April 22 is Earth Day!
Explore Michigan's natural resources and the ways in which organizations are working to preserve them.
The First Earth Day
After a series of environmental disasters, and increasing concerns about the connections between pollution and public health, in early 1969, two Senators - one Democrat and one Republican - teamed up with an antiwar activist named Dennis Hayes to organize a series of teach-ins across college campuses about air and water pollution.
Based on the success of the teach-ins, Hayes saw an opportunity to inspire the American public. He began building a network to lead community-based efforts around environmental education, climate, and conservation. On April 22, 1970, the first Earth Day was embraced by 20 million Americans in the United States, creating a political alignment between Republicans, Democrats and environmental activists around common values.
Following Earth Day 1970, the Environmental Protection Agency was established, along with the passing of environmental laws and acts such as the National Environmental Education Act and the Clean Air and Clean Water Acts.
Earth Day Goes Global
In 1990, 200 million people across 141 countries participated in Earth Day, raising awareness of the need to change human behaviors and address environmental issues across the globe, and prompting countries from around the world to come together and look for ways to work together around climate change.
Since then, Earth Day efforts have continued to grow, organizing local and global efforts to increase awareness and activism around clean energy and global warming. Despite facing challenges, today Earth Day engages more than 1 billion people, one of the largest secular observances in the world. As addressing the current environmental state of our planet is rapidly increasing in urgency, Earth Day presents an opportunity for everyone to learn and feel empowered in making a difference. For more information or to get involved, visit EarthDay.org.
Hop on the Bus and Take an Earth Day Virtual Field Trip Around Michigan!
Click the bus to Enter
Virtual Field Trip Partner Stops
Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy
Michigan Department of Natural Resources
City of Grand Rapids - Environmental Services
Kent County Department of Public Works - Recycling and Education Center
West Michigan Environmental Action Council
Robert B. Annis Water Resources Institute
GVSU Office of Sustainability Practices
WGVU Education - PBS Classrooms
More Resources
MiPINES seeks to empower educators in practicing outdoor education by providing the location of greenspaces within a short distance of their school. Both teachers and students can discover Michigan’s numerous outdoor sites where fun, hands-on and educational activities can be used to explore nature. Learn how to use this interactive map of green spaces and outdoor sites near you!
PBS LearningMedia offers 30,000+ free classroom-ready standards-aligned resources, lessons, and activities for PreK-12. Explore the site.
Explore the Outdoors Collection from PBS KIDS for Parents provides Nature Science Activities, Simple Outdoor and Gardening Activities, Nature Crafts, Books, and Games for families with children ages 2-8 to try at home. Explore the collection.
Explore the Outdoors Collection for PreK-5 classrooms focuses on Bugs, Animals, Nature, Protecting Our Planet, and Earth and Space. Explore the collection.