REI has partnered with the California State Parks Foundation to celebrate Earth Day. The two have come together to create free clean-up kits for volunteers.
Cate Bligh, a used facemask litters a neighborhood trail.
Earth Day is just around the corner! Because of this, California State Parks Foundation and REI have teamed up with communities across the state in an effort to clean up local parks and trails.
What is it?
This event and kit will be provided for free by the California State Parks Foundation and REI, all you need to do is register for your kit (it can be delivered to your home, or you can pick it up at your local REI). Don’t have an REI near you or prefer to use your own gear? No problem! Clean-up can simply be done with a bag and gloves at any location near you.
Some great places to clean near you:
Parks and trails
Playgrounds
Beaches
Your own street
Coupons and prizes from REI
In addition to rewarding ourselves with cleaner communities, there are prizes and coupons for cleaning up trash! California State Parks Foundations wants to keep track of the number of bags collected this month (you can report your number of bags here). Reporting bags of trash you’ve turned in could win you a prize! Additionally, if you pick up one of REI’s kits, you’ll receive a coupon for 23% off of an REI brand item. You can also participate on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook by using the hashtags #CalParksEarthDay and #OptOutside hashtags. You can also tag @calparks and @REI.
How to get your kit
You can register for your free kit here at Calparks’ website and pick up your kit at the nearest REI. Just click the “Get Tickets” button, select your nearest REI, choose to donate (or not, the kit is entirely free regardless of donation amount), and fill out your information. You’ll receive an email with your reservation. Kits are currently available for pick up at the store you selected, just show them your confirmation email.
What is included in the kit?
Instructions
Face mask
Trash bags
An REI coupon
And exclusive event stickers!
Some REI locations are also giving out other helpful items like chapstick or sunblock to keep yourself protected from the elements.
Photo by Manny Becerra
Other ways to participate
Still want to make a difference but trash pick-up isn't your style? There's still plenty that you can do to make a difference.
Register as a volunteer: Some State parks are hosting events on Earth Day, but you can also sign up for other volunteer opportunities throughout the year.
Studying up about "Leave No Trace" practices: To find out more about lowering your impact while enjoying wilderness areas, visit their website here.
Attend a live stream: California State Parks Foundation is hosting a live webinar on April 22 at 10 am PST. Tune in online to hear panelists discuss how we can protect our parks for generations to come.
California State Parks Foundation has put together some tips on how to participate in Earth Day this year. If you aren't in California, you can still partake in the effort to clean up the outdoor spaces we hold dear. It's easy to assemble your own kit. Simply pack trash bags, gloves, and masks for the whole family, and take a drive (or walk) out to one of your favorite outdoor spaces that are in need of some TLC.
Photo by Janko Ferlič
We all love our wild spaces, let’s give back to them this month (and for years to come) by cleaning our local parks and trails, and being mindful of our impact in these areas.
Comments