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
Aliso Viejo Viejo
Earth Day & Arbor Day Celebration
Aliso Viejo Community Park
150 Cedarbrook, Aliso Viejo
April 28, 2023
4pm – 5pm
Earth Day participants will be assisting in the planting of five (5) 24” box California Pepper trees and Twenty (20) twenty-four-inch box Tipuana trees located at just to the East of Field #6 in the open space
Dana Point
Earth Day Beach Clean up with StandUpToTrash
Baby Beach and Ocean Institute in the Dana Point Harbor
April 22nd from 9am-11am 2023
Beach clean up at 2 locations:
– Baby Beach
– Ocean Institute
AND
Earth Day – April 22, 2023
Sea Terrace Park
PCH and Niguel Rd, Dana Point
9:00AM – 12:00AM
Get outside on Earth Day and visit Sea Terrace Park and build Monarch Butterfly habitats and learn about water quality with tips on how to make every day Earth Day.
Laguna Beach
Earth Day Beach Cleanup – April 22, 2023
Main Beach – Laguna Beach
1:30PM – 3:00PM
Meet at North Main Beach, look for the Blue Project O Pop-up. They will start right at 1:30om.
AND
Earth Day Celebration – April 22, 2023
Laguna Beach Library
363 Glenneyre St, Laguna Beach
11:00PM – 1:00PM
There will be a composting class with Lisa Ryder from the Laguna beach waste management, story time, decorate your own pot with seeded paper, pledges for protecting the earth, AND we will be releasing 🐞 4,000 lady bugs 🐞 in the garden.
AND
Earth Day Beach CleanUp – April 22, 2023
Aliso Creek Beach
31131 S. Pacific Coast, Laguna Beach
8:00AM – 10:00AM
Mother Earth needs your help! Join us to celebrate #earthday with a beach cleanup this Saturday April 22nd from 8-10am at Aliso Creek Beach
Laguna Niguel
Earth Day Celebration – April 22, 2023
Niguel Botanical Preserve
29751 Crown Valley Parkway, Laguna Niguel
8:30AM – 11:30AM
Visit the Niguel Botanical Preserve to celebrate Earth Day. Visitors will plant, weed, and clean up areas of the Preserve. Water and light snacks will be available.
Mission Viejo
Earth Day & Arbor Day Celebration
Upper Oso Creek Trail
24932 Veterans Way, Mission Viejo
April 22, 2023
8AM – Noon
Celebrate Earth Day and Arbor Day at Upper Oso Creek Trail. 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 22. 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. Complementary golf cart shuttle service will be provided between parking areas and event location.
AND
Earth Day Celebration PopUp
Kaleidoscope Mall
27411 Crown Valley Pkwy, Mission Viejo
April 22, 2023
1PM – 5PM
Come on out to The Kaleidoscope Mall. Our Event will take place on THE PLAZA LEVEL. BRINGING ENERGY & REVIVAL to The Awesome Kaleidoscope Mall! There will be: A DJ, 30+ Small Businesses to shop from, Photo Opportunities, Face-painting + Art, an overall great place to hangout and Great food spots!
Rancho Mission Viejo
Earth Day Festival
The Pavilion
2 Tierno Way, Rancho Mission Viejo
April 16th, 2023
2PM – 6PM
Make new friends at the first ever Earth Day festival at The Pavilion! All are welcome
San Clemente
Earth Day Celebration
San Clemente Library
242 Avenida Del Mar, San Clemente
April 11, 2023
5PM
Celebration of Earth Day, OCPL is excited to partner with OC Waste & Recycling (OCWR) and Discovery Cube to bring programs to Orange County and build connections while doing our part to protect the planet.
Earth Day Kits available at all branches. *While supplies last.
Free Events: Gettin’ Wiggly with Composting Presentations and Make an “Ants on a Log Treat”, *While supplies last.
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