Sunday, April 22, is Earth Day — how will you celebrate?  The Earth Day Network has a searchable events board where you can find things to do in your area.  We were excited to see the Nature Conservancy’s Picnic for the Planet campaign (“the Earth provides nourishment for over 7 billion people everyday….”) but there are so many other choices — something for everyone.  Here’s just a small sample of what’s happening around Long Island.

Quogue Wildlife Refuge has a whole day of free activities planned: guided nature walks, live animal presentations, crafts for children, environmental exhibitors, and self-guided kayaking and canoeing on Old Ice Pond.

The  Concerned Citizens of Montauk and Monatuk Playhouse are hosting a “decorate your own reusable shopping bag event.”  We LOVE reusable shopping bags — such an easy way to cut down on plastic pollution!

In Cutchogue, Salt Air Farm has something going on on Sunday, but we think we prefer the event they’re advertising on the Peconic Land Trust’s event calendar for Saturday: how to grow your own backyard berries!

Our friends at Group for the East End will be pulling up invasive plants at Louise Pond, and there will be beach clean-ups everywhere: South Fork Natural History Museum and Nature Center (sofo.org) is sponsoring one at Sagg Main Beach.

However you decide to spend your Earth Day, come join us on Monday, April 23, for one of our last FreeZUP paddles of the season, and share our own favorite way to celebrate the planet — a 90-minute stand up paddle tour leaving from Shagwong Marina.