Earth Day is April 22, and we love celebrating with our kids—but try to keep it genuinely fun. Depending on the age of your little ones, celebrating Earth Day may be as simple as going for a walk outside in the stroller or as in depth as talking to teens about global warming. We’ve rounded up some great ways to note the occasion at home or out and about around South Orange County. Hope it gives you some inspiration for celebrating Mother Earth all year long!
Go on a Scavenger Hunt
Scavenger hunts have been one of our favorite pandemic activities, because they’re so versatile – you can download ones to do outdoors or indoors, for every type of holiday, and for every age.
This super simple one is perfect for younger kids, since it features both pictures and words.
This one is perfect for older kids who can read and understand a bit more about the meaning of Earth Day (bees spreading pollen, the recycling sign, etc.).
Want to fill some more time? Have your kids make their own scavenger hunt with pictures and words, and then complete it!
Pick Up Your Favorite Playground
Choosing an area to clean up—a playground, beach, or even your street—is a wonderful activity the whole family can do together. Give everyone their own gloves, garbage bag, and see who can pick up the most trash! You can even turn this into an Earth Day play date activity.
Make A Homemade Birdfeeder
Give a gift to your backyard birds and make a birdfeeder craft. You don’t even need birdseed—cereal like cheerios and peanut butter work just fine. We love these ideas from The Spruce Crafts.
Make a Card with Recycled Materials
Turn that junk mail, old school art or magazine pages into homemade Earth Day cards. Grandparents or teachers will love getting a special gift and you’ll be able to talk about where paper comes from—and why we shouldn’t waste it.
Get into the Garden
Gardening with kids is a perfect learning opportunity—they can practice fine motor skills, follow instructions and help in planning. For some ideas for gardening with kids, read our recent article on the topic.
Craft Using Recycled Materials
From Corn Husk Dolls to Tin Can Drums, upcycled crafts are a perfect way to explain the power of recycling. Bonus: You won’t have to buy new materials.
Read a Book
We love adding a book or two about holidays to our collection, and Earth Day is no exception. (Note: If you’re trying to save paper, download them onto your Kindle or check them out from the library.) A few of our faves:
Biscuit’s Earth Day Celebration
Skip the Car
Can you walk to school or bike to a playdate? Take the extra time on Earth Day, and explain why you’re changing your routine. Not only is it great for the planet, it’s healthy for you and your kids, and may just help you start getting a bit more exercise into your daily routine.
Play Earth Day Bingo
We love this adorable Bingo game from Little Bins for Little Hands. Easy enough for a toddler to play, but fun enough to engage older kids, too!
Play it Forward with LEGO
The LEGO brand has started a Replay program where you can ship old pieces back to the company and they rebuild them, give them new life and pass them on to kids in need. They’ve already collected and redistributed 300,000 pounds of LEGO bricks.
LOCAL EARTH DAY EVENTS
Dana Point
Earth Day Beach Clean up with StandUpToTrash
Baby Beach and Ocean Institute in the Dana Point Harbor
April 21st from 8am-11am 2024
Schedule:
8:00 am – 9:00 am Free Yoga (in the grass at Baby Beach)
9:00 am – 10:30 am Beach Cleanup
10:30 am -11:00 am Lunch & Learn
Beach clean up at 2 locations:
– Baby Beach
– Ocean Institute
AND
Earth Day – April 6th, 2024
Earth Day Arts & Craft Project
Doheny Campground Campfire Center, Dana Point
11:00AM – 12:30AM
Celebrate Earth Day by getting creative with recycled and reused materials! 🎨 Please join Doheny Park Naturalist Vicki at the Campfire Center in the campground for some springtime fun! No hurry, nor worry, just come anytime from 11:00 am until 12:30 pm.
AND
Celebrate Earth Day with us at Ocean Institute
24200 Dana Point Harbor Dr, Dana Point
April 22nd, 2024
9:30AM – 3:00PM
On Monday, April 22nd, we’re offering free use of our trash pickup tools, available on a first-come basis. Post-cleanup, enjoy a 10% discount at our Gift Store as a thank-you for your efforts! Let’s come together and protect our planet! Join us for a day of care, community, and conservation.
Ladera Ranch
Upcycled Artwork: Family Craft Labs
Wednesday, April 10, 2024
3:30 – 4:30pm
Ladera Ranch Library
29551 Sienna Pkwy, Ladera Ranch, CA
FREE
Celebrate Earth Day at the Ladera Ranch Library this month. Create art projects using recycled materials combined with elements from nature. Families of all ages are invited to participate. All supplies provided.
Laguna Beach
Earth Day Celebration
Saturday, April 20, 2024
11am – 1pm
Laguna Beach Library
29551 Sienna Pkwy, Laguna Beach, CA
FREE
Celebrate Earth Day at the library with a clay sunflower craft, rock painting, storytime, composting workshop, poetry readings from Laguna Playhouse, and special Fairy Garden activities!
AND
Saturday, April 20, 2024
Main Beach, Laguna Beach
10:00AM – 11:00AM
Mother Earth needs your help! Join us to celebrate #earthday with a beach cleanup.
Laguna Niguel
Earth Day Celebration – April 20, 2024
Niguel Botanical Preserve
29751 Crown Valley Parkway, Laguna Niguel
8:30AM – 11:30AM
Visit the Niguel Botanical Preserve to celebrate Earth Day. Niguel Botanical Preserve and the City of Laguna Niguel invite you to volunteer for the annual Earth Day Celebration! Volunteers are needed to plant, weed, and clean in the Niguel Botanical Preserve. Plants and Herbs will also be available for sale in the Amphitheater. All proceeds go to support the Niguel Botanical Preserve.
Mission Viejo
The Shops at Mission Viejo LUSH
555 The Shops at Mission Viejo, Mission Viejo
April 21, 2024
Noon – 2pm
LUSH customers can join in making bath bombs and seed bombs that support pollinators like bees, butterflies, hummingbirds and more.
AND
Earth Day & Arbor Day Celebration
Upper Oso Creek Trail
24932 Veterans Way, Mission Viejo
April 20, 2024
8AM – Noon
Celebrate Earth Day and Arbor Day with the City of Mission Viejo is hosting its annual Earth Day and Arbor Day Celebration with a planting and Green Expo from 8 am to noon on Saturday, April 20. Volunteers will have the chance to embrace nature by planting trees and shrubs along the section of Oso Creek Trail that is north of Jeronimo Road. Participants should wear a hat, gloves, boots and sunscreen. Lunch and ice cream will be available for volunteers while supplies last. Along with the planting, the City is hosting a Green Expo in the open space beside Oso Creek Trail, north of Jeronimo Road, that will feature earth-friendly activities and environmental exhibits with tips on pollution prevention, recycling and more. Parking will be available at Newhart Middle School and on the Village Green at Norman P. Murray Community Center. Complimentary golf cart shuttle service will be provided between parking areas and event location. See this flyer for more information. To pre-register as a volunteer for this event, fill out the Volunteer Application and Waiver and email it to Kristine Rosenbaum at [email protected].
Rancho Mission Viejo
Earth Day Festival
The Pavilion
2 Tierno Way, Rancho Mission Viejo
April 13th, 2024
2PM – 6PM
Get Wild with Earth Day themed activities & exhibits, games for the whole family, special giveaways, environmental workshops, food and beverages, and so much more!
San Clemente
Nature Stories and Craft
Monday, April 22, 2024
4 – 5pm
San Clemente Library
242 Avenida Del Mar, San Clemente, CA 92672
FREE
Join us as we celebrate Earth Day! Enjoy nature stories and a craft. No registration required.
Earth Day Beach Cleanup – SC Pier
Saturday, April 20, 2024
9am – 12pm
San Clemente Pier
San Clemente, CA 92672
FREE
Come join the City of San Clemente’s annual Earth Day beach cleanup.
San Juan Capistrano
Earth Day Festival at the Library
The San Juan Capistrano Library
31495 El Camino Real, San Juan Capistrano
April 23rd, 2024
5:30PM – 6:30PM
Join the San Juan Capistrano Library for some special Earth Day themed Storytime and crafts.
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