It’s that time of the year again – Earth Day is just around the corner and we have some exciting plans for you! As we gear up to celebrate our beautiful planet and all its wonders, let’s dive into how you can make a difference right here in Utah.
Earth Day, which falls on April 22nd, is a global event that brings people together to celebrate the environment and promote sustainability. It’s a day to reflect on our impact on the planet and take action to protect it for future generations. And what better way to do that than by rolling up your sleeves and getting involved in some meaningful volunteer work?
Here in Utah, we’re lucky to be surrounded by stunning natural landscapes, from majestic mountains to breathtaking red rock formations. With great beauty comes great responsibility, and there’s always work to be done to preserve and protect our environment. That’s where you come in!
Whether you’re a seasoned environmental advocate or just looking to dip your toes into the world of sustainability, there are plenty of ways you can get involved this Earth Day. Here are a few ideas to get you started:
- Organize a Community Clean-up: Gather your friends, family, and neighbors and head out to your local park or trail for a day of cleaning up litter and debris. Not only will you be helping to keep your community clean, but you’ll also be preventing harmful pollutants from entering our waterways and ecosystems.
- Plant Trees: Channel your inner arborist and get your hands dirty by planting trees in your neighborhood or local green spaces. Trees not only beautify our surroundings but also help to combat climate change by absorbing carbon dioxide and releasing oxygen.
- Join a Conservation Project: There are countless organizations in Utah dedicated to protecting our natural resources, from wildlife sanctuaries to watershed restoration projects. Reach out to local environmental groups to find out how you can get involved in their conservation efforts.
- Start a Garden: Get back to basics by starting your own garden at home or volunteering at a community garden in your area. Not only is gardening a great way to connect with nature, but it also promotes biodiversity and provides fresh, healthy food for you and your community.
- Reduce, Reuse, Recycle: Take a closer look at your daily habits and see where you can make more eco-friendly choices. Whether it’s cutting back on single-use plastics, composting food waste, or shopping locally and sustainably, every small change adds up to make a big difference.
But why stop at just one day? Earth Day is the perfect opportunity to kickstart a lifetime of environmental stewardship. Explore ways to continue making a difference by serving with Utah’s environmental stewardship AmeriCorps programs: Utah Conservation Corps and Canyon Country Youth Corps. By volunteering your time and energy, you’ll not only be making a positive impact on the planet but also inspiring others to do the same.
So, what are you waiting for? Let’s make Earth Day 2024 the greenest one yet! Get out there, get involved, and together, let’s show Mother Earth some love.
Local Earth Day Volunteer Opportunities
Earth Day Gardening at Fairmont Park
Saturday, April 20, 2024
10:00 AM – 12:00 PM
📍Salt Lake City, UT
Join the Friends of Fairmont Park this Earth Day by digging tree wells and mulching them and helping prune roses at Fairmont Park.
Earth Day Jordan River Pedal and Pick: Cycling
Saturday, April 20, 2024
10:00 AM – 1:00 PM
📍Salt Lake City, UT
Celebrate Earth Day by joining us to remove trash and invasive species from the Jordan River trail. Volunteers on bikes will work at stations along 5 miles of the trail where they will remove trash and invasive plants.
Earth Day Jordan River Pedal and Pick: Walking
Saturday, April 20, 2024
10:00 AM – 1:00 PM
📍Salt Lake City, UT
Celebrate Earth Day by joining us to remove trash and invasive species from the Jordan River trail. Volunteers will be removing trash and invasive plants from a one-mile section on foot.
Earth Day Tree Planting
Monday, April 22, 2024
9:00 AM – 12:00 PM
📍Salt Lake City, UT
Celebrate Earth Day by joining us in planting trees at the Regional Athletic Complex!
Kimball Junction Trash Cleanup
Saturday, April 20, 2024
9:00 AM – 1:30 PM
📍Park City, UT
Join Swaner Preserve and EcoCenter for our annual cleanup of Kimball Junction and the Preserve! Coffee and light snacks will be provided by our generous neighbors, Bartolo’s, and all volunteers who participate in the Earth Day Cleanup are entered into an opportunity drawing for fun prizes and gift cards from local sponsors!
Pet Owner Earth Day Spring Cleanup
Saturday, April 20, 2024
1:30 PM
📍Cedar City, UT
We will be meeting with any and all volunteers at Main Street Park in Cedar City to assign work areas for people to clean up dog poop and trash. Friendly leashed dogs welcome and encouraged. This is a completely non-profit event to beautify and maintain the city and keep it a pet friendly place.
Earth Day Planting Party at Utah Lake
Monday, April 22, 2024
4:30 PM – 7:00 PM
📍Saratoga Springs, UT
Join us in planting native plants along Utah Lake’s shoreline. This event is family friendly! High boots recommended. Gloves, water, and snacks provided. Sunscreen highly encouraged.
Slate Canyon Saturday 2024
Saturday, April 27, 2024
9:00 AM – 11:00 AM
📍Provo, UT
Service projects include carrying out trash accumulated over the winter, removing invasive myrtle spurge, and clearing puncture weeds and improving the Bonneville Shoreline Trail south towards Springville.
Park City Library Neighborhood Cleanup
Monday, April 22, 2024
12:00 PM – 7:00 PM
📍Park City, UT
Drop in anytime Monday, April 22, from 12 – 7 p.m., at the Park City Library, 1255 Park Ave., to pick up supplies and sign out a specific street/area around the library. Together, we can make the library’s neighborhood look amazing!
Jordan River Canoe Cleanup
Tuesday, April 23, 2024
3:30 PM – 7:30 PM
📍Salt Lake City, UT
This cleanup is recommended for volunteers with previous paddling experience. Canoes, paddles, PFDs, gloves, trash grabbers and nets will be provided. You will get wet and dirty, and will run into trees and spiderwebs. Come prepared to work and have fun!
Vineyard Earth Day Beautification Project
Saturday, April 20, 2024
9:00 AM – 12:00 PM
📍Vineyard, UT
This project will focus on enhancing the beauty of Vineyard City’s Lakeshore and surrounding trails, to restore the shoreline of Utah Lake. We aim to achieve this by planting native plants, with a target of 3,000 plants to be planted, on April 20th.
Party for the Planet
Saturday, April 20, 2024
9:00 AM – 4:00 PM
📍South Salt Lake City, UT
Join the Jordan River Nature Center for an Earth Day celebration featuring The Ute Dancers at 1pm.
Schedule of Events:
Nature Walks All Day
Trash Cleanup: 10 AM
Yoga with Fit2Recover: 12 PM
Cloud Watching: 12 PM
Bear Dance Demonstration: 1 PM
Writing Workshop: 2:30 PM
This event is free!
Bears Ears 2024 Spring Stewardship Day
Saturday, April 27, 2024
📍Bluff, Blanding, and Indian Creek, UT
Join us for a day of stewardship on Saturday, April 27! Choose one of these four projects, in and around the monument, with different tasks.
Projects:
- Mule Canyon Village – Bluff, UT. Buck and rail installation. With BLM Ranger.
- Valley of the Gods – Bluff, UT. Remove invasive weeds from campsites and parking areas, fire ring clean up, camping mitigation. With BEP Staff.
- Weed Wrangle – Indian Creek, UT. Remove invasive weeds from campsites and parking areas. With BLM and Access Fund Climbing Stewards.
- Edge of the Cedars State Park Museum – Blanding, UT. Remove weeds. With State Park Staff.
Earth Day Clean-Up: Kaysville Ponds
Monday, April 22, 2024
📍USU Botanical Center, Kaysville, UT
Join us for a community-driven Earth Day clean-up event around the Kaysville Ponds at the USU Botanical Center! As we celebrate the beauty of nature, we recognize the importance of preserving it for future generations. On April 22nd, grab your gloves and come volunteer with USU Extension as we remove litter and debris from the shores of our urban fishery. Don’t forget your sunscreen, hats and other gear to make your outdoor experience as enjoyable as possible!
Have a volunteer opportunity to add? Contact Sara at [email protected]