Earth Day 2010 in Columbus Ohio

April 22 marks the 40th anniversary of the very first Earth Day, and Columbus will be participating and celebrating in style. The first Earth Day was an environmental protest designed, according to Senator Gaylord Nelson, "to shake up the political establishment and force this issue onto the national agenda." Forty years later, Earth Day is still a day to be used to bring environmental concerns to the forefront, but is has become much more. It is now also a rallying point for people to come together and help clean up their local environment.

For those living in and around Columbus, the opportunities to work toward a cleaner, greener community abound. Green Columbus has organized a full weekend of volunteer opportunities for the people of central Ohio. On Saturday, April 17 and Sunday, April 18, volunteers will work in shifts of two to four hours to plant trees, remove invasive species, clean streams, and more in an effort to improve Columbus and the surrounding communities. Additional volunteers are needed on April 22 to help set up, run, and clean up after the Earth Day Celebration.

The weekend volunteer opportunities are spread around the city, in local parks, Metro Parks, gardens, and more, and there are sites that are easily accessible to everyone. Volunteers do not need any expertise, and there are some worksites that are appropriate for families with small children as well as locations that are designed solely for adults.

Columbus's Earth Day Celebration will take place on Thursday, April 22 from 3pm to 10pm on the grounds of Franklin Park. The celebration is free to all who care to come. Volunteers from the weekend efforts will enjoy special benefits, including free ice cream or a free beer. Those who do volunteer at a weekend worksite may want to bring along a camera, as the celebration will also feature a photo contest showcasing the best worksite pictures taken over the weekend.

For more information, or to sign up for a shift (or two!) at one of the worksites, please visit Green Columbus's Earth Day 2010 website.