Happy 2023 Earth Week!

Our planet does some pretty amazing things for us. Celebrate Earth Day with the Tahoe Earth Week Challenge.

Celebrate in person this year in South Lake Tahoe and North Lake Tahoe. To learn more about South Tahoe events visit here. To learn more about North Tahoe events visit here. For a list of more ways to celebrate Earth Week visit here.

Complete one activity each day of the week, April 17-22. Post your pictures and tag #earthweektahoe!

Mother Nature Monday: 4/17/23

• Download the Tahoe Nature Activity Book for a month worth of nature activities
• Join the dark sky movement and turn off outside lights at night to protect wildlife and save energy

What to Wear: Animal print or animal-themed shirt

Climate Action Tuesday: 4/18/23

• Calculate your Carbon Footprint
• Eat three vegetarian meals (no beef, chicken, fish or pork) to reduce your carbon footprint
• Get your bikes out and get ready for Tahoe Bike Month in June! Learn how to prep your bike for the 2023 season and sign up for the bike path cleanup on June 1. Learn more about bike month here.
• Learn how to send a postcard to the President or write a letter to the newspaper editor to address climate change – your voice matters!

What to Wear: White for clean clouds

Clean Water Wednesday: 4/19/23

• Fill your reusable water bottle with Tahoe Tap and help eliminate microplastics from polluting our waterways
• Pick up dog poop on your neighborhood walk to help protect water clarity
• Take the Tahoe Keeper Quiz to learn how to clean, drain and dry your boat and gear to keep Aquatic Invasive Species out of Lake Tahoe

What to Wear: Blue for clean water

Trash Free Thursday: 4/20/23

•  Join the Earth Day Cleanup with Keep Tahoe Blue
• Download the new and improved Citizen Science Tahoe app, pick up trash in your favorite Tahoe place and report what you found in the “That’s Not Natural” survey
• Use or make a reusable grocery bag out of an old t-shirt – VIDEO
• Do your part to Keep Wildlife Wild by securing trash with bear-proof bins

What to Wear: Green for Earth Day!

Healthy Forest Friday: 4/21/23

• Learn Washoe names and pronunciations of native plants & animals!
• Learn how to grow your own garden by signing up for a free class
• Prepare for fire by getting prepared, informed and involved with Tahoe Living With Fire
• Rake pine needles for defensible space – be sure to keep any trash out of your green waste so that it can be composted
  • Drop off here
• Watch this video to learn about the benefits of prescribed fires to forest health. Visit here for more information.
• Stay up to date on the latest fire regulations!
• Watch A Fire For All video — FOREST⇌FIRE

What to Wear: Red to prevent wildfire

Send It Sustainably Saturday: 4/22/23

• Visit the South Tahoe Earth Day Festival at Lake Tahoe Community College and learn how to love the environment.
• Practice the Leave No Trace principles to protect the environment
• Read more about the importance of the Leave No Trace principles
• Walk, bike, or ride the bus – don’t drive! Learn how to get around car-free!
• Blaze a trail of kindness in a new place
• Complete the City of South Lake Tahoe’s nature scavenger hunt or run a Virtual 5k
• Watch Protect Lake Tahoe with Generation Green and the USFS!

What to Wear: Colors of the rainbow

Please Share Your Story!

Participants in these Earth Week Activities are encouraged to share their experiences online using the hashtag #earthweektahoe on your preferred social platform or send your pictures to info@takecaretahoe.org.

This originally appeared on TakeCareTahoe.org