Planning an Earth Day Event This Year?

Baking soda display and Whole Foods Market gift basket for last year's Earth Day.

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When I was young and would go to the dentist, I was given a treat at the end of each visit.  It wasn’t anything expensive but it was usually colorful and always made me feel special.

People like to feel special.  They also like to take something away from an event or experience, even if it is small and inexpensive.  It makes it fun and more memorable.

Last year, when I was planning an Earth Day event for our library, I reached out to Arm & Hammer to inquire if they would donate some baking soda so that I could share with our patrons the wonders of homemade, non-toxic cleaners.  As baking soda is one of the main ingredients used to make these cleaners, I’m happy they obliged.

Alongside the baking soda, I provided a one-page, double-sided handout listing dozens of ways the baking soda could be used and a few recipes for homemade, eco-friendly cleaners.

I also reached out to my local Whole Foods Market who generously donated a gift basket for a drawing.  Throughout the month of April, we prominently displayed the large basket at our circulation desk to build excitement and interest in our upcoming Earth Day celebration.

How are you planning to celebrate Earth Day 2010 at your library?  There are so many ways to celebrate this monumental day – ways that don’t require a big budget but instead a bit of lead time and some creative thinking.

If your plan includes reaching out to a green business, why not start today?

In upcoming posts, I’ll cover green programming on a dime for Earth Day and beyond. And, if there is a topic that you would like covered in this blog, leave me a comment!