Earth Day Activities and Education
Marion County is partnering with organizations across the Mid-Willamette Valley to provide our community with Earth-related activities, challenges, and resources that you can complete from the safety of your home.
Marion County Challenges
Nature Color Wheel
Explore your backyard to create a natural color wheel. How many colors can you find? Can you name everything that you found? Snap a shot and share your photos on social media. Tag us #mcearthday2020
Saving little pieces of the Earth
Learn the environmental benefits of recycling typical curbside items: glass, cans, paper, & plastic.
Watch the Video
Make Your Own DIY Cleaner
Green cleaners are inexpensive to make, are better for the environment, and can be made with simple ingredients that you already have in your pantry. Snap a photo, share on social media, and tag your post using #mcearthday2020
Make Your Own
Sock Darning 101
Mending extends the life of your clothes, helps save money, and reduces waste. Check out this video tutorial on how to darn a sock and keep your toes warm. After you finish your socks, snap a photo, share on social media and tag your post using #mcearthday2020
Watch the Video
Waste Matters on the Air, Radio Show
KMUZ, Thursday, April 9, 1:00 PM
Join in as Waste Matters on the Air explores how our local United Way is directing unsold goods from big retailers into the hands of the needy.
Listen on KMUZ
Earth Day Hat
Celebrate in style with your own Earth Day hat and share it on social media. Download the template, color it, and put it together. Snap a photo, share on social media, and tag your post using #mcearthday2020
Earth Day Hat Template
Tuna Can Diorama
You don't need fancy art supplies to make something cool. Dig through your recycling and see what you can upcycle. We used a tuna can, old magazine, glue, and scissors to make this tuna can diorama. What creation can you make? Snap a shot of your work, share it, and tag us on social media. #mcearthday2020
DIY Worm Bin
Upcycle plastic bottles into an in-home worm tower. You just need a 2 liter bottle, sharp scissors, a bit of duct tape, a few smallish rocks, soil, and 5 - 12 worms! Snap a photo, share on social media, and tag your post using #mcearthday2020
Worm Bin Tutorial
Love Your Leftovers!
Food waste makes up 24% of Marion County's curbside garbage. Save the food, save time, and money with these tips to using leftovers.
Love Your Leftovers Tips
Plan Ahead Food Tips
Follow these tips to make a meal plan and prepare meals that reduce food waste and save money.
Plan Ahead Food Tips
Proper Food Storage Tips
Learn how to properly store your fruits and vegetables to help you get the most out of the food you purchase.
Food Storage Tips
Save the Food Pledge
Reduce food waste and save money on groceries. Implement simple, food waste prevention strategies to extend the life of your food. Take the Save the Food Pledge today!
Save the Food Pledge
Plastic Wars, Frontline
With the plastic industry expanding like never before, and the crisis of ocean pollution growing, FRONTLINE and NPR investigate the fight over the future of plastics.
Watch Now
The Story of Plastic Documentary
Tune into The Story of Plastic World Television Premiere
Earth Day (April 22) on Discovery Channel
Watch
Watch Party on Facebook
noon - 9pm
Facebook Invite
Join Marion County Environmental Services and community partners to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Earth Day, Live on Facebook, April 22, noon till 9pm. Programming includes:
Noon Storytime (Salem Public Library (Salem, OR), Mary Beth)
12:26 Oregon Zoo Animals
12:30 Recycling Truck Tour (Mid-Valley Garbage & Recycling Association)
12:41 Recycling Facilities Tour (Garten Services)
12:54 Recycling Live Q&A (Garten Services)
1:16 Creative Reuse Center Tour (SCRAP PDX)
1:39 Upcycled Craft Live (SCRAP PDX)
2:09 Upcycled Craft (What Penny Made)
2:12 Worm Composting (Sally White and Maureen Foelkl)
2:27 Natural Habitat/Native Species (Bobbie Snead and Mauren Foelkl)
2:57 Silverfalls Snags and Woodpeckers (Oregon State Parks)
3:00 Ancient Forests Are a Secret Refuge for Songbirds (OPB Science & Environment)
3:10 DIY Green Cleaners (Marion County Environmental Services)
3:24 DIY Toothpaste (Marion County Environmental Services)
3:28 Take a Moment to Celebrate Spring (Oregon Field Guide)
3:30 Glimpse of the Wooden Shoe Tulip Farm
3:31 Spring into Gardening (Victoria Binning)
4:00 Mason Bees Q&A with Master Gardeners (Oregon State University Extension Service
4:58 DIY Beeswax Wraps (Marion County Environmental Services)
5:08 Sock Darning (Marion County Environmental Services)
5:11 How to Live a Zero Waste Life (Rob Greenfield)
5:13 Kids Cooking with Brussels Sprouts (Food Hero)
5:16 OH4S Kale, Kids Cooking (Food Hero)
5:19 Cooking with Scraps (Amy Joens, Marion Polk Food Share)
5:51 The Life of a Strawberry (Save the Food)
5:52 Salad with Aquafaba Ranch (Save the Food)
5:53 A Guide to Expiration Dates (MONEY)
5:55 Farm Tour (GeerCrest Farm & Historical Society)
6:29 Quiet in Nature (Willamette University, David P. Craig)
7:19 Nature Mocumentary Improv (the Dubbers)
7:50 Seuss/Dre mashup of the Lorax (Wes Tank)
8:00 Live Music (Erin Westfall and Sean McLeod)
Times subject to change
View our live watch party at Marion County Environmental Services
