Are you looking for active and unique ways to celebrate Earth Day with your children? Me too. So, I came up with a list. I thought I'd share it with you.

“Now I see the secret of making the best persons, it is to grow in the open air and to eat and sleep with the earth.”
– Walt Whitman

Unique Ways to Celebrate Earth Day Activities

Every day my goal is to be present with my family. Honestly, I struggle with it. So, I truly look forward to activities and celebrations that allow me to refocus and recenter on the important aspects of life. That is why Earth Day is so meaningful to me and my home. Celebrating our relationship to the earth by reminding ourselves of the beauty, the miracles, the strength, and the fragility we must embrace every day is powerful.

I took a step back to brainstorm ways that I'd like to begin our journey and our celebration of Earth Day this year. Here are my favorite Earth Day activity ideas for 2014.

Unplug

This one is tough for me. When I am unplugged, it is usually because I was forced to do so because I dropped my phone in a toilet, or something like that unfortunate incident. When I do unplug, the moments, the days, the weeks in some cases are liberating and so worth it.

Go on a Listening Walk

One of my boys all time favorite outdoor activities. Such a simple activity that carries a big punch. Plus there is a wonderful children's book by Paul Showers and Aliki called The Listening Walk to go along with the activity.

Be Thumbelina

What if we could shrink down to the size of Thumbelina? What would we see on our journey? Take this imaginary walk with children. They will love this activity!

Lead a Silence Activity

Go outside (even if it is cold and rainy! You might just win the kids over with this one!) with your children. Find sitting spots around the yard, notice the sounds when all are silent, perhaps journal the sounds, or simply encourage meditation.

Read Rocket Writes a Story

Then go outside with your children, remind them of Rocket's journey, and encourage them to write their own stories.

Pick up Litter at a Local Park

Don't judge us but my boys love doing this activity, preferably with gloves on. 🙂

 Find a NEW Hiking Trail to Explore

Always worth it, even if the trail is one you'll choose never to go on again…with your children.

Sleep Outside

Bust open that tent, or practice camping inside with your children.

Outdoor Story Time

There is hardly anything more wonderful than grabbing a blanket, a bag of books and heading outside.

Nature Scavenger Hunt

Start a Nature Journal

Learn Something New

We have an educational learning center for a water shed near our home for which I am very grateful. They have simple hands on learning for children including a storytime.

Have your children watch YOU CLIMB A TREE

Plant Seeds

Read this wonderful book (Planting Seeds). Then ask your children what they would like to see grow. You never know what may come of it!

 Other Unique Earth Day Activities

• Collect & Identify Leaves in Your Area
• Meditate – Find a field on a  clear day, lay down and stare up at the clouds
• Become a naturalist for a day; discover and learn more about the plants in your area
• Read a book about your area – For my family, the first book that comes to my mind is called Brother Eagle Sister Sky. The book tells the story of Chief Seattle's words the day he gave his land up to the United States. He emphasizes the connection and the relationship between people and all that is within the environment around us. Truly inspiring.
• Have a picnic
• Don't buy anything for a week & purge by way of consigning and recycling your things
• Make a MISSION STATEMENT for yourself and your family to hold throughout the next year. For me, I'd like us to vow to spend time outdoors every day of the year even on the rainiest, coldest, windiest and snowiest days during the more difficult weather months
• Throw and skip rocks at the shore of a body of water near your home. You'll be surprise at the beauty of the rocks and the water, and the meditative experience {even with your young children} possible from this outing.
• Find a sitting spot for reading, meditating or simply sitting. Decorate it!
• Play MUSIC outside – One of my goals this spring is to create an outdoor music area for my children. Very simple. Inexpensive, recycled pots and pans hanging from branches and bark.

I hope these ideas inspired you or at least made you smile! If you are looking for more, check out these Earth Day ideas and activities.

Have a great weekend,
Marnie