Earth Day Articles

Events – Articles that mention Earth Day.

Friends Earth Day event draws dozens of volunteers, lakeshore lovers to Bayfield

Friends Earth Day event draws dozens of volunteers, lakeshore lovers to Bayfield

What's your memory of your first Earth Day, whether you were a college student or you were merely a figment of your future parents' imagination on April 22, 1970? Friends Executive Director Jeff Rennicke asked the audience step back in time as he recounted the history of Earth Day and it's everlasting connection to the Apostle Islands National Lakeshore.That connection is Wisconsin Governor and Senator Gaylord Nelson, a man inspired by the environmentally disastrous Santa Barbara oil spill of 1969 to change the world through environmental education and action. The next year, Earth Day was...

Love Our Lakeshore: Join us for our Earth Day 2025 event, 10 a.m. Saturday, April 26th, Bayfield Library

Love Our Lakeshore: Join us for our Earth Day 2025 event, 10 a.m. Saturday, April 26th, Bayfield Library

There is no denying it any longer: as the world looks to mark Earth Day 2025, our national parks, forests, and lakeshores are under attack as never before. Mass firings, layoffs, budget cuts, altered priorities, and more have put the places we love under unprecedented challenges. We are living in difficult times. But it may also be worth remembering that Earth Day itself was born out of difficult times.1969 Santa Barbara oil spill aerial photo - Mary C Rabbitt, USGSOn January 28, 1969, well #21 on Union Oil’s platform A in the Dos Cuadras offshore oil drilling platform blew. Located 5.5...

Love our Lakeshore: Earth Day wishes for the future of the Apostle Islands National Lakeshore from local business leaders

Love our Lakeshore: Earth Day wishes for the future of the Apostle Islands National Lakeshore from local business leaders

During this challenging time of change for our nation and for our national parks, Friends of the Apostle Islands National Lakeshore wants to shine a bright light – a lighthouse beacon if you will – on this very special place and on the people dedicated to protecting the national lakeshore for future generations. That's the goal of our series entitled “Love our Lakeshore." (You can tell us why you Love Our Lakeshore by filling out our simple form at this link.) In this report we celebrate Earth Day 2025, its deep historical connection to the lakeshore and the hopes and dreams of local...

Friends volunteers complete Earth Day Community Clean-Up

Friends volunteers complete Earth Day Community Clean-Up

Friends of the Apostle Islands National Lakeshore volunteers gathered outside of National Park Service Headquarters in Bayfield on a brisk, cloudy Saturday morning to help keep trash out of Lake Superior and the Apostle Islands National Lakeshore. They enjoyed hot coffee and fresh scones before heading out to collect trash. They filled more than a dozen bags by the time their work was done.We would like to thank today's volunteers for a job well done. Friends Executive Director Jeff Rennicke said, "I'll spare you the pictures of some of the things we found but when you are out there this...

Earth Day 2024: Planet vs. Plastics in the Apostle Islands National Lakeshore

Earth Day 2024: Planet vs. Plastics in the Apostle Islands National Lakeshore

From the single-use water bottles, containers and bags you might carry into the park to microplastics detected in the lake water around the islands, plastics are having an impact on the Apostle Islands National Lakeshore. Doing something about our personal and global dependence on plastics is the global theme of Earth Day 2024.Earth Day is an annual event designed to promote the importance of environmental conservation and sustainability. Wisconsin Senator Gaylord Nelson founded Earth Day on April 22nd, 1970. On that day, an estimated 20 million people nationwide attended the inaugural...

Earth Day Community Clean-up in Bayfield set for Saturday, April 20th

Earth Day Community Clean-up in Bayfield set for Saturday, April 20th

As part of Earth Day 2024, please join us for a Community Clean-up event in Bayfield on Saturday, April 20th. This year's Earth Day theme is Planet vs. Plastics, so we're doing what we can to keep plastics and other trash out of Lake Superior.Meet at the National Park Service Headquarters courtyard on Washington Avenue at 9:30 Saturday morning. Bring your own gloves. Bags and safety vests will be provided. We'll also have some muffins and coffee for you. Our community clean-up will run until noon. If you have questions, email jill@friendsoftheapostleislands.org.Volunteers gather for an...

An Earth Day letter to you from the daughter of Gaylord Nelson

An Earth Day letter to you from the daughter of Gaylord Nelson

Dear Friends of the Apostle Islands: In 1970, my father Gaylord Nelson was at the heart of two major movements in this country – the founding of Earth Day and the legislative designation of the Apostle Islands National Lakeshore in northern Wisconsin. Both efforts to celebrate and protect the life-sustaining and life-enhancing wonders of our planet were bound by his undying commitment to inclusion. I believe they are connected.Tia and Gaylord Nelson - Ked Martin photoWith Earth Day, dad changed the way all of us view and celebrate the planet we live on. By protecting this soul-stirring...

Protecting the Apostles from plastics one lunch at a time

Protecting the Apostles from plastics one lunch at a time

Sandra Harris just wanted to make her kids a healthy lunch. She may have started a revolution that could change your next trip to the Apostle Islands. Harris, who worked as an investigative journalist, was all-too aware of the worldwide plastic pollution problem and its associated health issues. But from years in the nonprofit world, she knew too that change could happen if people just had the tools to work with. Then, an idea came to her one-day while packing school lunches for her kids.Stainless steel lunch boxes and snack containers - Ecolunchbox photo“I wanted to eliminate plastics from...

An eye for helping: Photographer couple targets Friends with April 22nd fundraiser

An eye for helping: Photographer couple targets Friends with April 22nd fundraiser

From the Galapagos to Africa, from Iceland to Hawaii, the husband-and-wife photography team of Carol and Roy Toepke have an eye for nature and a deep-seated desire to help protect it. This April 22nd, they are targeting the Access for All initiative of Friends with a fundraising effort to help one of their favorite places on earth: the Apostle Islands.Carol and Roy Toepke“We're big fans of the Apostle Islands,” says Carol. “We have explored the lighthouses, ventured out to the mainland and Devils Island sea caves and trekked to the ice caves twice.” And they have captured it all in...

Invest in Our Planet: Earth Day 2022

Invest in Our Planet: Earth Day 2022

The Apostle Islands National Lakeshore will forever share a very special connection with Earth Day — both began in 1970 and both were championed by Wisconsin’s own Gaylord A. Nelson. This year, the theme of Earth Day is “Invest in Our Planet.” Since its inception, Friends of the Apostle Islands has invested in the islands by raising over $500,000 to support the park in our four pillars of Accessibility, Education, Stewardship, and Service.  This Earth Day, we are asking you to “Invest in Our Planet” with a donation to Friends of the Apostle Islands.  Your donation will: Help kids learn to...