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:

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A Q-and-A with One of the Sierra Club's Outings Leaders