Going digital for Earth Day

Staff Report

Each year in April, the Saratoga-Encampment-Rawlins (SER) Conservation District promotes two conservation events, Earth Day, which is April 22, and Arbor Day, which is April 24. Earth Day was founded in 1970 as a day of education about environmental issues so this year we are celebrating the 50th anniversary. By raising public awareness of pollution, reducing the use of our natural resources, reusing materials and recycling many products through the years, we all contribute to the conservation of our natural resources.

Arbor Day is an event celebrated every year on the last Friday in April to recognize the importance of trees. Most years, the Town of Saratoga and the SER Conservation District cosponsor an event with the Saratoga Elementary School to plant trees in the community.

Amid the recent COVID-19 global pandemic, the 50th anniversary of Earth Day and Arbor Day celebration has gone digital. Project Learning Tree teamed up with Earth Day Network, Project WET, and Project WILD to share available education resources to advance natural resource education. This year SER Conservation District is encouraging the community to utilize the education resources at https://www.plt.org/news/earth-day-2020/ and to utilize one or more of the suggested activities. Activities include 12 nature walk activities for Earth Day (or any day) and information on learning how to reuse and recycle at home.

Other ways to celebrate Earth Day and Arbor Day in your community include: cleaning up your yard, picking up trash along your street or road, planting a tree in your yard or establishing a recycling program for your household. If everyone does a little, it adds up to a lot for our communities and environment.

If you are not able to access the information on the website listed and would like more information on nature and conservation activities, please contact the SER Conservation District at 307-326-8156 and ask for Leanne