Every year, most people ignore Earth Day and let it pass by without celebrating it at all. However, Earth Day is an important holiday because it raises awareness about efforts to conserve the Earth’s natural resources and other environmental issues. Earth Day is coming up on Monday, April 22, 2024, so here are some activities that people can do to celebrate.
- Help clean up the Big Sioux River
On the Saturday before Earth Day, April 20, the city is putting on their annual Big Sioux River Greenway Cleanup. From 10 a.m. – 12 p.m., volunteers will clean up the trash that is around and in the river. Working to clean the Big Sioux River is essential to transform the river into a river safe for swimming and other recreational activities. The local organization, Friends of the Big Sioux River, hopes that the river becomes “swimmable by 2025,” and Earth Day is a great time to help directly improve the river. Volunteering to clean the river is also an excellent opportunity to get community service hours for students involved in NHS.
- Plant trees and native flowers
Although mass deforestation across the world is negatively impacting the Earth, people can still work to counteract it in their own communities. One way to prevent this issue is by planting trees across Sioux Falls. Trees emit the oxygen that we breathe into the air, prevent soil erosion and provide homes for animals. People can plant trees in their own yards if they have space, or join a volunteer tree planting event. Additionally, people can plant native flowers in their gardens or landscaping. Native plants benefit the environment because they are already acclimated to the location’s climate, requiring less water. They also are essential to the animals and insects that live here as they provide shelter and food sources such as native nuts, seeds, fruits and nectar. Some examples of native South Dakota plants are Anemone, Allium Canadense, Common Periwinkle and Common Milkweed. Milkweed attracts monarch butterflies because they use the plant for food and as a place to lay their eggs.
- Spend time in a State Park
State Parks preserve nature and land for future generations and are relatively close places where people can enjoy fresh air. For these reasons, people should support the parks; since the parks have entrance fees, simply going to them helps them continue being open. In the area, the closest State Parks are Good Earth, Palisades and Newton Hills. In addition to enjoying the trails and campsites they offer, people can help the parks on Earth Day. From 10 a.m. – 2 p.m., Good Earth State Park is inviting people to come and help with projects such as trail cleanup, landscaping and playground improvements.
- Relax and spend time outside
All in all, Earth Day is about appreciating the planet that we live on. We can simply slow down and spend time outdoors to show our love for the planet. Kayaking, hiking, geocaching, stargazing and watching the sunrise or sunset are all great ways to take a breather, relax and recognize the beauty of the Earth.
