Earth Day is April 22nd

Earth Day is April 22nd! According to Earth Day Network, more than 1 billion people participate in Earth Day activities, making it the largest secular civic event in the world.

Earth Day Activity Ideas

Solar Oven Challenge

Build a solar oven using NEED's directions, or design your own oven. Use your solar oven to bake a favorite snack, or simply see how much temperature change you can create.

Make a video sharing your solar oven design. Were you able to successfully cook your food? How did your food taste? Are there any design changes you would make?

Video Directions

Written Directions

Recycled Art

NEED Teacher Advisory Board Member, Erin Gockel, demonstrates some great at-home recycled art projects!

Candy Collector

A fun, quick game to introduce students to the terms "renewable" and "nonrenewable", Candy Collector provides a closer look at how long energy sources will last using only nonrenewable resources, and when incorporating renewable energy resources.

Found in NEED's Energy Games & Icebreakers Guide!

Biomass in a Bag

NEED Curriculum Director, Emily Hawbaker, demonstrates a "Biomass in a Bag" lesson.

Written Directions

For a great experimental extension and set-up, check out Great Lakes Fermentation in a Bag.

Learn about solid waste, its relationship to natural resources and energy, and options for handling solid waste including recycling, landfilling, and incineration with these NEED guides (free PDF download or e-publication):

All About Trash

Talking Trash

Museum of Solid Waste and Energy

Earth Day 2025 Theme: Our Power, Our Planet

#OurPowerOurPlanet

Earth Day Official Website

NEED's 45th Annual

Youth Awards Program for Energy Achievement

Have your students been engaged in energy education, student leadership, and/or community outreach?

Youth Awards projects are energy outreach activities that are student-driven and student-run. Students work together to plan and track their goals, complete activities and outreach, document their hours of work, evaluate their efforts and successes, and submit a digital project summarizing their project goals, activities, and accomplishments.

Projects will be judged on the local, state, and/or national levels and students will receive recognition for their work.

Project submissions are due April 15th!

Click here to learn more and submit a project

April Showers...Bring NEED Workshops!

For the Attendees:

Hands-on energy education
Free to attend
Networking
State Aligned Curriculum
Substitute Reimbursement/Stipend
Classroom Energy Kit(s)

NEED Event Calendar - Find a Workshop Near You!

NEED's Annual Youth Energy Leadership Award

This award is designed to honor students demonstrating effective leadership skills and energy knowledge and is available to graduating high school seniors or current first or second year college, university, or technical school students to apply for.

Up to two winners will be selected to attend our annual Youth Energy Conference & Awards in Washington. D.C. this June to receive their award and a $1,500 check.

Applications for the Youth Energy Leadership Award

must be submitted by April 30, 2025.

Details & Apply

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