April 2020: Celebrating Earth Day's 50th Anniversary

April: Celebrating Earth Day's 50th Anniversary

During National Park Week and all month long, let's celebrate the 50th anniversary of Earth Day with citizen science events, volunteer activities, and programs that cultivate environmental stewards for the next 50 years.

Earth Day was created 50 years ago to encourage education and stewardship of the planet’s resources, something the Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail community knows a little bit about! Let’s join the global movement of this 50th anniversary celebration by sharing the work our trail sites and partners do to better understand our nation’s natural resources and how everyone can get involved in stewardship. Also get ready for National Park Week, which has a special theme each day to further share the mission of the National Park Service and partners.

• National Park Week is April 18-26! Get ready for the fun. There is a special theme for every day of the week!
• Highlight stories of natural resource stewardship and research happening in your park or through NPS programs and partners.
• Encourage local businesses to submit nominations to the Lewis and Clark NHT tourism website, www.lewisandclark.travel. The site aggregates user-generated content showcasing things to do and places to visit that have been nominated by residents along the Trail. To get started, go to www.lewisandclark.travel/register.
• Share histories or showcase museum objects related to environmental stewardship, including how your park was set aside and the people who influenced the protection of its natural resources.
• Give tips for how people can be good stewards of the natural resources within your park, including Leave No Trace.
• Introduce your employees, volunteers, interns, and partnerships involved in researching and protecting the natural world.
• Let people know how they can get involved as environmental stewards through volunteerism, internships, partnerships, and NPS careers.
• Give a shout out to your partners and explain ways that you work together to meet the mission.
• April 18-26: National Park Week
  • Find additional National Park Week info and guidance for each of the theme days:
    • April 18: National Junior Ranger Day
    • April 19: (Volunteers In Park) VIP Sunday
    • April 20: Military Monday
    • April 21: Transportation Tuesday
    • April 22: Wild Wednesday & Earth Day
    • April 23: Throwback Thursday
    • April 24: Friendship Friday
    • April 25: Park Rx Day
    • April 26: BARK Ranger Day

Featured NPS.gov/lecl Webpages

Plants

Looking for something ready-made to share?

William Clark’s Epaulet: Captain or Lieutenant? #LewisandClarkTrail

Find out: https://www.nps.gov/articles/william-clark-s-epaulet-captain-or-lieutenant.htm

Did you know the first official election held west of the Mississippi River took place on the Lewis and Clark Expedition? #LewisandClarkTrail
Read more: https://www.nps.gov/articles/first-election-west-of-mississippi.htm

When did William Clark officially become a captain? The answer might surprise you. #LewisandClarkTrail
https://www.nps.gov/articles/william-clark-officially-made-captain.htm

Want to celebrate #EarthDay on the #LewisandClarkTrail? Let the Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail Experience website assist you in planning. https://lewisandclark.travel/

April 18 is National Junior Ranger Day. Become a Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail Junior Ranger without leaving home by simply completing the online Junior Ranger program. #LewisandClarkTrail
Learn more: https://www.nps.gov/lecl/learn/kidsyouth/beajuniorranger.htm

When sharing this month's messaging on social media, use the hashtags: #LewisandClarkTrail

Lewis and Clark Events That Happened This Month

(ready made posts to share)

On April 7, 1805, the members of the Lewis and Clark Expedition departed from Fort Mandan – one group headed downstream, the other upstream. #LewisandClarkTrail
https://www.nps.gov/articles/ft-mandan-departure-day-1805.htm

On April 25, 1805, Lewis, “accompanyed by four men”, proceeded overland in advance of Clark and the main group in order to explore the area surrounding the confluence of the Yellowstone River, which he knew to be close. #LewisandClarkTrail
Read more: https://www.nps.gov/places/yellowstone-river-confluence.htm