Celebrate Earth Day!

Earth Day is tomorrow! Do you know how you are going to make a difference?

The first Earth Day was held April 22, 1970 and was the brainchild of Senator Gaylord Nelson who was trouble by the fact that the state of the environment was simply a "non-issue." The idea was inspired by anti-Vietnam demonstrations that were being held all over the country. He thought, "why not organize a huge grassroots protest over what was happening to our environment?" The idea started at a grassroots level and then ignited! There was such a positive response for having an outlet for environmental concerns. I am so thankful to the senator for his pioneer role in the age of environmental awareness. May we all have the spirit of a pioneer in making this world a cleaner, safer, more beautiful place to live.

There are so many ways that you can celebrate Earth Day with your family tomorrow. Des Moines is marking this Earth Day in many ways including:

• My favorite idea is downtown Des Moines' "Trash Bash". Volunteer to join a team and help pick up trash from the downtown area. After the clean-up, there will be music at the Simon Estes amphitheater and prizes will be given away for such categories as: Most Unique piece of trash. More into can be found HERE

• DART Buses will be offering FREE rides all day Friday in order to encourage people to leave their cars at home. Carpooling, riding the bus, biking and walking are all ways we can reduce gas consumption and carbon monoxide pollution. 
• The Des Moines Botanical Center will have FREE admission for the entire day.  
• The Science Center of Iowa will hold an Earth Day Film Festival featuring the IMAX films: Born to be Wild, Tornado Alley, and Wild Ocean. See all three films and save $3!
• Polk County Conservation Board is hosting an Earth Day/Arbor Day Tree Planting. You can help conservation staff plant trees at Easter Lake Park. You will learn proper tree planting techniques and get to actually plant some trees yourself!

There are just a few of the things you and your family can get involved with tomorrow to celebrate Earth Day 2011! So go on and give your mother a big hug! (Mother Earth, that is!)