Since 1970, Earth Day has served as a reminder to take action to protect our planet and reduce our environmental impact. In Houston, the Partnership is taking action to reduce the energy industry’s carbon output through the Houston Energy Transition Initiative while the City of Houston is engaged in an ongoing effort to address climate issues through a comprehensive Climate Action Plan.

We are fortunate in Houston to have thousands of acres of green space across the region. From golf courses to parks and various walking, biking and hiking trails, beauty surrounds our city. Several of these park and recreational entities are participating in the annual celebration of our planet. 

Arboretum & Nature Center
Visit the Arboretum on April 23 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. for an Earth Day Celebration! Here, you will find informative booths as well as plenty of activities for the entire family, including poetry, drawing, photography and crafts. 

Barbara Bush Literacy
Head to the Barbara Bush Literacy Plaza anytime from 11:15 a.m. to 3 p.m. on April 23 for earth-themed stories, movies, music, dance and thought-provoking discussions. This fun-filled day will also include a free tree seedling to take home and watch grow. 

Buffalo Bayou
Houstonians, ages 9 and up, are welcome to spend Earth Day with the Buffalo Bayou Partnership for a community-wide volunteer effort. Starting at 8:30 a.m., volunteers will help with in a multitude of ways, such as trash pick-up, mulching and weed removal. This is a perfect, hands-on way for any outdoorsperson to spend their morning. 

Children’s Museum Houston
Encourage your little one’s love for our planet through nature-themed projects, demonstrations and experiments. The Children’s Museum will cover an array of interesting topics to get your child engaged, including: 
•    Creepy crawlies;
•    Trees, plants and ecosystems;
•    Animal skins and skulls, and 
•    More! 

Hermann Park
The Hermann Park Conservatory provides a month of activities to get everyone involved in Earth Day. In addition to a series of garden and nature classes, Herman Park is offering a variety of volunteer opportunities. From upkeep in the Japanese Gardens to maintenance in the Heart of the Park, there are several ways for Houstonians to give back throughout the remainder of April as well as the rest of the year.

For more ideas on how to spend the week as a family, visit our Parks & Outdoors or Arts & Culture pages.