5 Ways to Celebrate Nature This Earth Day
Earth Day is a true call for celebration. What started on April 22, 1970, has grown into an annual, global event that more than 1 billion people from over 193 countries participate in. It’s a day to show our support for environmental protection by coming together as a community to give back in big and small ways.
If you’re wondering how to celebrate Earth Day this year, we’ve rounded up five ideas to get you started. Whether taking a meditative stroll on your favorite trail, joining a litter pickup, or donating to an environmental nonprofit, let’s make this Earth Day our best and most supportive one yet!
1. Invest in a GVP Poop Kit
Last Earth Day, Gossamer Gear introduced the world to the GVP Poop Kit. The GVP Poop Kit is a simple but innovative tool looking to keep the outdoors pristine. It was developed by Gossamer Gear Founder Glen Van Peski in collaboration with author, illustrator, and UFO researcher Mike Clelland.
The GVP Poop Kit leverages a shop towel (or half of one), which—with its additional heft—provides a more satisfying wipe than toilet paper while using a smaller quantity. Of course, you must pack out your used shop towels, as they won’t degrade in the soil, but packing out your toilet paper is considered the best practice for Leave No Trace ethics now anyway.
The GVP Poop Kit includes a handy graphic on one side of the kit’s towel to show you how to get four wipes out of one half of a shop towel. Ready to minimize your backcountry wipes? You can purchase your GVP Poop Kit here. We’re also happy to share that all proceeds from the GVP Poop Kit continue to go directly to the nonprofit Leave No Trace.
2. Join a Community of Fellow Earth Lovers
Earth Day falls on Saturday, April 22, this year. Many organizations, nonprofits, local hiking groups, and others are hosting events for nature enthusiasts to enjoy time outdoors together. One of the best ways to celebrate our environment is to remember the shared responsibility we have to protect it. Check with your area’s outfitters, parks, and outdoor groups for events where you can lend a hand.
This year, Gossamer Gear is sponsoring Texas Rowing Dock and The Trail Conservancy for their Earth Day Clean Up extravaganza! If you’re in the Austin, Texas, area, we hope you’ll join this awesome event. If you can’t make this one, join their Kayak Clean Up Crew for weekly lake clean ups every Saturday. They donate the boat and supplies and you just bring your time.
Earth Day also kicks off National Park Week. Check out the National Park Service website for more information on related events for ways you can give back, or check with your nearest park.
Another great place to look for Earth Day events and ways to connect with like-minded people is EarthDay.org.
3. Run for an Earthly Cause
Many organizations host 5K fun runs or other races in support of environmental nonprofits for Earth Day. If you’re looking for a good excuse to be active this Earth Day, register for one of these events.
You can also choose to do a virtual run. Rising Hearts is an indigenous-led, grassroots organization working toward a vision of a socially, economically, and environmentally just world. This year, it's hosting its inaugural virtual Earth Day 5K. You can sign up to participate here, and also learn about other Earth Day activities the group is doing in cities across the country to support our planet.
4. Donate to Your Favorite Nature Nonprofit
If you have the means, Earth Day is the perfect opportunity to set up a monthly recurring donation to your favorite nature nonprofit.
Love the Everglades? Donate just $10 a month to the Everglades Foundation, and by Earth Day next year, you’ll have given the organization $120!
Did the Appalachian Trail change your life? Start your donation to the Appalachian Trail Conservancy.
Want to help others learn how to take better care of our shared nature spaces? Donate to Leave No Trace.
Whatever your outdoor passion is, there’s undoubtedly a nonprofit out there working hard to protect it for generations to come, make it more accessible to a wider range of people, and just generally give our earth a little more of the love it deserves.
5. Spend Time Outside
Really, each day we spend outside should be considered Earth Day. Nothing reminds us of how precious our environment is quite like hiking a trail, enjoying a picnic in the park, or kayaking around a lake.
Celebrate Earth Day by heading outside for a mindfulness practice focused on your gratitude for these wilderness spaces. Think of ways you can treat our Earth to a really great date night.
The more time you spend outside, the more you’ll be encouraged to bring others into this movement to give back to the environment.
Take Less, Do More for the Earth
We hope everyone has a wonderful Earth Day this year. We’d love to see how you’re giving back to the environment. Share with us by tagging us on social media (@gossamergear) and using the hashtag #takelessdomore.
Looking for additional ways to take care of our planet? Check out some of our other articles on the Light Feet blog: