Arizona Earth Day Celebration
Statewide events, activities, and fun for the whole family!
Do you have the best interest of earth in mind when making life’s decisions? Are you a sustainable traveler when exploring Arizona’s beautiful outdoor spaces? Chances are you want to make the best decisions for the planet, but may be unsure of where to turn for information about doing your part. That’s exactly why Earth Day is still going strong 54 years after the initial celebration in 1970! You want to do the right things, and we have a great lineup of Earth Day Events to help you get there! Or maybe you’ve already adopted sustainable practices and just want to enjoy Arizona's spring beauty with like-minded people…and that’s cool too!
Dead Horse Ranch State Park
Verde Valley Birding and Nature Festival
April 25-28, 2024
Appreciate and learn about the area's birds and wildlife during this popular annual festival! The 2024 festival theme is “migration” and the featured bird is the common black hawk. Workshop and presentations include Verde River Ecology, Birding Basics, Wild Plants, Backyard Birding in Northern Arizona, Mammals of the Verde Valley, Bird Call Quizzes, will be offered…and much more!
Don't forget to check out the spacious campgrounds or rustic cabins before your trip.
Red Rock State Park
Earth Day Celebration
April 20, 2024
Red Rock’s annual Earth Day celebration amid Sedona’s famed red rock escarpments is always a hit…Join us at the park from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. on April 20! The live wildlife presentations are always very popular, featuring owls, snakes, and spiders, and there are plenty of other games, booths, nature hikes, and outdoor beauty for the whole family to enjoy!
Find out about all of the awesome events offered at this gorgeous park!
Lyman Lake State Park
Earth Day Celebration
April 25, 2024
Come celebrate Earth Day with us at Lyman Lake State Park! During this fee-free event, families and local schools are invited to join us for arts, crafts, and other activities to teach kids about the importance of keeping the planet clean.
Meet at the Day Use Area at 8 a.m. This is a free event, no park admission is required to attend. Please call the park with questions.
Learn More
Sunrises and sunsets are magical at this lake park! Book a campsite or a rustic camping cabin here to extend your park visit.
Oracle State Park
Earth Day Music on the Trails Event
April 20, 2024
Visit this 4000-acre wildlife refuge for an entire day of tours and events that will keep you and the family busy and engaged in the celebration. Listen to an array of musicians playing beautiful melodies as you hike along the 1.3-mile Nature Trail. Finish up a great day with live music on the historical Kannally Ranch House patio. Bring your own food and drinks (no glass containers, please) to enjoy a picnic and music on the patio as we welcome the beautiful sunset and night sky. See the complete lineup of musical performers at the link below.
Homolovi State Park
Star Party
April 27, 2024
See the stars at Homolovi State Park will also host a Star Party on April 27! This event will offer stargazers an opportunity to see deep-sky objects like nebulas, distant stars, and even galaxies through the Winslow Homolovi Observatory's 14" telescope and television monitors. The program is presented in partnership with the Little Colorado River Valley Astronomy Club.
Learn More
Grab a campsite and stay a while! Make a reservation at this park's peaceful campground.
What is ecotourism and why does it matter?
We talked with the Central Arizona Conservation Alliance (CAZCA) about what ecotourism can look like when recreating in beautiful places, from both perspectives of sustainability for the habitat and for community support. Sometimes this looks like helping map invasive plants while you're hiking to assist land managers, choosing wisely with your own landscaping decisions, and volunteering with local groups to do conservation work; other times it looks like donating to an organization or spreading awareness about the work they're doing.
Find out more about CAZCA and follow along with the work they're doing to protect and care for natural, open spaces that serve the communities and protect the habitat of the Sonoran Desert in Central Arizona.
Check out the principles of responsible recreation.
Visit our guest Dr. Aireona Raschke's (formerly with CAZCA) blog, Nightborn Travel, where she showcases her own responsible tourism adventures.
Learn About Protecting Sedona
We partnered with the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality, U.S. Forest Service, National Forest Foundation, and the Oak Creek Watershed Council to protect Sedona's priceless natural resources! This joint agency effort will ensure visitors are able to enjoy it for many years to come! Watch the video below to learn more about the Path to Protection.
Partner Spotlight
Natural Restorations is an Arizona organization that works to clean and restore lands to their natural state. Arizona State Parks and Trails is a proud supporter of Natural Restorations and the amazing work of their team! They engage in activities like trash removal, graffiti, hosting cleanups, and helping keep trails clean and open so that the community can enjoy them. Their positive impact on Arizona's natural and historic places has earned public respect, appreciation, and the distinction of our Earth Day Partner Spotlight. Watch the videos below to see what they're all about, and learn about a recent project! Find more on their website and YouTube.
Organize a Cleanup
You can choose to make a difference on your own this year by organizing a cleanup! Your cleanup can be as simple or extravagant as you would like, in fact every little bit helps! Pick up trash on your walks, or organize a cleanup with friends (for later!) to help out your local park. Stop by any Arizona Visitor Information Center to grab a free trails cleanup kit from Keep Nature Wild! Advertise your cleanup on social media to get the attention of like-minded people who would be willing to share their time for the betterment of the earth. You can even opt to volunteer for an organization like Natural Restorations on their projects that restore historic and natural features on your public lands. Every little bit helps, and each of us has the power to make a change in the world.
Practice Responsible Recreation
The impact of recreation often leaves a mark and may detract from the overall experience if too many of us turn a blind eye to it. Learn the seven principles you can practice when enjoying the outdoors to ensure future generations are able to enjoy Arizona’s beautiful places. You can even complete a free online course from Leave No Trace which introduces a simple framework of minimum impact practices to apply when spending time outdoors.
Final Thoughts
Earth Day is April 22, but you can do your part all year long! Educating yourself and finding out more about public lands and how to protect them is a great step to becoming a steward of the land and making a difference in the world!
