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 13st from 8am-11am 2025
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 Native Plant Garden Demonstration
Dana Point Nature Interpretive Center
34558 Scenic Dr, Dana Point
April 22, 2025
2PM – 4PM
Join us on Tuesday, April 22nd from 2:00pm – 4:00pm for an exciting Earth Day event at the Dana Point Nature Interpretive Center! Learn about California native plants, water-wise gardening, and how to plant CA natives at the NIC demonstration garden. Take home items for your pollinator home garden! Please RSVP to Lisa Zawaski at [email protected] by Wednesday, April 16th to ensure we have enough materials.
Laguna Beach
Saturday, April 19, 2025
Fisherman’s Cove, 843 Cliff Drive Laguna Beach, Laguna Beach
8:00AM – 11:00AM
Paddle out to remove trash from the ocean, clear debris from the kelp beds, and help create a cleaner, healthier home for marine life! Then meet at Heisler Park from 10 to 11 by the Whale to move, breathe, and connect with nature in a seaside yoga session led by an expert instructor—flow with the rhythm of the ocean and the energy of giving back!
Laguna Niguel
Earth Day Celebration
Niguel Botanical Preserve
29751 Crown Valley Parkway, Laguna Niguel
April 19, 2025
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. Ages 6 & up | Free Event Children ages 6-12 must be accompanied and supervised by an adult.
Mission Viejo
Earth Day & Arbor Day Celebration
Upper Oso Creek Trail
24932 Veterans Way, Mission Viejo
April 26, 2025
8AM – Noon
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 26. 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 the Marguerite Aquatics Complex. 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].
AND
Earth Day Celebration
YMCA Mission Viejo
27341 Trabuco Circle, Mission Viejo
April 23, 2025
10AM – Noon
Join us for a fun-filled Earth Day event! Make your own birdfeeders. Go on a nature walk + campus cleanup. Get creative with recycling crafts Let’s celebrate the planet together! Sign up on Reclique Core or with a front desk staff member today!
San Clemente
Earth Day Coastal Walk
Saturday, April 19, 2025
8:45am
San Clemente Outlets
101 West Avenida Vista Hermosa
San Clemente, CA 92672
FREE
Join lululemon for a refreshing Earth Day Coastal Walk to celebrate our planet and connect with our community! Meet on 4/19 at lululemon @ 8:45AM and walk along the scenic coastal trail across the street, then return together to the store.
San Juan Capistrano
Earth Day Shred Day
The San Juan Capistrano Library
31495 El Camino Real, San Juan Capistrano
April 12th, 2025
8:00AM – 11:00AM
The City of San Juan Capistrano is partnering with Goodwill of Orange County and Southern California Shredding Inc. for an e-waste and shredding event. The drive-thru event will be held at the San Juan Sports Park!
article
