In partnership with Earth Day Network and a coalition of organizations, we adapted our Earth Week 2020 events to include content and actions possible during the time of social distancing. Although Earth Week has passed, you can still see the events that occurred and explore the engaging resources we have collected below.
Watch Glen Canyon Rediscovered
Get your Utah fix with this documentary that chronicles a 350-mile, sea-kayak-based journey to the remote and lost wonders of Glen Canyon produced by Black Diamond and American Rivers.
Craft for the Birds
Spring is the time that our feathered friends migrate through Colorado. Consider making a bird feeder to help them on their way!
Get Outside
Take a hike, walk, bike ride or run to enjoy the great outdoors we all treasure. Need some reassurance about going outside right now? Read this article about recreating outdoors during the time of coronavirus.
Read Are We Loving Colorado’s Wild Places to Death?
This is an excellent article from 5280 Magazine about how Coloradoans may be loving our public lands to death – make sure to follow the practices of Leave No Trace when you are out enjoying Mother Nature!
Online Earth Week Summit
After spending time outside, you can join Green Team Academy for the 2nd Annual Online Earth Week Summit. You can participate in live workshops and virtual happy hours from April 10-18. Today at 10AM they’re hosting a live workshop with Tara Tull and Bill Keydel and a happy hour at 7PM entitled Superheroes Guide to Creating the World We Want.
Watch A Plastic Ocean
This eye-opening film follows a documentary filmmaker as he explores the impacts of plastic waste on our ocean.
Support Local and Reduce Waste
Support a local restaurant by ordering take-out. Request no utensils, plastic bags or napkins to help reduce waste production! Check out this “living list” created by 5280 Magazine.
Take Action
Take the time to support local legislation that will help combat waste production in our beloved state.
Want to learn more? Check out how to reduce your plastic from Earth Day Network.
Host a (Virtual) Community Table
One way you can turn climate talk into climate action is by hosting a virtual Community Table anytime between April 20–25. Online you can bring together members of your community to have real-world dialogue and ultimately make recommendations to guide the University of Denver’s Grand Challenges agenda. Click below to learn more and register.
Take Climate Action
Denver wants to take bold action on climate change. Join your fellow community members, elected officials and Denver Climate Task Force from April 20-30 in an online conversation about how we can get there!
Earth Day Mindfulness Meditation
Earth Day provides us an opportunity to ground ourselves, find our footing and reconnect to the natural world that surrounds us. Please join the City of Denver for a one-hour mindfulness session. They’ll practice mindfulness exercises, connect, share experience and gratitude and talk about self-care activities that can help us navigate this time with grace. Join this session 9:30 AM on April 20 via Zoom. Login using the meeting ID 498 043 63 and password 5pPJA2.
Read How to Talk About Climate Change in an Emotionally Intelligent Way
The topic of climate change can be divisive at times, but that doesn’t mean you should avoid it altogether. Read this article with suggestions on how to approach the topic effectively.
Watch Our Land, Our Climate, Our Solution: Public Lands and Climate Change
Enjoy this webinar from The Wilderness Society and learn about the cross sector between public lands and climate change and actions you can take.
Take Action: Learn About and Support the CORE Act
The Colorado Outdoor Recreation and Economy (CORE) Act would protect roughly 400,000 acres of
public lands in Colorado, ensuring that future generations can always enjoy our state’s mountains, rivers and wildlife. Contact our senators and let them know you support this legislation!
Watch and Learn
American Farmland Trust created the conservation agriculture movement. They have three priorities: protecting agricultural land, promoting environmentally sound farming practices and keeping farmers on the land. Check out this recorded webinar entitled The Climate Crisis and How Farming (Done Right) Can Help led by John Piotti, President and CEO of the organization.
Finding a solution to combat climate change must include a change in our conventional agricultural system from one that depletes our soil to one that regenerates it. Find inspiration and information by watching Regenerative Renegades from Natural Grocers.
Arise captures the portraits and stories of extraordinary women around the world who are coming together to heal the injustices against the earth with much of the film centered around developing just and healthy food systems.
Front Line Farming is a food and farmers advocacy group. They operate a multi-plot farm committed to providing food for people of all income levels throughout the Denver Metro Area and utilize sustainable growing practices. Watch this short video to learn more about this organization and their 2019 Born Botanical Day.
Mo’ Betta Green Marketplace hosts markets in food deserts throughout the Denver area and provide outreach and education to build stronger connections between people and healthy food. Learn more in this TedTalk with Beverly Grant.
Beverly Grant narrates this animated short entitled Game Changer that focuses on food deserts and food swamps and a way anyone can address these issues in their own neighborhoods
Biochar is a highly adsorbent, specially-produced charcoal with unique properties originally used as a soil amendment. Biochar Now is a pioneer in this industry and is located near Berthoud, Colorado. Their product is the only Biochar in the industry approved by the US EPA for unrestricted use. Click below to learn more about this local company!
Boulder Food Rescue seeks to create a more just and less wasteful food system by redistributing food from groceries, farms and local gardens that would otherwise go to waste to communities that need healthy food.
In this thought-provoking talk entitled “It’s Not the Cow, It’s the How”, Bobby Gill of the Savory Institute discusses the symbiosis between grasslands and grazer and why everyone- regardless of dietary choice- depends on properly-managed livestock for regenerating landscapes.
Try Going Meat-Free Today
Eat vegetarian for a day to reduce your carbon footprint. You can explore these helpful recipes from meatfreemonday.com for some inspiration.
Listen to the Climate Bridges Podcast
In this brand new Alliance Center podcast series we will pair emerging climate leaders with climate veterans to share their stories, passions and shared visions for a sustainable planet. In our first episode, we interview Denis Hayes, the organizer of the original Earth Day, and Liliana Flanigan, a local youth climate activist, to hear how climate change can be a bridge between generations and how we can create a sustainable future together.
Climate Change Solutions Virtual
Join the Denver Museum of Nature and Science, The Institute for Science and Policy and Denver7 for a free virtual panel discussion on climate change solutions, hosted by Denver7 Chief Meteorologist Mike Nelson! Tune in to this live, family-friendly event for an insightful conversation focused on innovation, technology, policy and effective communication strategies to address climate challenges in Colorado and beyond.
Watch Earth Day Live
This livestream telethon led by youth climate leaders will take place from April 22- 24. On April 22, Day 1 of Earth Day Live, join the youth-led virtual strike day! The 50th anniversary of Earth Day is about demonstrating collective power in the face of today’s multiple crises. There will be performances, conversations, training sessions and more. RSVP Here Colorado’s climate strike.
Read “Hello from the Year 2050”
This Time Magazine article outlines what the future could look like if we solve the climate crisis.
Earth Month: Future of New Renewable Energy
It’s time to transition our world from our current reliance on fossil fuels to one where renewable energy, a strong economy and clean air are the new status quo. Join General Assembly and a panel of experts in sustainability and clean energy to examine how business and tech can be a force for good – and how going green and clean can help your bottom line.
Envision Your Version of a Sustainable Planet
It is easy to dwell on the negative effects of climate change, but what if we spend time picturing a future where we solve the climate crisis? Spend five minutes today writing down, drawing or singing your vision of a sustainable planet and tag it with #DenverEarthWeek on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter.
Chalk Your Walk
Bring some cheer to your neighbors and celebrate the planet! Decorate your driveway or sidewalks throughout your neighborhood with encouraging notes, beautiful drawings and notes about why you love our earth. Tag your chalk art with #DenverEarthWeek, and we’ll share your work.
Watch Earth Day Live
This livestream telethon led by youth climate leaders will take place from April 22- 24. The world’s largest banks have pumped $1.9 trillion into fossil fuels since the 2015 Paris Agreement. Led by the Stop the Money Pipeline Coalition, April 23rd of Earth Day Live focuses on the role of money in driving the climate crisis. RSVP here for Colorado’s DIVEST livestreams.
Cook a Climate-Friendly Meal
The culinary arts offer some of the best ways to fight climate change. Explore these recipes and tips from Eating Well to cook an eco-friendly meal! Show us your handiwork with #DenverEarthWeek.
Craft with Your Kids
Take some time to get creative and make climate crafts with your kiddos! NASA provides many ideas in the Climate Kids Activities section.
Watch Last Wild Places: American Prairie Reserve
This short, beautiful documentary explores the creation of a 3.5 million acre grassland habitat in Montana and how both the ecosystem and local people benefit.
Participate in the Denver-Boulder City Nature Challenge
Join the City Nature Challenge (CNC)- an annual event where you can help document urban biodiversity and engage with the nature in your area. You can participate in the challenge from April 24-27 by observing and recording all of the species you see utilizing recommended apps! Click below to learn more.
Plant Natives
Help increase both plant and animal diversity to your yard by planting natives! You’ll provide habitat for native animals while encompassing the natural beauty of our beloved Colorado. Explore these resources from Denver Audubon, Audubon Rockies and The National Wildlife Federation.
Read The Same Pesticides Linked to Bee Declines Might Also Threaten Birds
This article from Audubon Magazine explores how pesticides decrease biodiversity and what you can do in your yard and garden to protect wildlife!
Watch Earth Day Live
This livestream telethon led by youth climate leaders will take place from April 22- 24. Led by the US Youth Strike Coalition, April 24th will focus on voter registration and feature a digital, relational voter registration challenge to see which region of the country can register the most voters. We need leaders who will address the existential threat of climate change, and for this to happen, we need people to show up at the polls. RSVP here for Colorado’s VOTE livestreams.
Join PeaceJam for their first youth-led Virtual Climate Summit from 10AM – 12PM for youth aged 14-18 across the Rocky Mountain region. This free online event will include advice from youth climate activists on how to take action from home, small interactive group discussions with other young leaders, plenty of inspiration and more.
Join the Earth Challenge 2020
Take action and be part of the world’s largest ever coordinated citizen science campaign! Earth Challenge 2020 combines data from existing citizen science projects with information from a new mobile app to shed light on key environmental issues and grow citizen science worldwide.
Read The New Face of Climate Activism is Young, Angry- and Effective
This article from Vox details the rise of the youth climate movement and how they are tackling the challenges of climate activism.
