Spring has sprung in the Merrimack Valley! As Earth Day approaches, local communities are gearing up for a celebration of our planet through a variety of efforts, and MVPC has rounded them up below for easy planning! Events celebrating Earth Day span the entire month! One of the most impactful ways individuals can show their gratitude to our earth this month is through volunteer and educational efforts, and our list of planned local initiatives will be sure to inspire you to pitch in.
For those who want to get their hands dirty, be sure to look for park clean-up initiatives, such as Newburyport’s Volunteer Salt Marsh Clean Up on 4/27. Be prepared to roll up your sleeves and pull up those boots because the Joppa Flats salt marsh will need volunteers! These clean-up efforts not only restore natural beauty but also protect wildlife and prevent harmful pollutants from entering our waterways.
Earth Day isn’t just about action; it’s also about education. By educating individuals with knowledge, we can spark meaningful action in our communities. This Sunday, 4/7, the Ward Reservation in the fields of Andover will be hosting an educational walk. The walk, which is better described as a ‘stand’, will be centered around the current migration of the American Woodcock, as participants will be listening intently for the ‘peent’ call and wing flutter of male dance to attract a mate.
If these types of events seem interesting to you, and you’d like to contribute to Earth Day this year, be sure to check out our full list of local happenings. If you are interested in learning more about the initiatives and objectives of the Commission, check out our website! Whether you’re picking up trash, planting trees, or spreading awareness, your efforts matter. Happy Earth Day! 🌎💚
Opportunities in our region:
Andover:
4/12 Trustees Woodcocks at Ward Reservation
4/22 Tour of downtown Andover
4/27 Annual Earth Day Clean Up Event; Neighborhood and Trail clean up
4/27 Youth sustainability fair
Haverhill:
4/20 2024 Haverhill Earth Day Clean Up
Lawrence:
4/20 Pemberton State Park Cleanup
5/4 Groundwork Earth Day city-wide cleanup event
Newburyport:
4/27 Volunteer Salt Marsh Clean Up
Opportunities outside our region:
Concord, NH:
4/10 Conservation Center & MROECA Spring Workday
Epping, NH:
4/12 Women in The Woods: Tool Maintenance and Sharpening
Hamilton & Ipswich:
4/20 Earth Day Volunteer Clean Up at Appleton Farms
Ipswich:
4/7 Vernal Pool Hike
4/11 – 4/25 Invasive Task Force Meet Up
4/14 Welcoming Wildlife: Ipswich River Critters & Screening of “Our Responsibility: Freeing the Ipswich River”
4/27 Volunteer Trail Maintenance
Lowell:
4/27 Fish Monitoring Volunteer Training
Nashua Watershed Council:
4/20 Volunteer Native Planting and Invasive Removal Project
4/23 Adult Volunteer Native Planting Project
4/24 Volunteer Invasive Garlic Mustard Removal
4/27 Volunteer Invasive Purple Loosestrife Planet Removal
Portsmouth, NH:
4/19 WILD & SCENIC FILM FESTIVAL