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Earth Day

EGLE staff talks to kids and adults at display table for Earth Day
Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy

Earth Day

The Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) celebrates Earth Day every year in April. Government, non-government organizations, and businesses around the world are examining natural processes, plus new and existing green technologies to help restore the world's resources, improve farming practices, rebuild soils, restore native flora and wildlife, and improve water quality around the world.

Earth Day 2023 Student Webinar: Taking Clean Water Action in YOUR Community!

EGLE’s Earth Day student webinar will continue Michigan’s “Year of Clean Water” celebration by sharing ways that young people around the state are taking action in their own communities to care for Michigan’s water resources. You’ll hear from EGLE Water Resources staff about some of the biggest issues facing our waters, as well as from students and teachers whose work is making a real difference in addressing those challenges. Learn how you can get involved in making a difference too!
Earth Day 2023 Webinar on Taking Clean Water Action in YOUR Community!

History of Earth Day

Earth Day was a unified response to an environment in crisis - oil spills, smog, and rivers so polluted they caught fire.

On April 22, 1970, 20 million Americans, 10% of the U.S. population at the time, took to the streets, college campuses, and hundreds of cities to protest environmental issues and demand change for our planet going forward. The goal of Earth Day is to raise awareness for climate change, protect the world's resources, and environment. Earth Day is one of the largest civic events that takes place throughout the world.

Learn how YOU can make a difference EVERY day in protecting Michigan's environment.

Consider the following, to create a more sustainable Michigan, and contribute to a healthier and cleaner planet:

  • Return single-use bags to grocery stores for them to recycle
  • Recycle the plastics you no longer need or find additional uses for containers
  • Donate unwanted items of clothing instead of throwing them away
  • Plant trees and native wildflower seeds and put in a rain or butterfly garden
  • Eat more vegetables, whole grains, and legumes
  • Ride a bike, take a hike, go canoeing, or kayaking
For more ideas, check out our 52 ways to celebrate Earth Day

Contest Sponsors

The Poster Contest and Service Award are sponsored by Meijer and Michigan State University College of Agriculture and Natural Resources

2023 Service Award Winner

Whitefish Township Community School

Whitefish Township community school's teacher John Griebel and volunteers in grades 8-11 from his Earth Science class, completed a project to educate the public on identifying and reducing the spread of invasive plant species in Lake Superior State Park, Paradise Pathways, South Loop trail. John and the students also wanted to educate the public on native plants found in the park. Their goal was to improve the overall experience for visitors and residents. The students created interpretive panels to explain the danger of invasive species and to identify native wildlife, trees, and plants in the ecosystem. John and the students worked with Department of Natural Resources (DNR) specialist Theresa Neal and members of the Tahquamenon Country Pathways Association on a botanical trail survey and to select interpretative topics. Students worked in two person teams to research narrative and graphics for the signs. Their final designs were sent for production while an Earth Science and Civics class student construction crew, dug holes and placed posts. The students made boot brushes to accompany the invasive species signage at the North and South Loop trailheads. Once the signs were received from production, students installed them on the posts. The project took approximately eleven months to complete.

Playlist

EGLE's Earth Day Video Playlist

At the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy, the Michigan Department of Natural Resources, and the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development we continue to identify ways to celebrate Earth Day, we invite you to join in with your own sustainable activities.

2022 Earth Day Student Webinar

Earth Day 2022 Student Webinar: Working Together to Address the Challenge of Climate Change

The Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) celebrates Earth Day every year in April. This student-focused webinar is on how EGLE is addressing the challenges of climate change in Michigan. Learn directly from EGLE staff about what is happening at the state, community, and individual levels to address this challenge, and find out what you can do to help. EGLE’s Earth Day student webinar will continue Michigan’s “Year of Clean Water” celebration by sharing ways that young people around the state are taking action in their own communities to care for Michigan’s water resources. You’ll hear from EGLE Water Resources staff about some of the biggest issues facing our waters, as well as from students and teachers whose work is making a real difference in addressing those challenges. Learn how you can get involved in making a difference too!