A Day to Reflect on the Past, Present, and Future of Our Earth

Earth Day was established on April 20, 1970. This annual event was created to draw attention to environmental issues and create meaningful, legislative action regarding our natural resources.  Shortly after the first celebration, the Environmental Protection Agency was founded. As a result, key changes were made in environmental policy, including the creation of the Clean Water Act and the Endangered Species Act. 

The impact of Earth Day spread to a global scale in 1990, as a way to mark the 20th anniversary of the holiday. Today, almost 200 countries participate in Earth Day, with 1 billion people working to impact global strategies and individual behaviors to protect our planet.

All actions we take affect the world around us, from the resources we use to the waste we create. Want to make some positive changes? Here are some we do at FRNC and you can too!

• Cut down on single-use plastics: Single use plastics create a lot of issues and use a lot of resources. Participants in our preschool programs bring their lunches in reusable lunch bags or boxes. Refillable water bottles are also a great way to cut down on your plastics.

• Start composting: Not sure where to start? Our garden contains a few examples of composting in action. We can also help with kitchen composting pails and tips on what can be composted. If you're a resident of Rye, sign-up up for City of Rye's pilot composting program. Visit the Rye Sustainability Committee's website for more information.

• Plant native, remove invasive: Our Forest Kindergarten students are doing their part to remove invasive plants. Invasive species are the second largest threat to global biodiversity (second to habitat loss). By removing patches of Lesser Celandine, this group is giving native species a chance to reclaim the areas where their competitors once dominated the space, soil, and sunlight our natives need to thrive. Do your part by removing non-native plantings and growing species that reflect the native landscape. You'll save money on watering, too!

This year's celebrations theme is "Protect our Species". We're ready to help you make that move with our "Naturalist in Your Neighborhood" program. On Friday, April 26, between 10 AM - 4 PM, we can visit your property for free and help you with ideas to make it more welcoming to wildlife. You could help Rye become one of New York State's Community Wildlife Habitats™. Contact ajjohnson@ryenaturecenter.org to arrange your visit or for more information!

Happy Earth Day!

-Amanda Schuster, Environmental Educator