Earth Day is an opportunity to give back to Mother Earth. There are so many ways to do this that it can feel overwhelming to attempt to give back what nature provides to us. We’re here to help by giving you seven ways you can make a big impact this Earth Day. Virginia State Parks are hosting Earth Day events between April 20-27, 2024, across the commonwealth to make it even easier for you to give back. This year's theme is "Planet vs. Plastics".

1. Plant natives for nature 

A monarch butterfly on native butterfly milkweed in Kiptopeke State Park’s Native Plant Garden  

Say thank you to pollinators this Earth Day by planting native, pollinator-friendly plants. Native species are those that naturally occur in the region in which they evolved. Since plants evolve over time, native plants possess certain traits that make them uniquely adapted to local conditions and provide the best resources to wildlife.  

The following parks are hosting planting events:  

• Earth Day Seed Bombs - Douthat State Park
• Plant Native Species - Kiptopeke State Park
• Seed Pod Planting - Wilderness Road State Park
• Pot your own Plants - Powhatan State Park
• Pollinator Planting - Occoneechee State Park
• Pollinator Plant Out - Natural Tunnel State Park
• Seed Bomb Slingshots - Hungry Mother State Park
• Native Plants (Sale) - Sailor's Creek Battlefield State Park
• Friends of the Museum - Earth Day Plant Sale - Southwest Virginia Museum

2. Remove invasive plants

Invasive plants are species that have been introduced to our environment, are out of place and cause harm to our biodiversity. Invasive plants often crowd out or even kill native plants. Removing invasive species helps native flora and fauna to thrive with their native habitat.  

Removing invasive plants at Staunton River Battlefield State Park

Learn which plants are invasive at Virginia State Parks by attending a removal event, such as the following.  

• Invasive Plant Pull - Claytor Lake State Park
• Earth Day Service Project - Sky Meadows State Park
• Earth Day Volunteer Event - Seven Bends State Park

3. Clean up a trail

A successful cleanup at James River State Park 

Virginia State Parks depend on volunteers to help us maintain our 700+ miles of trails. Enjoy a hike and feel good about making the trail look better than how you found it by going to one of the following events. 

• Litter Pickup - Twin Lakes State Park
• Trail Cleanup - Hungry Mother State Park
• Earth Day Clean-up - Belle Isle State Park
• Earth Day Celebration - Pocahontas State Park
• Clean the Park for Earth Day - Machicomoco State Park
• Earth Day Service Project - Sweet Run State Park

4. Clean up a beach or waterway

Help improve water quality by removing trash from beaches, creeks, lakes, etc. Trash in natural waterways doesn’t only look bad, it can harm wildlife and pollute our drinking water.  

• Planet vs Plastic - Community Shoreline Cleanup - Mason Neck State Park
• Earth Week - False Cape State Park
• Earth Day: Tree Planting & Shoreline Clean- Up/ Beautification - Leesylvania State Park
• Shoreline Cleanup - Claytor Lake State Park

Fossil Beach at Westmoreland State Park. Photo by Bob Diller

Get creative by turning trash into treasure after a park cleanup. Participants are challenged to create a work of art out of the litter they collected at the following events. 

• Trash to Art Contest - Caledon State Park
• Upcycling Trash Art - Leesylvania State Park

5. Participate in community science

Community science (aka citizen science or participatory science) is simply observing nature and logging it publicly to share what you find. An example of community science is counting birds you see in an environment and logging what you spot in eBird — an online database of bird observations. This data provides scientists, researchers and naturalists with real-time information on bird migration and population. 

Birdwatching at Claytor Lake State Park 

Engage in community science by participating in a bird count at New River Trail State Park on the newly developed Ivanhoe Birding Trail. You can also participate in the "Restore our Earth" Wild Bird Survey at High Bridge Trail State Park. 

Eastern bluebirds scout out areas for nesting early in the spring season. Help them out by building bluebird boxes at Powhatan State Park and Natural Tunnel State Park. Make a bird feeder at Westmoreland State Park's A Park in your Backyard event.

Visitors show off their kestrel boxes (bird houses) made at Caledon State Park
 

6. Recycling and Composting Events

Make a difference this Earth Day by donating your plastics. Learning about recycling, upcycling and composting at workshops at various parks. 

• Earth Day Recycling Drive: "Put Plastic in its Place" - Natural Bridge State Park
• Earth Day - Reduce, Re-use, & Recycle - Smith Mountain Lake State Park
• Earth Day Week - Upcycling - First Landing State Park
• Earth Day: Upcycling and Composting - Leesylvania State Park
• Earth Day Celebration - Sweet Run State Park
• The 6 R's of Recycling - Widewater State Park
• Earth Day - Bear Creek Lake State Park

7. Plant a tree

“A society grows great when old men plant trees in whose shade they shall never sit.”— Greek proverb  

This quote sums up how planting a tree is a selfless act. Shade is just one benefit from trees! Planting a tree improves the environment immediately by providing more oxygen and habitat for wildlife like birds. Plus, trees like the state tree flowering dogwood add beauty to landscaping!  

Tree planting at Bear Creek Lake State Park in 2022

• Earth Day: Tree Planting & Shoreline Clean- Up/ Beautification - Leesylvania State Park
• Earth Day Tree Planting - Staunton River State Park
• Earth Day Service Project - Sky Meadows State Park

---

Thank you for looking for ways to help our environment this Earth Day! We hope Virginia State Parks inspires you to take care of the world around you every day.