For us at The ChariTree Foundation, every day is Earth Day. We work every day to put children’s rights at the forefront of climate action to improve their education, health, and future. Today is the globally recognized Earth Day, and this year’s theme is “Invest in Our Planet,” ensuring everyone is accounted for and everyone is accountable in actions to protect nature and climate.And these actions start in childhood.
5 Earth Day activities for children
1.) Outdoor learning
Children need time in nature to foster their physical and mental well-being. Taking the classroom outside to connect youth to nature and learn about climate change in a hands-on way transforms their understanding of the world around them.
We support national and international children’s outdoor education programs to develop youth’s environmental literacy and awareness of nature.
Children need time in nature to foster their physical and mental well-being. Taking the classroom outside to connect youth to nature and learn about climate change in a hands-on way transforms their understanding of the world around them.
We support national and international children’s outdoor education programs to develop youth’s environmental literacy and awareness of nature.
2.) Planting a wish tree
Children can plant wish trees to support current and future generations and take meaningful steps for climate action. A wish tree is simply any local, native tree seedling planted by children with a wish they make for the world.
3.) Reading books about climate action
Reading gives children an opportunity to boost their environmental literacy while getting lost in storytelling. Here are some of 2023’s top sustainability books for children and youth:
- The Wish Trees: How Planting Trees Can Help Make the World a Better Place highlights the idea that every child’s contributions make a difference. (100% of book profits donated to children’s environmental programs)
- Forest Bath Right Down This Path introduces readers to a young girl who helps her father leave his cell phone behind and embrace the sights, smells, and sounds of the natural world around him.
- A River’s Gifts: The Mighty Elwha River Reborn chronicles the true story of how The Lower Elwha Klallam Tribe, known as the Strong People of the Pacific Northwest, successfully fought to restore the struggling Elwha river and their way of life.
- No World Too Big: Young People Fighting Global Climate Change celebrates twelve young activists and three activist groups on front lines of the climate crisis who have planted trees in Uganda, protected water in Canada, reduced school-bus climate footprint in Indonesia, invented alternate power sources in Ohio, and more.
- Island Girls: Free the Sea of Plastic empowers children to help their under-the-sea friends and use their voices to fight against plastic in our oceans.
4.) Going for a walk or hike in nature
Children need time in nature for their physical and mental health. Research has proven time spent outdoors decreases feelings of stress, sadness, and anxiety. Plus, time spent exploring nature helps children and youth build critical thinking, creativity,
resiliency, and social skills. Taking a walk, going for a run, hiking, or other forms of movement in nature helps children
connect with the outdoors and grow an appreciation for the natural world.
5.) Taking photos of nature
Head to your local park and take photos of the plants, trees, birds, and other animals. Seeing and experiencing nature and all those calling it home can help children connect to the environment and climate on a deeper level.
You can make a difference this Earth Day
The ChariTree Foundation is a Vancouver-based charity connecting local and international youth to climate education to help them survive and thrive today and lead a better tomorrow. Follow us on Twitter or donate today to help children survive and thrive in a changing climate.