Earth Day is an annual event celebrated around the world on April 22 to raise awareness and appreciation for the environment. In Florida, Earth Day is a time to celebrate the natural beauty of the state and come together to work towards goals to care for and protect the environment. Melbourne, FL, and its surrounding areas, offers many activities and events to celebrate Earth Day and join in this mission. Here are some of the best things to do in and around Brevard County to care for Mother Earth!
Did You Know…
Earth Day was started in 1970 by Senator Gaylord Nelson of Wisconsin and is now celebrated in 190 countries worldwide?!
Kennedy Space Center
On April 20th, The Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex is holding an Earth Day event where visitors can learn about the sustainability practices local businesses and conservation groups have adopted and how they impact the environment. There will also be environmentally friendly experiments performed as well as educational booths located throughout the facility.
Some of the conservation groups that will be represented are:
- Sea Turtle Conservation Society
- Canaveral National Seashore
- Change of Greenery
- Florida Wildlife Hospital
- Keep Brevard Beautiful
- And many more!
Grow Your Own Food Seminar- Rockledge Gardens
Have you ever wondered what it would take to grow your own food or how to create, grow, and tend to a sustainable garden? Denise Crawley, a natural food forest gardener, will be holding a seminar at Rockledge Gardens to teach just that. Her seminar will touch on many gardening and landscaping techniques that are meant to provide the environment with nourishment so that we are then nourished. She will cover the fundamentals of gardening, gardening styles, natural pest control, watering techniques, among other topics.
Guests are allowed to bring in beverages and/or food from Rockledge Gardens’ gourmet market which serves plant-based foods, treats, local craft beers, wines, and coffee. Pre-registration is required, and every ticket comes with a $5 off a $10 purchase to Rockledge Gardens as well as a donation made to the One Tree Planted organization, where every dollar donated results in a tree planted.
Beach Clean Up- Canaveral National Seashore
If you have a passion for protecting Florida’s shoreline, the Friends of Canaveral is an organization that has supported and helped in the preservation of Florida National Parks for more than 20 years. On April 22 they are hosting a beach cleanup at Canaveral National Seashore where volunteers will scour the shoreline for litter aiding in the health of the beaches and wildlife. Pack your own gloves, sunscreen, and water and come ready to the Visitor’s Center to sign-up and get trash bags.
River Clean Up- St. John’s River
The longest river in Florida is the St. John’s River, and on Earth Day it is also going to receive some love from volunteers by way of a clean-up. So, if cleaning up Florida’s rivers is a passion for you, this is the perfect opportunity to give back. This river flows through multiple counties so there will be multiple clean up groups throughout Brevard County, Orange County, Volusia County, as well as Seminole County.
Party for the Planet- Brevard Zoo
Brevard Zoo is throwing an Earth Day event called Party for the Planet from 10am-3pm on April 22. Free with purchase of an entry ticket, visitors will have access to participate in games and other flower themed activities to celebrate native plants to Florida that help pollinators like bees, butterflies, and birds.
Local growers and other volunteers will be in attendance selling plants to the public in the hopes that Florida residents will go home and create habitats and gardens for the ever-important pollinators.
Make A Green Noise
If you’re feeling like you are in need of a little education on environmental issues that impact Brevard County, Little Growers INC and the South Brevard NAACP invite you to their forum Make a Green Noise: Environmental Justice Forum: Rising Tide on Earth Day at the Joseph N. Davis Community Center in Melbourne, FL.
From 9am-3pm this forum aims to establish a sense of hope within the community to bring solutions to local environmental issues. There will be multiple speakers who will be addressing food scarcity, sea level rise, climate gentrification, training for environmental jobs, and disaster preparedness.