Environmental Events Calendar
January 1: On January 1, 1970, the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 was enacted. It required all federal agencies to assess the impact of federal actions on the environment.
January 19: Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service, www.mlkday.org
February 2: World Wetlands Day, www.ramsar.org/wwd/wwd_index.htm
February 13 - 16: Great Backyard Bird Count, www.birdsource.org/gbbc
February 21: Establishment of the Washington Monument 1885, www.nps.gov/wamo
March 1: On March 1, 1872, Yellowstone National Park, the nation's first national park, was established by an act of Congress, and signed into law by President Ulysses S. Grant, www.nps.gov/yell/index.htm
March 1 - May 31: Great American Cleanup, www.kab.org
March 13: On March 13, 1903, the National Wildlife Refuge System was established, www.fws.gov/refuges
April: National Garden Month, www.nationalgardenmonth.org
April 12 - 18: National Environmental Education Week, www.eeweek.org
April 18 - 26: National Park Week, www.nps.gov/npweek
April 22: Earth Day, www.earthday.gov and www.earthday.net
April 24 - 26: National & Global Youth Service Day, www.ysa.org/nysd
April 19 – 25: National Volunteer Week, www.pointsoflight.org/programs/seasons/nvw
April 24: National Arbor Day, www.arborday.org
Spring 2009: FrogWatch USA, www.nwf.org/frogwatchusa, Nature Quest Wildlife Watch, www.nwf.org/wildlifewatch
May 1-31: American Wetlands Month, www.epa.gov/owow/wetlands/awm
May 2: Join Hands Day, www.joinhandsday.org/scripts/home.cfm
May 3 - 9: Drinking Water Week, www.awwa.org/advocacy/dww
May 9: International Migratory Bird Day, www.birdday.org
May 15: Endangered Species Day, www.endangeredspeciesday.org
May 22: International Day for Biological Diversity, www.cbd.int/ibd
May 28: Sierra Club founded in 1892, www.sierraclub.org
May 31 – June 8: National River Cleanup Week, www.nationalrivercleanup.com
June 1-30: Great Outdoors Month, www.greatoutdoorsmonth.org
June 6: National Trails Day, www.americanhiking.org/ntd.aspx
June 6 - 14: National Fishing and Boating Week, www.rbff.org/page.cfm?pageID=11
June 5: World Environment Day, www.unep.org/wed
June 13: National Get Outdoors Day, www.nationalgetoutdoorsday.org
June 27: Great American Backyard Campout, www.backyardcampout.org/girlscouts
July 1 - 7: National Clean Beaches Week, www.cleanbeaches.org
July 18 - 25: Wyoming's Wildlife Wonders - Girl Scout destinations, www.girlscouts.org/destinations
August 4: On August 4, 1954, the Small Watershed Program was enacted to help communities protect watersheds.
August 9: Smokey Bear's birthday, www.smokeybear.com
August 25: National Park Founder's Day. On August 25, 1916, the National Park Service was created by an act signed by President Woodrow Wilson.
September 3: The Wilderness Act of 1964 enacted by Congress
September 18: World Water Monitoring Day, www.worldwatermonitoringday.org
September 19: International Coastal Cleanup, www.coastalcleanup.org
September 26: National Public Lands Day, www.publiclandsday.org/
October 2: Appalachian Trail established in 1937, www.nps.gov/appa
October 7 - 13: National Wildlife Refuge Week, www.fws.gov/refuges
October 18: Clean Water Act enacted by Congress (1972)
October 24: Make a Difference Day, www.usaweekend.com/diffday/index.html
November 18: On November 18, 1977, the Soil and Water Resources Conservation Act was enacted to further the conservation, protection and enhancement of the nation's natural resources for sustained use.
November 22: National Family Volunteer Day, www.pointsoflight.org/programs/seasons/nfvd
December 23: On December 23, 1985, the 1985 Farm Bill was passed. It was the first farm bill to include a conservation title and to require that farmers follow conservation measures to be eligible for USDA program benefits.
Additional Information
Environmental events can extend a girls' journey experience. Girl Scouts can also earn the Get with the Land Patch by volunteering in environmental events done in collaboration with a federal or state natural resource agency or on federal or state lands. Girls can continue to work on other Girl Scout environmental, outdoor and STEM awards while volunteering.
Visit www.takepride.gov and www.volunteer.gov for additional events.
