Top 5 Ways to Celebrate Earth Day: South Florida 2015

***PLEASE SEE OUR 2016 GUIDE TO EARTH DAY HERE***

Children are never too young to be introduced to recycling, reusing and re-thinking products, conserving energy and resources or respecting our planet's biodiversity.  This Earth Day take some time out as a family to celebrate our Earth and work together on ways your family can do their part to help!  Wonderful family-friendly events will be held throughout the month of April.  We've collected some wonderful events and ideas for your family's Earth Day 2015.  Be sure to check with some of these Nature attractions for special programming like Night Hikes, Canoe & Kayak tours, animal feedings and more!  For a low key observance of Earth Day, grab some water and your walking shoes and take a hike through SFL scrub areas so kids can see what Florida looked like before it was developed.  Curious about native plants?  Be sure to make a trip to the stunning (and FREE) Mounts Botanical Gardens a true hidden gem in West Palm Beach.

#2 Take the kids to one of these great Nature Centers:

PALM BEACH

The River Center in Jupiter
Daggerwing Nature Center in Boca Raton
Okeeheelee Nature Center in Wellington area
Gumbo Limbo Nature Center in Boca Raton
Loggerhead Marinelife Center in Juno
Green Cay Wetlands in Delray Beach
Loxahatchee National Wildlife Rescue in Boynton Beach
Sandoway Nature Center in Delray Beach

MIAMI DADE
Bill Sadowski Nature Center in Miami
Castellow Hammock Nature Center in Miami

BROWARD
Anne Kolb Nature Center in Hollywood
Secret Woods Nature Center in Dania Beach

MONROE
Florida Keys Eco-Discovery Center 
Crane Point Museum and Nature Center in Marathon (FL Keys)
Key West Butterfly & Nature Conservancy in Key West
Long Key Nature Center in the FL Keys
Florida Keys Wild Bird Center in Tavernier
 

#3 See Animals Up Close

Lion Country Safari in West Palm Beach
Palm Beach Zoo & Conservation Society in West Palm Beach
Busch Wildlife Sanctuary  in Jupiter
Panther Ridge Conservation Center in Wellington
Flamingo Gardens in Davie
Jungle Island in Miami
Miami Seaquarium
Zoo Miami
Zoological Wildlife Foundation in Miami
Butterfly World in Coconut Creek
Monkey Jungle in Miami

#4 Get Involved in a Clean-Up

PBC Parks and Recreation

Great American Clean up in Delray Beach.  Each participant earns $ for the Sandoway House!  (see above under Nature Centers)

Plan one on your own with your friends and family at a local park or beach!

#5  Go to see Monkey Kingdom by Disney Nature

Watch the life of Mia the monkey in her natural habitat.  Kids will enjoy these adorable critters and won't even realize they are learning!  If the big screen isn't your thing, consider watching old Disney Earth Day films together at home like Bears, Oceans, African Cats or Chimpanzee.  Disney will be releasing the movie April 17th.   If you take the kids to see the movie opening week, Disney Nature will donate to Conservation International who help monkeys and other endangered species in their natural habitats.