5 simple ways to celebrate Earth Day in Colorado Springs

Today is Earth Day, an annual event held on April 22 to promote and demonstrate efforts to help protect our environment. 

The worldwide event is the perfect time to get outdoors, pick up some trash and help preserve our planet. 

Colorado Springs nonprofit expands to promote daily cleanups of litter around the city

Everyday you can help contribute to Earth's well-being by recycling, buying eco-friendly products, conserving water, turning off the lights when you leave a room and keeping your neighborhood clean.

For those who are already committed to these efforts, here are five creative and simple ways to celebrate our beautiful planet this Earth Day:  

1. Plant a tree 

Trees not only beautify our cities, they also provide a plethora of benefits for our planet. Trees clean our air, capture rainwater to reduce the risk of natural disasters like flooding and provide shade to cool our cities and streets.

Not only are they helpful to us, but they're great for biodiversity too and can become home to hundreds of species of fungi, insects and more. 

Scenic 'canopy walk' envisioned for nature center near Colorado Springs

$9M federal grant will help restore, enhance thousands of trees in southeast Colorado Springs

2. Go thrift shopping 

Thrift shopping has a wide range of benefits that not only help your wallet but our planet as well. Whenever you thrift or buy second-hand, you are helping reduce demand for new products, which reduces the need for more production of those goods. This helps decrease the environmental impacts associated with manufacturing and helps conserve resources as well as minimize waste. 

New Goodwill thrift shop in Falcon underway

Circa Vintage opens in Old Colorado City as storefront for local artisans, vintage goods

3. Go camping in your backyard 

Enjoy the great outdoors right outside your back door this Earth Day. Today's weather calls for sunny skies, with a high near 77 degrees in Colorado Springs, making for a perfect night of fun with family and friends. Camping makes for a great opportunity to reconnect with nature and can improve your overall mood.

Note: The city is under a red flag warning so it would be best to leave the campfire s'mores for another time. 

4. Bike to work (if you can)

Get some fresh air and a little exercise in before work. Biking to work helps to lower carbon emissions and, unlike cars or public transportation, they don't emit pollutants. Taking this route can also help to reduce traffic congestion as well as noise pollution. Plus, your physical and mental health will improve. 

5. Host a nature scavenger hunt 

Embark on a search for natural wonders that can be found in your backyard or a local park. Scavenger hunts make for a perfect time to teach your kids more about nature and the environment they live in. Your scavenger hunt can include things like pinecones, rocks, birds and more.