The Seattle Times
Things you can do in the Seattle area to make every day Earth Day
For just over 50 years, since its introduction in 1970, Earth Day has been our annual reminder to honor and revere our planet. Environmentalists have longed for a time when these values are applied all year, and this may be the planet’s best chance so far. The pandemic and the looming climate crisis have given many the time and reasons to nurture and appreciate the environment — from cleaner air and water and improving biodiversity, to just plain getting outside. So, while Earth Day on April 22 serves as a good reminder that the planet needs to intensify its fight against climate change, here are some creative ways Seattle-area people have found to try and make every day Earth Day.
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The Free Forest School, which organizes weekly outdoor gatherings for children from preschool through age 8, took the pandemic pause to cocoon and reemerge in a new, more flexible, inclusive format. Anna Sharratt, executive director, thinks the way to raise an earth-friendly adult is to let them play outside as a child.
“There’s research that shows the No. 1 way to support children in developing pro-environmental behaviors is unstructured play in nature. Developing a love for the planet is really the first step for climate education,” says Sharratt.
Pre-pandemic, the Minnesota-based organization’s 200-plus chapters, including the one in Seattle, were staffed entirely by volunteers, and free meetups were typically held during the workday, potentially excluding working parents and caregivers.
In May, FFS is launching Our Outdoors, a new online hub offering online trainings and local forums about developmentally appropriate outdoor learning. Live events will resume in June. The new suggested fees are on a sliding scale. Sharratt says the program offers more accessible, flexible at-home resources that open environmental education to everyone.
“Lots of folks need tools for doing this at home,” she says. You don’t have to go hiking or kayaking to boost your connection with nature, Sharratt says. She encourages parents and caregivers to make a weekly goal of time outside.
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