Earth Week kicks off and New York City celebrates it in a special way.
The city’s Parks Department announced on its Twitter account that during this week it will have activities to give back to nature, from tree planting events, gardening workshops, park cleanups and even tips for enjoying the green areas of the Great Apple.
Earth Day began in 1970 as a way to raise awareness of environmental issues, the department describes. Gaylord Nelson, a US Senator from Wisconsin, and Denis Hayes, a young environmentalist, teamed up to host events across the country. After that first Earth Day, which was celebrated by 20 million people across the country, President Richard Nixon created the Environmental Protection Agency.
Here are some of the events New York City will hold to commemorate this day:
- Green belt salamander monitoring:
- Subject: Participants will learn about the biology and life cycles of salamanders while exploring spring ponds and wetlands in LaTourette Park.
- Place: Nature Center Greenbelt in Blood Root Valley.
- Cost: Free
- Date: April 19, 2022 from 3:00 p.m.– 4:30 p.m.
- Planting trees in the Bronx forest
- Subject: Celebrate Earth Week and help preserve vital habitat along the river by planting native trees in the Bronx Forest. All planting materials and equipment will be provided.
- Place: Bronx River Forest at the Burke Bridge in Bronx Park.
- Cost: Free
- Date: April 20, 2022 from 9:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
- Planting the Garden: Seed Planting and Distribution Workshop | GreenThumb grow together
- Subject: GreenThumb GrowTogether at East New York Farms will host a seed distribution and workshop to help gardeners prepare for the upcoming growing season. Participants can enjoy the farm, meet other local gardeners, learn how to plant seeds, browse the donated seed collection, and win free seed packets.
- Place: UCC Youth Farm 620 Schenck, Brooklyn.
- Cost: Free
- Date: April 20, 2022 from 5:00 p.m.–6:30 p.m.
- Tree Identification and Care | GreenThumb grow together
- Subject: In this workshop, attendees will learn some of the basics of tree identification (branches, buds, leaves), some of the most common trees in New York City streets and parks, as well as the basic biology of trees. trees, to care for the trees in or near your garden space.
- Place: Hogshead Ranch, 25-30 Skillman Avenue Long Island City, Queens, New York.
- Cost: Free.
- Date April 20, 2022 from 6:00 p.m.–7:30 p.m.
- Children’s Week: Earth Day Celebration Walk
- Subject: Even when there are no classes, the parks remain the city’s natural classroom. Take your kids to city parks for Kids Week over spring break. With programs led by urban park rangers, children will experience nature in a fun and hands-on way. Celebrate Earth Day with a fun-filled walk dedicated to nature and the earth.
- Place: Payson Park House at Inwood Hill Park, Dyckman Street and Payson Avenue, Manhattan.
- Cost: Free.
- Date: April 22 from 1:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m.
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