Dear Neighbor,
Earth Day was first held on April 22, 1970 and now includes a wide range of global events. This year's theme is Invest in Our Planet. As individuals, we have the simple yet effective power to make our voices heard through our choices, civic actions, and personal interactions. What each of us does and how we do it has a huge ripple effect on our ecosystems and the pace of corporate and government action. This is a time for us to recognize and celebrate everything the Earth offers us and the many ways we should support, protect, and preserve our home.
As we head into Earth Month and look forward to Earth Day on April 22, below are a number of earth-focused events that are family-friendly and some helpful resources that will educate and describe some of the programs and initiatives available in Fairfax County.
You can find the following Providence District updates below in this newsletter:
- Earth-Focused Events
- Resources
With gratitude,
Supervisor Dalia Palchik
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2023 Potomac Watershed Cleanup |
Join Friends of Accotink Creek in partnership with the Alice Ferguson Foundation and Project Clean Stream to get trash out of our waterways during the Annual Potomac Watershed Cleanup.
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Personal Climate Action Planning |
Join Fairfax County’s Office of Environmental and Energy Coordination on Tuesday, April 18 from 1PM to 2PM at the McLean Community Center to learn about ways you can take climate action. This event is free and open to all.
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This event will also kick off our diaper drive. Please bring unopened packages of diapers to donate. All collected items will be donated to Fairfax Diapers.
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Earth Day at the Oakton Library |
Celebrate Earth Day on Saturday, April 22 at the Oakton Library (10304 Lynnhaven Place) to engage in family-friendly activities such as crafts, a scavenger hunt, and a book sale! |
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Adopt-A-Highway Clean-Up Earth Day Weekend |
The Sierra Club/Great Falls Group will pick up litter and debris on 1.32 miles of Jones Branch Drive, Tysons Corner (home of McLean Hilton) on Saturday, April 22 from 9AM to 11AM. Come out for great exercise outdoors, meet and mingle with other Club members, and help clean up a roadway! Litter bags will be provided.
For more information, you can contact Patricia Leslie at 202-316-0584 or [email protected] with "AAHiway" in the subject line.
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5th Annual Environment Expo |
Join the 5th Annual Mount Vernon District Environment Expo: Get Outdoors! Learn and Do! on Saturday, April 22 from 10AM to 2PM at Fort Hunt Park, 8999 Fort Hunt Road. Attendees will learn about the environmental and climate challenges we face on a daily basis and actions we can take to help.
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Fairfax County’s largest Earth Day celebration is returning to Sully Historic Site on Saturday, April 22. Celebrate “Healthy People – Healthy Planet” with a day filled with fun, family-friendly games, activities, entertainment, food, and more!
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Join the 4th annual Fairfax Veg Fest on Sunday, April 23 to learn how to live a healthy, sustainable, plant-based lifestyle that is healthier for people, animals, and the planet. They will also have cooking demos, music, and adoptable dogs!
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Cherry Blossom Tree Planting with the Tysons Community Alliance |
Calling all volunteers! The Tysons Community Alliance has partnered with the National Cherry Blossom Festival to plant several cherry blossom trees in Tysons. The trees will be planted on Arbor Day, Friday, April 28. They are looking for volunteers to help plant these trees near Scotts Run and on the Tysons Corner Center side of the newly built I-495 pedestrian bridge.
If you are interested in volunteering, please contact Destineé Mitchell at [email protected].
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Attend a build-your-own rain barrel workshop on Saturday, May 13 to save water and money. Rain barrels provide a great way to collect, store and use rainwater at home.
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Fairfax County Office of Environmental and Energy Coordination |
Fairfax County offers residents a multitude of resources and opportunities to save energy, water, and money at home. With two robust residential programs, Energy Action Fairfax and the Fairfax County HomeWise Program, the Office of Environmental and Energy Coordination (OEEC) works to meet residents wherever they are in their energy-saving journey. Read about these programs here.
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Community Cleanup Program |
Planning a community cleanup event? You can find information and resources that will make organizing your event a lot easier on Clean Fairfax's website. You can also request supplies.
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Apply to be the Next EQAC Student Member |
Fairfax County's Environmental Quality Advisory Council (EQAC) is seeking a student representative to join the council for the July 2023 through June 2024 term! Any current sophomore or junior in good standing in Fairfax County who is interested is encouraged to apply. EQAC makes recommendations to the Board of Supervisors regarding county environmental protection and enhancement. Monthly meetings address issues on a range of topics including water quality, air quality, land use, transportation, solid waste, climate change, energy, hazardous materials, and noise, light and visual pollution. Learn more and apply by May 3, 2023.
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Fairfax County Farmers Markets |
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Do you like observing nature? Make your observations count! The City Nature Challenge is a friendly worldwide competition among metro areas to see whose residents can spot and identify the most wildlife. We need you to look for signs of life in local parks, to see what plants and animals share our environment. Participation in this volunteer activity can take place at any Fairfax County Park location and can be any time from dawn to dusk.
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As the blooms on spring-flowering trees start to fade, now is a good time to notice whether the tree you are seeing is helping our environment or hurting it, as is the case with the invasive tree known as Callery Pear.
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We want to hear from you! Please reach out to us with questions, comments or just to say hello. Please feel free to email us with events you would like to be included in my newsletter.
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