In 1969, Senator Gaylord Nelson decided to take action after the Santa Barbara oil spill. He was inspired by an anti-war movement and wanted to use that same energy on growing environmental concerns. Senator Nelson thought to offer ‘teach-ins’ at colleges so he built a team to help promote these events across America. By 1970, this movement had officially become known as “Earth Day” and gained support from people all over the political and economical spectrum. In 1990 the Earth Day movement went global and was recognized in 141 different countries!
Today, 192 countries celebrate Earth Day and the fight against climate change is stronger than ever. To learn more about the movement and to take action in preserving our planet, visit EarthDay.org.
Although they may seem small or insignificant, there are ways we can help preserve and restore our natural resources every day. Try implementing these easy things into your daily routines. To get started, here are a few ways you can help protect the environment:
Turn off the lights when you leave a room.
Learn about recycling in your area.
Walk or bike to school instead of driving a car.
Plant a garden or tree.
Participate in the South Bay Earth Day Challenge for a chance to win some amazing prizes!
How will you be celebrating Earth Day?
Want to learn more about the Earth at home? We suggest our “Earth + Human Activity” Elite STEM Kit! In this STEM Kit, Jr. Scientists learn about the impact that humans have on our planet’s natural resources, and ways to preserve them.