Get Out! It's Almost Earth Day.
April 21 and 22 are two of the Sierra Club's favorite days. First comes Club-founder John Muir’s birthday on Sunday, followed by Earth Day on Monday, one of the few major holidays not synonymous with acquiring more stuff. In that vein, the Club’s "Get Out!" campaign is all about acquiring experiences.
The Sierra Club’s Earth Day site has a calendar of 500-plus things to do across the country, with events leading up to and beyond the official holiday. Events run the gamut from film screenings and jazz shows, to backpacking and habitat restoration.
Here are 17 of the many ways to celebrate this coming Sunday and Monday:
Arizona
Grand Canyon National Park's Earth Day Celebration, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday
Between peering down the Grand Canyon's rim — standing, humbled by life, the universe, and everything — gather with other nature heads to feel good about the future. Catch a few flicks and lectures before picking up litter around the park.
"Trashed" Special Earth Day Screening, 7 p.m. Monday
Explore the horrors and hope of navigating our throw-away culture with a showing of the 2012 documentary, "Trashed."
California
Dominguez Gap Wetlands Earth Day Celebration, 9:30 a.m. Sunday
Take a not-too-challenging stroll along the surprising urban oasis that is the Los Angeles River. The two-ish-mile hike covers mostly flat terrain.
Delaware
John Muir's Birthday!, 4:30 to 6 p.m. Sunday
Raise a glass to Muir's legacy with a pint in a First State bar.
Wilmington Earth Day Celebration, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday
Learn how to save the planet, starting locally, with a focus on "eco-options."
Florida
John Muir Birthday Hike in Guana, 9 a.m. Sunday
Bring your favorite Muir quote (You can't go wrong with this one: "When we try to pick out anything by itself, we find it hitched to everything else in the Universe.") for a leisurely 4-mile hike at Guana Tolomato Matanzas National Estuarine Reserve, which includes periodic stops to read and reflect.
Paddle the Lower Peace River Loop, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday
Bring your own water craft for a guided tour through alligator country.
Maryland
Earth Day Celebration on the Leonardtown Square, 12:30 to 4:30 p.m. Sunday
The 13th-annual festival features live music, local food, arts and crafts, and exhibits with an eco-minded bent.
New Jersey
Earth Day Festival, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday
Close to a dozen wildlife and environmental groups come together for exhibits, crafts, and an "eco-hayride" that includes a view of the Jersey-Atlantic Wind Farm.
Dinner and Move in New Brunswick, 7 p.m. Monday
Catch a screening of "Ansel Adams: A Documentary Film," about the nature of the photographer known for capturing temporal majesty.
Ohio
Clintonville Tree Planting, 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Sunday
Get your hands dirty and conscience clean, planting about 250 native trees near the Olentangy River.
Oklahoma
Jazz Night, 7 to 10 p.m. Sunday
Gather with fellow Sierra Clubbers for some good tunes and good vibes.
Pennsylvania
California Earth Day Community Clean-Up and Celebration, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday
Meet your neighbors for some collective good works during a community cleanup in downtown California, Pennsylvania.
Tennessee
John Muir Birthday Hike - Stringer's Ridge, 2 p.m. Sunday
The family-friendly hike honors Muir, Mother Nature, and American history.
Texas
Armand Bayou Nature Center Sunday in Nature, noon to 4 p.m. Sunday
Get free admission to the 2,500-acre preserve and catch guided hikes through the woods or in coastal prairie. Don't miss the bison enclosure and the butterfly garden.
Texas Tribune Conversation About the Environment, 7:30 to 9 a.m. Monday
Environmental experts talk about our world during a free, journalist-moderated lecture.
Washington State
Old Growth Hike, 1 to 4 p.m. Sunday
The 3-mile trek through old growth forest includes a pass through Hobbit Village, which includes teensy hammock, a mini outhouse, and other tiny, twee accoutrements.
READ MORE:
Slideshow: Endangered Animals to Treasure
More in Heartwarming: A Slideshow of Animal Families
A Q-and-A with One of the Sierra Club's Outings Leaders