Melina Martinez
I think we can all agree the planet needs a dose of TLC! If this pandemic has taught us anything, it’s how we can better treat Mother Earth. Time in quarantine has allowed us to reflect on just how frivolous our possessions can be and how taking care of our planet should be one of our main priorities.
This year marks the 50th anniversary of Earth Day - the largest civic event on the planet. “Climate Action” is the theme of the year and even though we are social distancing, there are many ways we can participate in Earth Day activities as a community. Earth Week is making a footprint (the good kind) in Miami with some cool virtual events taking place throughout the city. Here is our full Earth Day programming to get you in the mood for a brighter tomorrow because no doubt Miami will shine!
One of many lifeguard stands on the shores of Miami Beach
Miami Beach Sustainchella
Miami Beach Sustainchella is a series of virtual workshops hosted by the City of Miami Beach. Topics include “Fin-tastic Sharks,” “House Plant Rehab,” “Bye Bye Plastic” and more!
U of M Virtual Earth Week Celebration
The University of Miami is hosting various webinars this week, with topics ranging from water conservation to how COVID-19 will impact the way we address climate change.
Aerial view of Biscayne National park - which is 95% underwater
Biscayne National Park
Start your morning at 9:00 am with Go Native with Biscayne National Park @Home, pre-recorded on YouTube. Want a yard that’s low maintenance, saves you time, has benefits for the planet AND lets you experience a little bit of Biscayne National Park @Home? Go Native! Learn about some of the plants found in Biscayne National Park, while also learning about the benefits of a native garden.
Sloths hanging around at Zoo Miami
Zoo Miami
Zoo Miami, is hosting Storytelling with Nature. A Zoom Live at 10:00 am with Ron Magill, Director of Communications and Goodwill Ambassador. Take a journey from Monarch Migration in Mexico to the Okavango Delta in Africa and right into Zoo Miami’s backyard! Visit Zoo Miami’s Facebook page @ZooMiami for the Zoom link.
Alligator hiding in grass at Everglades National Park
Everglades National Park
Everglades Foundation, will be showcasing via Facebook @EvergladesFoundation (prerecorded) at 11:00 am, Protecting our Everglades and Connecting to our Watershed: From Home and Always. There are 8.7 million residents of South Florida (1 out of 3 Floridians) who rely on the Everglades for their water supply. Join the Everglades Foundation’s educational programming as we navigate through the Everglades watershed using an interactive presentation focusing on water usage, where our water comes from, and the importance of the Everglades ecosystem. Understanding the Everglades watershed ensures future generations of Floridians understand the ecological and economic value of the Everglades ecosystem. Water is important to the health of the Everglades, and the health of the Everglades is important to us!
Stingray at Frost Science Museum
Frost Science
Frost Science will be devoting its weekly webinar to Earth Day! Head to their Facebook page @FrostScience today at 2:00 pm for their “Little Steps to Make Big Changes for Nature” webinar. They will discuss three of the biggest environmental challenges facing our planet, and what you can do from home to make a positive change. Learn more about citizen science projects that are making local and global changes, including Frost Science’s Museum Volunteers for the Environment (MUVE) program and the City Nature Challenge. Presented with support from the Miami Downtown Development Authority. RSVP here.
One of many orchids found at Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden
Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden
Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden will bring you 24 hours of Earth Stories, a live broadcast that showcases the many magnificent wonders that Earth has to offer, including animals and plants, while also digging deeper into key environmental challenges facing our plant and community today. Tune in today at 3:00 pm via Instagram @FairchildGarden as Biologist Jason Downing goes live to discuss how the Million Orchid Project is aimed at reintroducing native orchids to Miami and its surrounding neighborhoods.
Perez Art Museum outside patio
Perez Art Museum
Pérez Art Museum Miami (PAMM), Website (prerecorded). Conclude your Earth Day Celebrations with PAMM’s AIRIE x PAMM: Art + Environment & Getting the Water Right. Enjoy a reflection on the intersections of art and environment with two fascinating and unprecedented discussions bringing diverse artists, writers and scientists together. Presentations in partnership with Artists in Residence in Everglades (AIRIE).
Smithsonian
Ongoing – Smithsonian Channel (Documentary screening) Last Call For The Bayou. Courtesy of the Smithsonian Channel, view the “Last Call for the Bayou” documentary featuring stories of loss, hope, fear, and fight from residents and responders of the shrinking Louisiana coast. The Mississippi River Delta is essential to the U.S. economy. It allows the passage of goods worldwide, and it’s home to a $2.4 billion fishing industry. It’s also rapidly disappearing; every 100 minutes, wetland the size of a football field is lost to open water, presenting a huge environmental threat to America and to the coastal residents who call the area home. Follow the stories of individuals who are experiencing this calamity firsthand and see how they’re fighting to keep their cultures, livelihoods, and homes from washing away.