from humans, intended and unintended, on the environment led to the realization that government had a strong role to play in preserving resources and keeping the environment healthy. This expanded sense of awareness and responsibility led directly to the establishment of the first Earth Day on April 22, 1970.” On this very day, Governor Nelson Rockefeller signed legislation to create the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC), marking our first Earth Day!

So not only are we celebrating the 50th Anniversary of Earth Day, but also the 50th Anniversary of NYS DEC, whose mission is “To conserve, improve and protect New York's natural resources and environment and to prevent, abate and control water, land and air pollution, in order to enhance the health, safety and welfare of the people of the state and their overall economic and social well-being.”

Here are 50 Earth Day tips on how we too can be stewards of the Earth and live sustainable: https://www.dec.ny.gov/public/101402.html

Virtual Field Trip: ecoAction - Boeing and Discovery Education are celebrating the 50th anniversary of Earth Day with the ecoAction Virtual Field Trip. The themes are:

  • air
  • land
  • water
  • waste
Discover how you can make a difference and how others are working to do so too. There are also great companion teaching tools here for educators.https://www.boeingfutureu.com/virtual-field-tri…/environment

Humanity: Hope...Love...Compassion - View the trailer for National Geographics, The Hope which will be out on Earth Day, April 22, 2020 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n_Kir4OvgLo

https://www.earthday.org/jane-goodall-reminds-us-of-love-a…/

Virtual Field Trip(s): NYS Parks - We are so fortunate to to have the opportunity to take a 360 degree tour of over 130 NYS Parks. Enjoy the beauty that is NYS. You may be revisiting a park that you have enjoyed exploring in person in the past or virtually visiting a park that you have never been to in person.

Consider doing whatever you can to keep our Earth beautiful for everyone to enjoy now and in the future. You can celebrate Earth Day all year round by doing whatever you can to protect our NYS Parks and our entire Earth. http://www.nystateparkstours.com/

Celebrate Earth Day by observing and learning about the 'world around you' such as your environment! Here are fun outdoor and indoor activities for you and your family from NYS Department of Environmental Conservation: https://www.dec.ny.gov/education/72444.html

Some activities with printable PDFs you will find on this page to help you learn and explore are:

  • Nature Activities - Heading outside? Print one or more of the activity and information sheets and take with you the next time you go exploring.
  • Outdoor Observations & Journaling – Keep a record of things you see, hear, smell and feel while you’re exploring
  • Outdoor Bingo and Observation Checklist
  • Seek and Find Hikes – Take a hike and look for things that match the themes of recording sheets
  • All about Animals – Birds, Mammals, and Wildlife
  • Food Chains – Learn about how energy flow through a food chain and who eats whom
  • Invasive Species
  • State and National Symbols
  • Trees
  • Rocks and Minerals
  • Camping and Stewardship
  • Climate Change
  • Recycling
  • Crafts
  • Family Activities – Quick easy family nature activities to do outside or inside

Wildlife Conservation Opportunities for Youth Outdoor Enthusiasts: We think #EarthDay and #EarthWeek should happen all year long. For some people, they do!

Sportsmen and women can get their start at a young age, and find love and passion for land, water, wildlife, and the outdoors!

Here are some incredible resources to get youth involved in conservation organizations, and to learn more about hunting, fishing, conservation, and other outdoor opportunities:

Virtual Tour: Vernal Pools - For more tips on how to maintain vernal pools visit: https://www.nwf.org/Garden-for-Wil…/…/Seasonal-Water-Sources and https://clctrust.org/educational-programs/virtual-programs/

Virtual Tour: Recycling Center - Have you every wondered what happens at a Recycling Center? Have you visited a Recycling Center before, but would like a refresher on the inner workings?

You will find three (3) different Recycling Center tours here. There is one for 3rd-5th graders, one for 6th-8th graders, and one for 9th-12th graders. All of the tours are interesting and are suitable for adults as well.

Happy recycling friends!

https://recyclingsimplified.com/for-ed…/virtual-field-trips/

April 24 – Happy Arbor Day! Now is a great time to plat a tree or shrub. But before you decide to purchase a tree or shrub, watch this video from Cornell Botanic Gardens for some tips to help ensure success.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C3kazAcJZlU

Contact

Christie Marie Brewer
Sr. Administrative Assistant/New Media Specialist
cmb446@cornell.edu
(315) 539-9251

Last updated April 15, 2022