Virginia State Parks is partnering with Earth Day Network* to celebrate Earth Day on April 22, 2017. This year’s theme is Environmental and Climate Literacy.

Virginia's 37 State Parks celebrate the diverse 
habitats and environment of Virginia

All Virginia State Parks have special events planned ranging from tree plantings to clean ups along with fun and informative activities appropriate for the whole family. Choose from this list of activities (PDF).

Many parks have tree plantings in honor of
Earth Day like Wilderness Road State Park

Highlights include:

• Find creative new uses for empty plastic bottles at Bear Creek Lake State Park
• Learn what it is like to be a Resource Ranger at Belle Isle State Park
• Join the Tree Army at First Landing State Park
• Plant native trees at Fairy Stone State Park
• Learn to craft useful objects that help wildlife out of common household garbage at Leesylvania State Park and pick up trash and turn it into art at Caledon State Park
• Help out with the Battlefield Restoration Re-forestation project at Sailor’s Creek State Park
• Attend the annual plant sale at Southwestern Virginia Museum State Park

Clear the beach of trash and turn it into treasure at Caledon State Park's
 One Man's Trash is Another Man's Art Contest

Come out to a state park near you to become a better steward to the planet and learn what you can do at home to make every day Earth Day.

Be sure to stay and enjoy the park – pack a picnic and participate in other activities scheduled for the day. Not sure which park is closest to you? Find a map and list here.

*Earth Day Network is launching a campaign for global environmental and climate literacy by Earth Day 2020. They are dedicated to ensuring that every student around the world graduates high school as an environmental and climate literate citizen, ready to take action and be a voice for change. This goal is not only an enormous undertaking, it is critical and timely. The signing of the Paris Agreement is one step towards mitigating the impacts of climate change. Education needs to be a key part of this effort.