Earth Day: Reduce – Reuse – Recycle

BY: RACHEL WUMKES

In the time period leading up to the first Earth Day celebration, Americans had created quite a mess.  The boom of industry belched out smoke and sludge every day.  Most people were oblivious to the repercussions of creating such immense pollution.

That is, until 1962 when Rachel Carson’s New York Times Bestseller, Silent Spring, hit the bookshelves.

For the first time, people took note of what their actions were doing to our planet.  The book raised public awareness and concern for our Earth.  It clearly highlighted the connection between pollution and health.

Which led to the first Earth Day in 1970.

It wasn’t until 1990, however, that the Earth Day movement undoubtedly became a global phenomenon.  The focus that year… recycling!

Remember their catchy phrase?  Reduce – Reuse – Recycle!

Today, Earth Day is widely recognized by billions across the globe as a day of action. Its intention is to change human behavior and create global, national, and local policy changes.

In Clear Lake, we are doing our part to keep our community clean and instill values in the youth to protect our natural environment.  As the next generation inherits this great responsibility, the hope is for them to be better than us.  More knowledgeable about how they can protect the environment and keep it clean.

And there are A LOT of ways you can get involved in Earth Day!

After the winter winds whipped their way through North Iowa, what’s left behind is not always very pretty.  While we are ecstatic the snow has melted, the garbage and debris uncovered makes for quite the mess!  The Trash Bash is designed to be the ultimate spring-cleaning event because it covers the entire community.

In fact, our very own First Mates did their part on Tuesday, April 11th along North Lakeshore Drive and the boat ramps downtown.

What a GREAT group of volunteers!

Off to work they go!

 

 

It was a bit windy!!

The official “Community Clean Up” is the week of April 16-22.  There is still time to get a group signed up as we spiff up Clear Lake for the upcoming busy season.

Besides the Trash Bash, there are a slew of other way to get involved.

Below you’ll find the official schedule of Earth Day events.

We encourage EVERYONE to get involved in some way, shape, or form and help us make 2023 the best Earth Day yet!

  • April 18 – May 12: Clear Lake Arts Center Photo Contest
  • April 1 – April 30: Seed Library at the Clear Lake Public Library
  • April 16 (6:45am): Community Easter “Sonrise” at City Park Bandshell/Lakeview Room. The public is invited to this service hosted by Clear Lake Christian Church.
  • April 16-22: Community Clean Up (AKA “Trash Bash”)
  • April 18 (12:00pm): Book Chat of the Darkness Manifesto by Johan Eklof at the Clear Lake Public Library
  • April 18 (7:00pm): Take Flight with the Monarchs with Cindy Richardson & Incredible Invertebrates Display with Dave Holstad at the Clear Lake Public Library
  • April 20 (4:00pm – 7:00pm): Green Expo at the Surf Ballroom
  • April 20 (8:00pm): Night Wonder Walk with local naturalist Cindy Findley at Sisters’ Prairie, 2868 235th Street
  • April 22: Outdoorfest in City Park
    • 8:30am Youth Mile à Register HERE
    • 9:00am 5K/10K Race à Register HERE
    • 10am -1pm Iowa State University’s “Water Rocks!” hands-on activities, bounce house, family games, grab & go packets, chalk drawings & rock painting.
    • 10am – noon Outdoor Play Toys Community Share at the Clear Lake Yacht Club
    • 11am Pickleball demonstration

As always, it’s the dedicated sponsors who make all of the above activities possible.  Without them, we wouldn’t be able to host such an incredible event for environmental awareness.

CL TelClear Lake Bank & TrustKingland SystemsSkips KicksHanson FoundationPritchardsClear Lake Chamber Best WesternAtlantic Bottling Coca Cola

We hope to see you ALL out and about, enjoying the spring weather and doing your part to keep our community clean!