Things to Do – Earth Day 2022

Person at rally with megaphone, April 23 in front White House

Friday April 22nd is Earth Day! It's the 52nd anniversary of the first Earth Day celebrated in 1970. The rest of the days of April are celebrated as Earth Month, a time of focus on the planet, sustainability, and what we can each do to make the world a better place.

Need some ideas for Earth Day and surrounding days? Check out the ideas below and pick something that sounds good to you!

Share your Earth Day pictures with us in your social media posts! Tag us on Twitter and Instagram @sierraclubmd and mention us on Facebook!

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Fight For Our Future: Washington, DC Rally for Climate, Care, Justice, & Jobs! – 4/23, 1-3pm

President Biden and Congress are finally on the edge of taking climate action at the scale the crisis demands – creating millions of union clean energy and care jobs, racial, economic, and environmental justice are all on the line. But they won’t take action without a push from us!

Sign the Fight for our Future pledge now, and RSVP to join us in Lafayette Square in front of the White House at 1pm on Saturday, April 23rd to demand bold action on climate, care, jobs, and justice!

Growing Green With Pride in Prince George's County – 4/23, 9am-12pm

Join the Prince George's Sierra Club's team picking up litter around the ball fields and in the woods at Oak Creek West Community Park in Kettering.
 

Earth Day Celebration at the Salisbury Zoo – 4/23, 10am-4pm

Our Lower Eastern Shore Zero Waste team will be among the many informative exhibitors at the Salisbury Zoo https://salisburyzoo.org/events/ on Saturday, April 23rd in celebration of Earth Day. This event is open to the public and promotes an understanding of and appreciation for nature and the Earth's natural resources. Come enjoy the food, the comradery, and the sharing of ideas that promote a healthier, more environmentally friendly Lower Eastern Shore. Hope to see you there! Let us know you are coming!
 

Montgomery County Greenfest at Brookside Gardens – 4/23, 11am-5pm

The Sierra Club will have a table at the Montgomery County GreenFest on April 23rd, 2022 at Brookside Gardens. Come to this event and visit our table to meet our team, learn more about our organization and priorities in Montgomery County, different ways to get involved and have a good time!

If you are interesting in supporting the Sierra Club and are able to help with this event, please consider volunteering at the table for an hour or whatever time you may be able to give. We welcome your participation and appreciate our volunteers. You can arrive early to help set up and confirm when you register for this event here, what times may work for you. Thank you.
 

Tree Planting at Dunkirk Park – 4/23, 1pm

Join us as we plant 35 native trees around Dunkirk District Park! We will be planting these trees to beautify the park while providing valuable additions to the native ecosystem on Saturday April 23rd, 2022. Bring gloves, a shovel if you have one, and water to drink. Be prepared to work up a sweat and get your hands dirty doing good things for the Earth!
 

Get Outdoors and Join the City Nature Challenge in April!

During the City Nature Challenge, people all around the world take a big-data snapshot of life on earth! Using the iNaturalist app on their smart phones, people like you and me make observations of living things near home and upload the observations to the iNaturalist database. Anyone can participate in this “community science” activity-- either alone with nature, in the company of friends and family, or through organized group activities. Let's enjoy and protect our Maryland biodiversity and share it with the world. See upcoming Sierra Club April Outings and practice identifying critters for the April 29-May 2nd City Nature Challenge!  

Get ready for the City Nature Challenge, when people all over the world record observations of living things near home. Using the iNaturalist app and a smart phone, you can help document the biodiversity of our local neighborhoods and parks. Find out how here. Participation is easy. You can join an organized event, make observations individually or join the fun with friends and family. Here are some City Nature Challenge events in Prince George's County.

City Nature Challenge: 
Nature Finds
at Watkins Park
Work in small groups to make observations of plants, animals, and fungi along the trail near the stream and through the woods at Watkins Park on Friday, April 29, 9AM-Noon. Beginners welcome!
 
Discover Greenbelt Park with the City Nature Challenge
Come see how many different species we can find along the trails at Greenbelt Park, Saturday, April 30, 1-4PM. Bring your smart phone and your sense of wonder! All are welcome! Bring a friend!
 
City Nature Challenge in Guilford Woods with AWS and CSGW
Help the Coalition to Save Guilford Woods and Anacostia Watershed Society document the beautiful and fascinating animals and plants in this environmentally sensitive spot. Sunday, May 1, 1-4PM.
 
 The more we learn about the plants and animals that share our home, the better we can protect the environment that sustains us all. 

Whatever you do for Earth Day, please share your stories and pictures to inspire others to act and advocate for better stewardship of our beautiful planet!

Hike the Morning Choice Trail in Patapsco Valley State Park – 4/30, 9am

Join us hiking the Morning Choice Trail in Patapsco State Park on April 30th at 9:00 am! Join us on the Morning Choice and Ridge Trails for a lovely end of April hike in Patapsco! The hike distance is just under 6 miles. We will be hiking at about 2mph and will enjoy a break at the intersection of the two trails. Signs of spring will be abound and we'll enjoy a little bit of history as well, passing the ruins of two houses. Due to Covid restrictions, the hike is limited to 10 participants. Hope to see you on the trail! RSVP HERE.

It's Earth Month! Enjoy and Protect!

Find more on the calendar for Earth Month:
https://www.sierraclub.org/maryland/calendar

Bonus

For Earth Day, the Baltimore-based R.J. Phillips Band shared with us their new recording, written and recorded in Maryland. The song, The Axe & Plow, relates to caring for the earth and was inspired by the film, "Water's Way: Thinking Like a Watershed." Have a listen!