Join the City of Bellingham in celebrating this year’s global Earth Day theme of “Invest In Our Planet” with a week of local activities during Earth Week, April 17-23, 2022. The City of Bellingham is hosting free activities for all ages to honor our planet, including a volunteer work party, a photo contest, community art project, Children’s Storytimes, book lists, self-guided tours and more.
A few events are highlighted here; a full list with details can be found on the City’s website at cob.org/earthday2022.
Volunteer to restore habitat in Bellingham
The City is hosting a volunteer work party on Saturday, April 23 from 9 a.m. to noon to restore habitat and improve water quality in Padden Creek. Volunteers are invited to meet in Fairhaven Park to remove invasive plants and spread mulch, which supports the growth of native plants in the area. All ages and abilities are welcome, and no previous volunteer experience is necessary. Tools, gloves, instruction, and snacks are provided, as well as free coffee donated by Woods Coffee and free pizza donated by Papa John’s Pizza. Please register in advance for this free event. Spots are limited!
Submit climate action photos in a photo competition
Amateur and professional photographers of all ages can participate in the 17th annual Essence of Bellingham Photo Competition sponsored by the City of Bellingham and Whatcom Museum. Photo entries capture the “essence” of living, working, or playing in Bellingham. Several awards are given, including a Climate Action award honoring images that show actions our community is taking to address climate change and its impacts. Entries are due by Sunday, May 1, 2022. Complete competition details, including a submission form and winning photos from previous years, are available at cob.org/eob.
Contribute to a community art project at the Lightcatcher building
Leading up to Earth Day on April 22, the Whatcom Museum will have a massive paper mâché planet in the Lightcatcher building that community members can help populate with a variety of life. Join the Museum in the Family Interactive Gallery (FIG) to make or color an animal, and then add it to the huge paper mâché globe. By April 22, the globe will be full of wonderful and unique animals, just like in real life. This activity is suitable for all ages. Cost is included with admission or free for members. For additional information, please visit the Whatcom Museum’s website.
Connect with nature with the Bellingham Public Library
Bellingham Public Library will present two Earth Day themed online storytimes the week of April 17-23 for kids ages birth to five years. Enjoy stories, songs and craft ideas that inspire a connection with and wonder of nature. Visit bellinghampubliclibrary.org/storytimes to complete a quick and free registration form for the Storytime links. For additional children’s book recommendations see the library’s Earth Day book list for kids.
Adults can enjoy books from the library’s climate action themed book list, titled This World We Call Home, in honor of Earth Day. The list can be found at BellinghamPublicLibrary.org. On the homepage click “View Staff Picks,” then select the list under the heading “Notable Picks.”
Get outside and explore nature by checking out a state park backpack through the library. The library offers backpacks equipped with a Discover Pass, binoculars, field guides and a map. The Discover Pass allows free parking at Washington State Parks.
Make a personal commitment to reduce environmental impact
The City offers three pledges for community members who want to reduce their environmental impact, including pledges to take climate action, conserve outdoor water use, and pick up dog poop to keep Bellingham’s waterways clean. All pledge participants have the option to receive free materials that will help them begin reducing their environmental impact.
Take a self-guided Stormwater Discovery Tour
Discover where rainwater goes on Bellingham’s Stormwater Discovery Tours. Explore urban and parkland areas while learning how the City keeps the water clean, filters out pollutants and prevents flooding. There are five self-guided tour sites in Bellingham. Visit stormwater.cob.org to start exploring with a mobile-friendly guide that provides maps, historical photos and underground drawings.
