25 Earth Day Activities for the Whole Family

Earth day is coming up and there’s no better day of the year to appreciate the outdoors. Whether you’re looking for earth day activities for kids to teach them more about our world or you’re looking for things you can do yourself, there’s no shortage of things to do on earth day. 

We’re rounded up 25 of the best earth day activities perfect for the whole family to spread awareness of environmental issues and develop a deeper appreciation for the world around us.

The Importance of Earth Day

What is earth day all about? Well, it’s more than getting outside and enjoying the fresh air. Earth day is about spreading awareness to global issues like plastic pollution that’s harming our oceans and land ecosystems, endangered species, climate change, deforestation, and more.

All of these environmental issues have led to significant dangerous effects on human health and our planet. But the good news is that it doesn’t have to stay like this. There are certain activities and lifestyle changes we can make to reverse the harm that’s been done, but it all starts with awareness. 

By focusing on the importance of earth day and the awareness it brings, you’re able to inspire your family, community, friends, and even government officials to take better care of our planet through the following actions! 

Earth Day Activities for Kids

Looking to teach your kids about sustainability and protecting the earth? Here are a few fun earth day activities for kids sure to get them inspired by nature!

1. Plant a Tree Together

The best earth day activities for kids definitely involve those that are hands on. Planting a family tree not only allows kids to use their hands for digging and planting, but it’ll get them excited about watching their tree grow!

Plus, this activity provides the perfect opportunity to teach kids about the benefits of trees and preserving them. Teaching them about the oxygen and air benefits that come from trees on top of their housing for natural habitats can easily be tied in while you’re helping your little one plant.

2. Play Nature Bingo

As you get your kids outside for the day, why not turn a nature walk into a fun game? Before you head outside into the woods, create a nature bingo card that’s full of animals, plants, insects, and more that’s found in your area. This fun game will not only get your child excited to go outside, but will make them curious and observant about the world around them. 

3. Make Recycled Crafts

Crafts are some of the best earth day activities for kids since it also allows them to be hands on and make art out of recycled materials. There are several earth day crafts for kids you can find online that use sustainable materials like paper, cardboard, coffee filters, and more to make fun, nature-inspired creations!

4. Feed Birds Outside

Have some expired bread in your fridge or bird seed on hand? If so, earth day is the perfect opportunity to allow your little one to have fun feeding birds outside. This fun activity will get your little one excited to see the birds flock to their yard and provide you the perfect chance to teach them about the birds in your area to build empathy for wildlife in the heart of your child. 

5. Visit a Local Park or Nature Center

Earth day activities don’t always have to be educational. Sometimes getting outside and enjoying the fresh air is all you need for your kids to celebrate earth day! Take them to a local park to play on the playground and walk nature trails, or take them to a nearby nature center instead. Nature centers are great places to visit with kids on earth day since they have habitat exhibits set up with educational plaques to read full of interesting facts. 

6. Introduce Them to Composting

Another hands on earth day activity to try with your children is introducing them to composting. As you let your little one use their hands to fill your countertop compost bin with kitchen scraps or scavenge the yard for acceptable compostable items, don’t forget to teach them the benefits of the practice! 

7. Pick Up Litter

If there’s one environmental issue you focus on with your little one this earth day, let it be trash and the problem plastic pollution poses on our environment. As you teach your child about plastic pollution and the problem with trash, take them around the community to do their part in making the world a better place by picking up litter. 

8. Color an Earth Day Coloring Page

Does your little one love to color? There are tons of earth day-inspired coloring pages you can find online to let their creative minds make a colorful masterpiece that celebrates the planet. To make this activity even more fun, find a homemade crayon recipe your little one can make to use for the coloring page!

9. Read an Earth Day-Themed Book

As earth day commences, don’t forget to use educational materials around you, like books, to spark your little one’s appreciation for the planet. Take your child to the local library and let them pick out several earth day or nature-themed books you can read to them to teach them about their surroundings and how to better protect the earth. 

10. Bake Earth Day Cookies

For a super fun and yummy earth day activity for kids, you can’t go wrong with baking. Sugar cookies provide the perfect dough for using green and blue food coloring to create edible globes perfect for celebrating earth day. 

11. Have a Backyard Campout

As you end earth day, immerse your children in nature by having a family campout in the backyard! Set up a tent and create a small campfire perfect for roasting marshmallows to enjoy as you end the night star gazing. 

12. Paint a Flower Pot

With earth day being in spring, the warmer weather is the perfect climate for planting flowers. Pick a flower pot out of your child to have fun painting before teaching them how to plant flower seeds and grow them to invite bees for pollination. 

13. Make a Sustainable Bird Feeder

Another craft you can make with your child on earth day is a homemade sustainable bird feeder. All you need is an empty milk carton and a few other materials to make the homemade feeder. Not only will this excite your child to make a craft, but they’ll also love seeing the birds fly to their creation for the seeds. 

Earth Day Activities for Adults

Kids aren’t the only ones who can have fun on earth day. Here are exciting earth day activities for adults to enjoy nature and support the planet. 

14. Start a Backyard Garden

Embrace your green thumb this earth day by starting your very own backyard garden. If you’re a beginner, make sure you select a few easy-to-grow vegetables for a successful first crop, and that you have all the required tools on hand. 

15. Volunteer at a Community Garden

Since earth day is all about spreading awareness and giving back, consider volunteering at a community garden. Many community gardens need volunteers to maintain the plants and keep the area clean, which makes it the perfect earth day activity. 

16. Take a Nature Walk or Hike

Of course, you can never go wrong with getting outside to truly appreciate nature. This earth day, spend time outside on a nature walk or hike to enjoy the local scenery and fresh air. 

17. Shop at a Local Produce Stand

Food production is one of the leading causes of greenhouse gas emissions from factories and transportation. To cut down on the carbon footprint from this action, consider shopping locally this earth day at a produce stand or farmer’s market. Not only will you be supporting local businesses and cut down on the gas emissions, but you’ll also be loading your plate with fresher, better-for-you food. 

18. Donate to a Thrift Store

Did you know that fashion is another big factor that’s building our landfills? That’s because, like food factories, fast fashion produces a lot of greenhouse gases for manufacturing and most garments end up in landfills when they’re no longer in use. Shopping at and donating old clothes to thrift stores is a great sustainable way to build your wardrobe while being cautious of your daily waste. 

19. Make a Homemade Cleaner

Adults can get crafty on earth day, too! If you’re still using store-bought home cleaners, a great earth day activity would be to make your own solution. Most store-bought cleaners are made with chemicals that harm the environment once they’re leaked into our water systems. Homemade cleaners are made from natural products that are completely safe for our environments and for you to use! 

20. Try an Earth Day Diet

Stuck in a dinner rut? Switch up your meals by celebrating earth day with an earth day diet. Try making a plant-based dinner with ingredients from the farmer’s market to reduce food waste and meat use. 

21. Decorate a Canvas Bag

Canvas bags are perfect shopping gear whether you’re going to the grocery store or clothes shopping. Not only are they reusable, but they’re made from sustainable materials. Most canvas bags come plain so what better earth day craft than to paint your own shopping bag?

22. Transform Paperwork to Digital Files

While it’s not the most fun activity on our list, turning your important documents into digital files is another excellent earth day activity. This dramatically reduces the need to use trees for paper and it also keeps your paper neatly organized and easily accessible. Just make sure you recycle the no-longer-needed paper to give it a second use!

23. Enjoy the Sunset

When earth day comes to an end, don’t forget to go outside and soak up the sunset. This relaxing activity gives you another chance to enjoy the fresh air while appreciating the beauty of our world and the gorgeous colors that come from a sunset. 

24. Inspect Your Carbon Footprint

This earth day, take some time to consider your daily habits and see whether you can make lifestyle changes to live more sustainably. We all contribute to the carbon footprint that’s destroying our air and ecosystems, but luckily, there are lifestyle habits we can switch to that greatly decrease this footprint! Things to consider are your shopping habits (materials you use and buy frequently, like plastic), food waste, and energy consumption.

25. Invite Pollinators to Your Yard

Lastly, don’t forget to invite pollinators to your yard this earth day! Plant a few flowers in your garden for bees to flock to and pollinate to keep the world functioning as best as it can!

Celebrate Earth Day Every Day! 

While earth day is great being more aware of the planet we live on, taking care of it isn’t just a one day attempt. There are ways you can celebrate earth day every day, starting in your kitchen!

Plastic is the leading cause of overflowing landfills and oceans. Not to mention its harmful effects on human health and the environment. That’s why we’re on a mission to make the world a better, healthier place.

Our line of sustainable kitchenware makes plastic a thing of the past and focuses on plant-based plastic, like Astrik, instead. Shop our line of mixing bowls, food prep trays, and more to eliminate your footprint caused by plastic every single day!