APRIL 2026 NEWSLETTER

Each April, communities across the country recognize Earth Day and Arbor Day, two observances rooted in a shared goal of protecting and enhancing our natural environment. While often celebrated together, each has its own unique history and purpose.

Earth Day is observed annually on April 22 and was first celebrated in 1970 in response to growing public concern over pollution and environmental degradation. Led by former U.S. Senator Gaylord Nelson, the movement brought together millions of Americans and helped catalyze major environmental legislation. These include the Clean Air Act, Clean Water Act, and the establishment of the Environmental Protection Agency. Today, Earth Day has grown into a global movement that not only raises awareness but also encourages local action. This is reflected here in Palm Beach County, where residents can take part in various events throughout April, from cleanups and educational workshops to community celebrations focused on sustainability.

Arbor Day, traditionally observed on the last Friday in April (April 24 in 2026), predates Earth Day by nearly a century. J. Sterling Morton helped establish Arbor Day in 1872 in Nebraska to encourage tree planting and environmental stewardship. What began as a local effort resulted in the planting of an estimated one million trees on the first Arbor Day. Today, the tradition continues nationwide, often through volunteer tree plantings and initiatives that directly contribute to more resilient and livable communities.



Together, Earth Day and Arbor Day remind us that environmental stewardship starts locally. Throughout Palm Beach County, there are plenty of opportunities this month to get involved and be part of that effort.

The City Nature Challenge (CNC) began in 2016 as a friendly competition between Los Angeles and San Francisco and has since grown into a global, annual community science event where cities around the world document urban biodiversity over a few days each April. It is essentially a large-scale “bioblitz” designed to engage residents in discovering local nature while generating real scientific data used for research, conservation, and environmental management.

In South Florida, Palm Beach County participates as part of the CNC SoFlo regional collaboration, where multiple counties and organizations work together under one shared project to showcase the region’s biodiversity. Rather than competing individually, the region pools observations to highlight the unique ecosystems of South Florida, from coastal habitats to wetlands and urban green spaces.

Participation is open to anyone, and residents do not need to attend an organized event to take part. Individuals can contribute on their own simply by going outside, whether in their backyard, a park, or a natural area, and documenting any wild plant or animal they find. The process is straightforward: take a photo or an audio recording, upload it through the iNaturalist app, and the global community helps identify the species.



The challenge happens in two phases: first, participants collect observations over a few days, and then the community works together to identify species and verify the data. Through this simple process, anyone, from beginners to experts, can contribute meaningful data while exploring and learning about the natural world right in their own community.

Palm Beach County Natural Areas Adventure Awaits Events

Palm Beach County’s Department of Environmental Resources Management invites residents to its 39th annual “Adventure Awaits” series, featuring 22 expert-led outdoor experiences from March through May that highlight local wildlife and natural areas. Events are free but registration is required. Learn more here: PBC ERM Events - 16 Upcoming Activities and Tickets | Eventbrite.

Earth Month Events with Boca Raton

Boca Raton is celebrating Earth Month throughout April with a wide range of events, including a Vertical Oyster Garden workshop at Gumbo Limbo Nature Center, a native plant giveaway for residents, an e-waste and shredding event, and a volunteer dune restoration project at Red Reef Park. A full list of Boca Raton’s Earth Month Events is here: Earth Month | Boca Raton, FL.

e4 Life Green, Health and Wellness Expo

West Palm Beach

April 11, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Cox Science Center and Aquarium



The City of West Palm Beach and Cox Science Center are partnering to host the e4 Life Green Health & Wellness Expo. This is a community-focused event with workshops, exhibits, and activities centered on healthy living, sustainability, and environmental conservation. The expo will feature local organizations, interactive experiences, giveaways, and family-friendly programming aimed at promoting climate awareness and practical environmental action. Bonus offerings include a free rain barrel pickup (with registration) for West Palm Beach water customers, along with half off admission for city residents and employees. Register for the rain barrel giveaway here: Rain Barrel Registration - April 11, 2026  and See the West Palm Beach event calendar for the full list of Earth Day events: Event Calendar City of West Palm Beach. 

Boynton Beach Earth Month Celebration

April 25, 9 a.m. to 10:30 a.m.

6415 N Ocean Blvd, Ocean Ridge, FL



Join Boynton Beach for a Beach Clean-Up event and help keep the coastline beautiful! Volunteers can register here: Boynton Beach Earth Day Cleanup at Oceanfront Park! | seaturtleadventures and are encouraged to share the registration link with others. Free shuttle service will be provided from the Boynton Beach Schoolhouse Museum, while those wishing to park at the beach can request a parking pass in advance via email.

April 25, 12 p.m. to 4 p.m.

Centennial Park and Amphitheater



The City of Boynton Beach is hosting its annual Earth Month Celebration featuring family-friendly activities, sustainability exhibits, local vendors, food trucks, and live music. Community members are encouraged to attend, spread the word, and participate as vendors or sponsors to support local businesses and environmental initiatives.

Dyer Park Tree Plantings with Community Greening

April 4, April 22, April 24, and May 2

Community Greening is hosting a series of volunteer tree planting events across West Palm Beach and Boca Raton and is encouraging community participation to plant native trees and support local environmental restoration efforts. Details are here: Events | Community Greening

Resources are now available from the March 6^th Climate Adaptation Forum, Decoding Data and Risk for All, including presentation materials, a full recording, and additional communication tools shared by speakers to support effective public engagement on resilience topics.



Presentation: Access a compilation of the available speaker presentations here: Presentation Compilation - Decoding Data and Risk for All.pdf

Recording: Access the full recording of this Forum here: Climate Adaptation Communication – Decoding Data and Risk for All

The Lancet Countdown on Health and Climate Change has just released its latest annual report, highlighting escalating global health risks linked to extreme weather and tracking progress on international climate commitments. See the link to the report: 2025 Report - Lancet Countdown.

The Palm Beach North Chamber of Commerce has released its 2026–2030 Regional Strategic Plan, outlining a collaborative five-year roadmap focused on economic growth, quality of life, and a more resilient, connected region through coordinated leadership and sustainability initiatives. See the full plan here: Strategic-Plan.pdf; and a video summary here: Palm Beach North Regional Strategic Plan 2026–2030 | Shaping the Future of Our Region.

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