This April has been a historic month for celebrating the Moon and Earth. Beginning on April 6, NASA’s Artemis II crew brought us into their “moon joy” as they produced stunning images of the lunar surface and described in awe what they were seeing. Their lunar flyby of the Moon’s far side also revealed an “Earthset” image that set in many of our minds just how extraordinary our planet is.

On this Earth Day, you have the opportunity to celebrate and give back to our planet. Borrowing from the words of Artemis II Science Officer Angela Garcia, you might say to yourself, “I copy your Moon joy” and summons a little Earth joy instead, with your feet firmly planted on the ground.

Whether today or sometime this spring, consider how you sustain that sense of Earth-ly joy. Think of it as a gift to yourself and to the natural world. In this article, we share a few ideas to help you get started at The Parklands―no specialized training is required.

One small step this Earth Day: Learn its history

The first Earth Day was on April 22, 1970. About 20 million Americans—about 10% of the total population at the time—participated in this inaugural celebration. In the same year, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) was formed. This was the birth of the modern environmental movement as we know it today. For more information on the origins of Earth Day, visit earthday.org.

Ways to keep the momentum (and joy!) going   

New Echo Rim Trail in Beckley Creek Park

Go on a nature walk

While out to enjoy the fresh spring air, take notice of the landscape and its plant life. Is there a tree that’s significantly larger and older than the trees surrounding it? In this case, you may be looking at a “legacy tree.” These are mature trees that have been spared during deforestation or have survived natural disturbances in the past. The presence of a legacy tree (or trees) is a sign that the land was once used for farming.

This is just one of myriad clues that can help you become more intimately acquainted with an area.

For more guidance on the history and features of the park landscapes, join a session of The Parklands Walking Club, which is free to attend and led by an Interpretive Ranger. If you have a little one in tow, we also offer monthly Wee Walking Club sessions. Learn more about these programs on our Upcoming Events page.

Take part in a community event

Our upcoming events like the Junior Explorer: Turtle Derby on May 16 in Broad Run Park make celebrating nature lots of fun. Join us for turtle-themed hikes, crafts, and games—and see which slow-and-steady reptile takes the top spot in this year’s turtle race!

Another FREE, family-friendly event that’s open to all ages is Friday at Floyds. Stay tuned for details on our June 12 event at Beckley Creek Park to kick off the summer season.

Photo by Olivia Hardin, Development Manager at The Parklands

Be open to wonder

The park landscapes are dynamic and continuously changing, especially in spring. You might spot an unusually captivating May flower or encounter an unexpected moment, like a beautiful bird suddenly perching right in front of you. This was the experience of our Development Manager Olivia Harden one day along the Humana Grand Allee, where she captured the photo of a great blue heron shown at left.

If you’d like to explore nature’s wonders with your kids, consider registering for a Wednesday Wonders session, which is free for Members and only $5 for non-Members. Every week we cover a different nature topic. Learn more about Wednesday Wonders for elementary-aged learners. Wee Wednesday Wonders is offered for younger learners (Pre-K and Kindergarten).

Get your hands dirty (or your shoes wet) 

Kids enrolled in our seasonal Outdoor Adventure Camps delight in the opportunity to experience nature up close. Often, this includes searching for fossils while walking along the banks of Floyds Fork. You might enjoy a creek walk of your own! (Just make sure to leave all fossils and other finds behind for the next visitor to enjoy.) You can also get your hands dirty as a volunteer at The Parklands! Learn more below.

Photo by Curtis Carman, Director of Education and Programming at The Parklands

Engage in citizen science 

Citizen science is a partnership between the public and professional researchers to answer scientific questions together. Taking notes and recording data are important parts of the scientific process.

The Great Backyard Bird Count (GBBC), launched in 1998 by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology and National Audubon Society, is a great example of a citizen science project that learners of all ages can enjoy. The goal of the GBBC is to connect communities through bird watching while gathering useful data on bird populations all over the world. The Parklands gets involved in this project each February with guided birding hikes.

You can also take part in other citizen science projects like the iNaturalist 2026 City Nature Challenge coming up this weekend (April 24‒27), annual monarch butterfly tagging events, and more.

Get involved as a volunteer 

April is National Volunteer Appreciation Month, and we thank everyone who has played a role in supporting our operations, from removing invasive species to assisting with summer camp programs. This includes those who have signed up for our Earth Day Creek Sweep along Floyds Fork on April 25!

Volunteers at The Parklands serve as instrumental partners in our mission to preserve and maintain unexcelled parklands that reflect the needs and values of our whole community. To gain a perspective from two volunteers and learn how you can get involved, read this 2025 blog article. You can also join us at our next Volunteer Orientation on June 18 to learn about current volunteer opportunities.

Become a Member 

Be part of the growing community that makes The Parklands possible! When you sign up for the Parklands & WLKY 5K on June 6 in Beckley Creek Park, you’ll automatically receive a one-year membership, along with a race medal and 2026 5K T-shirt. Your registration gives you the chance to support our annual operations while experiencing the joy of crossing the finish line alongside thousands of fellow supporters.

No matter how you choose to celebrate Earth Day, we hope you take some time today to experience nature’s simple joys—like sitting in one of the three rondels of the Moss Gibbs Woodland Garden, a special (almost otherworldly) place filled with redbuds, dogwoods, and perennial plants like mayapples in bloom.

We are deeply grateful to everyone who walks with us on our journey to provide our community with a park system that will be well used and well loved by present and future generations.

Happy Earth Day!