Causecast

By AARON HORWITZ, Contributing Writer

Here’s a widely known fact I’m going to share with you all: holidays are fun.

On Independence Day we light off fireworks. On Christmas and Hanukkah we exchange gifts. On Thanksgiving we feast, and on St. Patty’s Day we drink. But I’ll bet you didn’t know that Earth Day can be fun too. And I’ll bet you didn’t know it’s tomorrow, April 22nd! So there’s no time to waste. Without further adieu, here are six fun Earth-related ways to spend your Wednesday (and your weekend).

1) GO SEE A MOVIE—Shocking, I know, but I’m not talking about Fast and Furious. I recommend a new flick everyone can enjoy titled (appropriately enough) EARTH. It’s the first film from Disney’s new nature series, and it’s made by the gang who brought us the astounding Planet Earth series. Check out the trailer. If you can’t afford a ticket, here’s a fun list of movies you can rent instead.

2) CONSERVE—Yeah, this is an obvious one, but I’ll betcha didn’t know how much fun it could be. Conserve water by taking a shorter shower in the morning- that means you can sleep in longer! Or, skip the shower entirely, leave the car at home and then bike/run to the office to play a fun joke on your co-workers called “Who’s that smell?” Earth Day pranks are the best.

3) MEET YOUR LOCAL RECYCLERS—If you’re unemployed (and let’s face it a lot of us are right now) and money is tight, now might be a perfect time to round-up your recyclables and head down to your local recycling center. Some states pay up to 10 cents per beverage container, and that can add up (especially for the college crowd).

4) FIND THE PARTY—There are hundreds of places to go, people to meet, causes to learn about and share on Earth Day. Whether you prefer concerts, festivals, community service, or something else entirely, you’d be surprised at what’s goin’ down in your hood this week. Type your city into the Earth Day Network for a list of events near you.

5) THROW A PARTY—More of a homebody? Don’t sweat it, you can bring Earth Day to you. Get creative and come up with a funky, original green-themed bash this weekend and invite your friends. Need an idea? How about a “Lights Out” party? (OK, I’ll leave the creative stuff to you).

6) TELL YOUR KIDS—Earth Day can be fun for your little ones too. If Halloween can teach our children to love candy, why can’t Earth Day teach them to love the planet? Be adventurous and take the kids to a science or history museum, or if you’d rather stay home, put their Nintendo DS away and share some of these fun Earth Day-related games. While they’re doing that, you can watch some Earth Day TV.

I could go on all day, but you’ve got fun Earth-themed activities to prepare for! For a list of 10 million more ways to celebrate Mother Nature’s favorite holiday, check out the Earth Day Network. Have a happy Earth Day.

Image by woodleywonderworks, flickr