Each year on Apr 22, millions of people around the globe come together to celebrate Earth Day, a day dedicated to raising awareness about environmental issues and promoting sustainability to protect our Earth. As humans, we have the power to make a significant impact right in our community, like Berkley High School’s Environmental Club. The Environmental Club and the community surrounding Berkley planned many different activities and events that allowed everyone to participate on this important day and help create a better future.
Starting off, the Detroit Zoo hosted a “Greenfest” on Apr 12 and 13 from 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM, which was a two-day environment-friendly festival that will “inspire your passion for sustainability.” This event had hands-on activities, a marketplace, and live entertainment all included with your entry ticket that promotes making a positive impact on our planet. There’s also an opportunity to bring all of your unwanted electronics and recycle them at the Detroit Zoo’s annual E-recycling event for a chance to earn a free ticket to the zoo.
Next, Stony Creek Metropark is hosting an Earth Day cleanup on Apr 27 from 10:00 AM to 1:00 PM. Available for every volunteer, all necessary gloves and tools are provided during your hunt for garbage in order to help keep the park beautiful and safe for people and wildlife. At the cleanup, participants help maintain the park’s recreation and education areas, including shoreline cleanups, invasive species removal, and tree plantings, all while enjoying free park admission. Everyone is free to volunteer, as long as you pre-register before 4:00 PM on the 26th of Apr.
Finally, Berkley High School’s Environmental Club had an “Earth Week,” which consists of “many eco-friendly activities that you can have fun with while also improving our planet!” said Shoshana Loomer, a member of the club. On Monday Apr 21, you can volunteer at the garden cleanup during lunch with snacks and drinks provided. On Tuesday, you can sign up for the Sources of Strength DIY seed bomb workshop that helps make our school garden a better place by making dissolvable seed bombs to populate the ground with nice flowers. Wednesday is the DIY mini flowerpot workshop that also includes planting your very own seeds. On Thursday, you have a chance to get some sweet treats at the SCAC during lunch for the Environmental Club’s bake sale, and all money is donated to charity. Lastly, Friday is the neighborhood cleanup during 5th hour in room 261, which is also where the Environmental Club hosts their weekly meetings every Monday at lunch.
Overall, Earth Day is a call to action to preserve Earth’s natural resources, and we humans have a responsibility to ensure no future harm to Earth, which is why our Environmental Club and the community around us are informing and encouraging everyone to help make a positive change for planet Earth. As we know, climate change is getting worse each year. That’s why even after Earth Day, our Environmental Club and Earth-friendly events taught us to remember that every small action counts. With everyone’s strong efforts, we can create a positive change and celebrate Earth Day not just as a one-time event but as a commitment to protecting our planet every day of the year.