More than one billion people participate in Earth day events in over 190 countries worldwide. This year’s theme, “Planet vs Plastics” encourages everyone to do their part and come together for our planet. Businesses, governments, and individuals are all responsible for taking action against climate crisis and working towards a green and prosperous future.
With many the Earth Day Events happening throughout the week on the Cape, it is easy to find a way to join in and do your part. Most events welcome all volunteers but it is most helpful to preregister if you are able.
Choose One of the Many Earth Day Events on the Cape:
Friday April 19,2024
Upcycle Bead Bracelets – (12:30pm)
Sturgis Library
Celebrate Earth Month with the Sturgis Library by making your own beaded bracelet using beautiful beads made from upcycled glass! Ages 7 and Up. Registration required at sturgislibrary.org/events.
Hunt for Poetry – (1:00 pm)
Cotuit Library/Ropes Field, 58 Putnam Avenue, Cotuit
Cotuit Library is holding it’s first ever Hunt for Poetry, to get kids outside, reading, and celebrating Poetry Month at the same time! The Hunt for Poetry is a new team-based game where groups of all ages will search to find parts of their team’s color-coded poem in Ropes Field. Preregistration is suggested at https://www.cotuitlibrary.org/calendar.html
Saturday, April 22, 2024
Cape Cod Canal Clean Up – (10:00am – 2:00pm)
Herring Run Recreational Area
The AmeriCorps Cape Cod and US ACE are partnering again to work with the community to keep the Canal clean. Meet at Herring Run Recreational Area at 810 Scenic Highway in Bourne for food, fun and a chance to better your community. Cleaning supplies and lunch provided.
There will also be an educational exhibition with presenters from various environmental organizations. The canal, the widest sea-level canal in the world, is maintained and operated by the U.S. ACE, offering a variety of recreational opportunities for both visitors and locals
Honor the Earth Fair- (11:00 am – 4:00 pm)
Wampanoag Govt Center, 483 Great Neck Road South, Mashpee, MA
BLT is honored to be an exhibitor at the Native Land Conservancy and the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe Natural Resources Department’s Honor the Earth Fair, an event to celebrate the tributes of the earth from the indigenous perspective and demonstrate the best practices for living in balance with nature including rescuing, preserving, and protecting our shared home.
The event is free and open to the public and will feature traditional indigenous craft vendors, traditional cultural performances, speakers, children’s activities, and a Taste of the Earth cooking competition.
Earth Day 2024 at the 204 – (10:00am – 2:00pm)
The 204 Cultural Arts Municipal Building, 204 Sisson Road, Harwich
The 204 Cultural Arts Municipal Building will be celebrating Earth Day this year with a whole plethera of events, presentations, exhibits and demonstrations by Cape Cod’s Environmental Community. Two of the featured speakers will be Maggie Downey from Cape Light Compact and Rand Berkert from Food Forest Initiative.
The event is open to the public and admission is free but donations are welcome. There will be plenty of refreshments, activities and entertainment for the whole family.
Earth Day Cleanup, National Seashore – (10 am – 12 pm)
Location TBA
The Center for Coastal Studies will hold it annual Earth Day Cleanup with the Friends of the Cape Cod National Seashore, on Saturday April 20th at 1pm. Location is to be determined. Please check back for details.
“Rescuing Our Oceans Through Recyled Art”- (2:00-4:00pm)
Brewster Ladies Library, 1822 Main St, Brewster
In this ArtsLight documentary by filmmaker Johnny Bergmann, we learn how our fragile oceans are plagued with plastics and other manmade trash. This film explores how artists have come together to create art out of this detritus in an effort to bring awareness to what individuals can do to help.
Sunday April 21, 2024
Tree & Daffodil walk (1:00pm) —
Old Main Street Entrance, Sylvan Gardens, Chatham
Join Friends of Sylvan Gardens for a guided stroll to observe native trees, shrubs, and thousands of daffodils in bloom. Suitable for all ages and abilities. Meet at the Sylvan Gardens entrance on Old Main Street.
Monday, April 22, 2024- Earth Day!!
Earth Day Beach Clean Up – (8:00am- 12:00pm)
The Eastham Chamber of Commerce, the Eastham Recreation and Beach Department, Open Space Committee, Eastham Conservation Foundation, and the Eastham Department of Public Works would like everyone in Eastham to observe Earth Day by taking just one hour, on April 22nd to clean up a little section of one of the beaches, our pride and joy.
It’s as easy as 1 – 2 – 3 – put together your own team, select an area to clean from the list below and register your team. Pick up your bucket at 8am and make Eastham beautiful! ( Boat Meadow Beach, First Encounter Beach, Herring Brook Landing, Sandy Meadow Trails, Thumpertown Beach, Campground Beach, Cook’s Brook Beach, Sunken Meadow Beach, Wiley Park, Great Pond Beach)
Environmental Clean Up Day – ( 9:00am – 12:00pm)
Green Briar Nature Center, 6 Discovery Hill Rd, E. Sandwich
Come celebrate Earth Day 2024 with us at Green Briar! Help beautify the grounds that created the backdrop and inspiration for the world of Thornton Burgess and his beloved stories. On this very special day we will work in honor of Nature. Help to weed, mulch, cut back, clear invasive plants, and make sure any litter is properly removed.
Remember your water bottles. Complimentary Coffee and Donuts provided. Together we will improve the habitats for friends of feather and fur!
Celebrating Earth Day with the Poetry of Mary Oliver – (10:00am- 12:00pm)
Pogorelc Sanctuary, BLT Conservation Center, 1540 Main Street, W Barnstable 02668
Stroll together through the natural world with the words of poet, Mary Oliver, echoing in our minds. Join Ellen Snoeyenbos, founder of the Walking Readers Group, for this unique opportunity to blend literature and nature. The group will walk and pause along the trail at Pogorelc Sanctuary to read poems from Oliver’s “Devotions” collection and reflect on what her poetic images mean.
This is the first of four nature/literature walks under BLT’s new eARTh Connections programming which is supported in part by a grant from the Mid-Cape Cultural Council, a local agency which is supported by the Mass Cultural Council, a state agency. $10/Members; $15/Nonmembers. Registration opens 3 weeks prior and is required at https://blt.org/events
Beach Clean Up National Seashore (10:00- 3:00pm)
The Center for Coastal Studies will hold it annual Earth Day Cleanup with the Friends of the Cape Cod National Seashore. Earth Day Cleanup from 10 am – 12 pm, then Trash Tally from 1 pm – 3 pm. For more information email Laura Ludwig (lludwig@coastalstudies.org). Location is to be determined. Please check their site for details.
Earth Day Little Bay Clean Up– (2:00 – 6:00pm)
Monks Park, Bourne
By land or by sea! Help us clean up the trails, islands, and salt marsh of the Little Bay Conservation Area in Bourne, MA.
Celebrate Mother Earth by helping with some spring cleanup. Bring a pick up stick or gloves, and a bucket. Biodegradable trash bags provided. Hosted by Cape Cod Kayak, rentals for the cleanup are available for a reduced rate of $15. Call ahead to reserve.
Time and Tide Wait for No One: Chatham’s Journey Towards Coastal Resilience (4:00pm) Chatham Bars Inns
Please join us at this special keynote event marking Earth Day! Chatham Bars Inn and The Chatham Conservation Foundation are pleased to partner for a panel presentation, moderated by Tim Wood, editor of the Cape Cod Chronicle.
The esteemed panelists, Greg Berman, Director of Natural Resources, Town of Chatham and Janet Williams, Chair, Chatham Conservation Commission will discuss the ongoing impacts of climate change on Chatham highlighting the ongoing impacts of climate change on Chatham, and what every resident and visitor should know about the fragility of this special place.
Earth Day Maker Monday – ( 5:00 – 6:00 pm )
Cotuit Center for the Arts| Arts Studio, 4404 Falmouth Rd, Cotuit MA
Celebrate Earth Day with BLT and its community partner, CapeCodCAN, for a special Maker Monday art studio experience. Participants will create a nature-inspired project that celebrate the earth and the importance of protecting our environment.
CapeCodCAN provides opportunities for inclusion and active participation in the arts for people with disabilities on Cape Cod. Limited enrollment plus fee; register at CapeCodCAN.
Tuesday April 23, 2024
Chase Park Tree Walk -(10:00am)
Chase Park , Chatham
You can join members of Friends of Trees for a walk focusing on over two dozen noteworthy trees all contained within Chase Park in Chatham. The guides will introduce you to both older trees that have been in the park for decades as well as more recently planted specimens.
Wednesday April 24, 2024
How We Got Here- The History of Conservation in Chatham -(1:00pm)
Chatham Center for Active Living, Chatham
A conservation lecture presented by Lauren Arcomano, Executive Director of the Chatham Conservation Foundation.
Thursday April 25, 2024
Old Village Walk – (10:00am)
Downtown Chatham
Join members of the Friends of Trees for a walk following Main Street in Chatham to the Lighthouse where it loops back to town. The trail includes over a dozen of Chatham’s most notable trees.
Friday April 26, 2024 – Arbor Day
Birding with BLT- (7:30am)
Pogorelc Sanctuary, BLT Conservation Center, 1540 Main Street, W Barnstable
Join Barnstable Land Trust with walk leader and ornithology educator, Tommy Burgess, to explore a local birding spot and take in the fresh morning air. This is on an easy trail that is about ¼ mile in length, and will include a number of stops and starts to listen and look for birds. Please bring binoculars.
Event will be cancelled in the case of rain or severe weather. Registration is required, and there is a limit of 10 participants.
Trees are Key: An Arbor Day Talk and Walk – (1:00pm)
Michael R. Kramer Center at Fuller Farm, 995 Route 149, Marstons Mills
Turn over a new leaf and celebrate Arbor Day with BLT and Bartlett Tree Experts at its historic Fuller Farm property in Marstons Mills. Learn about Bartlett’s tree-related research, as well as tree tips and up-to-date solutions in caring for trees on this special tree talk and walk which includes a seedling thank-you.
Bartlett Tree Experts was founded in 1907 by Francis A. Bartlett and is the world’s leading scientific tree and shrub care company with over 100 offices worldwide, including one in Osterville. They are also working with BLT on the nearby Wheeler Holly Preserve property which abuts Fuller Farm. Pre-registration is required for this program. Free.
Tree Sapling Give-Away ( 1:00pm)
Location: Chatham Community Center
Plant a tree for Arbor Day! The Friends of Trees in Chatham will be giving away free tree saplings at the Chatham Community Center.
Celebrating Our Earth Today & Every Day!
Where ever you are on the Cape you are sure to find an Earth Day event that you can join and be a part of the celebration. If you are joining a clean-up event, you will want to wear comfortable clothing and footwear, as well as bright colors for visibility. Bring gloves if you have them but most events provide the needed supplies.
If you are unable to join an Earth Day Event but still want to go your part as a good steward to the earth, there is plenty you can do in your own backyard. Consider container gardening or planting a Vineyard Lawn.
Click here for more Events on Cape Cod.
