50 Ways To Celebrate Earth Day With Kids

Discover 50 simple ways your family can celebrate Earth Day and make a positive impact with this list of kid-friendly activities.

When Is Earth Day?

Earth Day was first observed in 1970 and is celebrated every year since on April 22nd. Earth Day 2025 takes place on Tuesday, April 22nd.

Earth Day was started to raise awareness about environmental issues and encourage people to take action to protect the planet. The activities listed below, such as learning about endangered species, calculating carbon footprints, and advocating for environmental protection, are great ways to get involved as a family!

50 Ways To Celebrate Earth Day As A Family

I’ve included affiliate links to things our family loves; disclosure policy available here.

a list of 50 Ways to celebrate Earth Day with Kids.

Get Outside & Explore The Planet:

Nature Scavenger Hunt: Create a list of items to find (such as a specific leaf, rock, or pinecone) and explore a local park or even your backyard.
Plant a Tree: Choose a native tree and plant it in your yard or a community space (with permission). You could even team up with others to plant many trees!
Start a Garden: You don’t need a big yard, an herb garden can flourish in a sunny window or a porch. Check out this Beginner’s Guide To Starting A Garden for inspiration and get growing!
Go Backyard Camping: Enjoy the great weather and have an adventure without ever leaving your yard! Check out this list of 25 Backyard Camping Ideas to get started!
Have a Picnic in the Park: Pack a sustainable lunch and dine al fresco while the weather is nice.
Visit a Botanical Garden: Explore diverse plant life and enjoy the beauty of a local botanical garden. TIP: Call ahead to find out about children’s programs, guided tours, and discounted admission days.
Explore a National Park: Whether it’s a day trip to a local landmark, or a longer trip to see a national treasure, our nation’s parks never disappoint! TIP: Research kid-friendly trails before you go.
Go Birdwatching: Observe and learn to observe identify different bird species. The kids and I love to see our feathered friends when we take a morning walk every day.
Visit a Local Farm: This is a great way for kids to see where their food comes from and support a local business.
Go Tide Pooling: Low tide is a great opportunity to explore marine life up close. Be sure to wear water shoes and observe respectfully.
Visit a Nature Center: Nature centers often have free or low cost educational programs and exhibits.
Go on a Bug Hunt: Look for interesting insects in your backyard or at the park. Check out our printable Insect Scavenger Hunt here for ideas to get started!
Build a Fairy Garden: Create a miniature garden in a pot or a corner of your yard, using natural materials such as twigs, stones, and small plants. You never know what you might see there!
Create a Backyard Wildlife Habitat: Turn your backyard into a sanctuary for wildlife. You could add a bird feeder, a birdbath, and/or plants that attract pollinators.
Go Stargazing: Look up at the night sky to learn about constellations, or observe a unique event such as a meteor show. Get more tips for stargazing as a family here!
Take a Bike Ride: A bake ride isn’t just great exercise, it is also an excellent way to explore you natural environment. Be sure to always wear a helmet!
Go Hiking: Explore local trails and get in some awesome physical activity at the same time! Be sure to choose a trail that is appropriate for the age and fitness levels of everyone going.
Build a Campfire: A campfire is a great way to enjoy the beautiful spring weather as a family. You can tell stories, roast marshmallows, or even bake campfire cinnamon rolls!
Visit a Zoo or Aquarium: The local zoo or aquarium may very likely host Earth Day events!
Go Kayaking or Canoeing: Get out on the water and explore! Look for guided tours if you’re a beginner to kayaking.

Reduce, Reuse, Recycle:

Start Composting: Save space in your trash can and start a compost pile for food scraps and yard waste. Learn more about how to start composting at home here.
Recycle as a Family: Set up a recycling system at home and learn what can be recycled. If your local service doesn’t offer recycling pick up, plan a family trip to the local recycling center.
Reduce Food Waste: Starting a meal plan and finding more ways to use leftovers is a great simple step to reduce your carbon footprint!
Reuse Containers: Find new uses for empty jars, bottles, and containers. You can use them for storage or even crafting!
Make a Rain Barrel: Set up a rainwater collection system in your yard to use for watering the garden. This can also help save money on your water bill! (Make sure that collecting rainwater is allowed in your area first).
Upcycle Old Items: Transform old clothes, furniture, or other items into a cool DIY project! For example, we used laundry jugs to make Halloween lanterns!
Have a Zero-Waste Picnic: Be sure to reusable containers, cutlery, and cloth napkins and plan a menu that involves minimal packaging.
Make Your Own Cleaning Products: You won’t believe the cleaning power of natural ingredients such as vinegar, baking soda, and lemon juice. A couple of my favorite DIY cleaning products are this 3-Ingredient Ant Spray and Pine Needle Cleaner.
Repair Broken Items: Instead of throwing things away, why not try to fix them first? Plus it’s useful for kids to learn practical skills like sewing and home repairs.
Swap Toys or Clothes: Organize a swap with friends or neighbors, or host a yard sale to declutter AND make a little extra cash.

Learn About The Environment & Advocate For Positive Change:

Read Books About Earth Day: Take a trip to the local library and check out books about nature, space, animals, and more!
Watch Documentaries: I am a huge fan of documentaries and they are one of my favorite ways to teach my kids about far-away places and interesting things that we might otherwise not be able to experience in person.
Write Letters to Leaders: Advocate for environmental protection by researching current issues and contacting your local representatives.
Make Earth Day Art: Bonus points for using recycled materials in your art projects!
Learn About Endangered Species: Research animals and plants that are at risk and brainstorm ways that we could help make a difference.
Calculate Your Carbon Footprint: Learn about your family’s impact on the environment and ways to make a positive change.
Learn About Renewable Energy: Explore solar, wind, and other clean energy sources, then think of ways to reduce the amount of energy your family uses.
Participate in Earth Day Events: Check your local newspaper or community websites to find out about local festivals, cleanups, or workshops.
Start an Earth Day Club: Connect with other families to organize activities; you could make new friends and make a difference in your community!
Create Educational Games: Make a board game or card game about environmental topics. My daughters LOVE Pixicade, which is an app that lets them create their own video games and share them with other app users.

Make A Difference At Home & In Your Community:

Turn Off Lights: Conserve energy by turning off lights when leaving a room. You could even make it a game and have a reward for whoever finds the most lights on in the house and turns them off.
Unplug Electronics: Save energy (and money) by unplugging devices when they are not in use. TIP: A power strip makes this as easy as flipping a switch!
Take Shorter Showers: Create a family challenge to take shorter showers and reduce water usage. You can also focus on turning off the water while washing hands and brushing teeth.
Use Reusable Water Bottles: Pick out special reusable water bottles for each member of the family. You could even personalize them!
Walk, Bike, or Use Public Transportation: Whenever it is practical, plan outings around public transportation.
Support Sustainable Businesses: Make it a point to purchase products from companies that are environmentally responsible or local to your area.
Buy Local and Organic Food: Visit a farmer’s market, local farm co-op, etc. Not only will you find the freshest produce, but you’re making an environmentally friendly purchase too.
Reduce Paper Consumption: Use less paper and switch to digital options, such as e-readers.
Volunteer for a Cleanup: Participate in a local park, beach, or roadside cleanup by finding local organizations and signing up as a family.
Donate to Environmental Organizations: This is a great way to support your favorite environmental cause, even if you don’t live nearby to help out in person.

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Stacey aka the Soccer Mom

Stacey is the creator of The Soccer Mom Blog, a Houston Texas mom blog that focuses on positive living for women and families. She loves to share real food recipes, money-saving tips, parenting encouragement, kids activities, DIY tutorials, home hacks, fitness, and so much more! To get to know Stacey even better, click here.

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