Before I list the fun events and freebies, I want to mention something on a personal note.....maybe I shouldn't because it may be a bit controversial, but I have to say, the whole "Earth Day" thing sometimes bugs me. There's a lot of good about it, but there often seems to be a lot of judgment if you're doing the "wrong thing" or not enough when it comes to "Going Green", conserving, reduce/reuse/recycle....etc. Not that there's anything wrong with those things! I believe that we are definitely to be responsible with what God has given us and take care of the earth and our resources - and those things can be an important part. We should be careful to be wise stewards and appreciate all the things God's given us - and with that as the frame of reference, Earth Day can be awesome! It's important to do this all year round, but today's a great day to think about (and change if necessary) how we're taking care of our resources, thank God for His blessings, and teach our kids about it. I just think the focus gets a little blurry and many forget that the Creator is more important than the creation.
I apologize if that ruffled any feathers, it was just on my mind with all the hullabaloo over Earth Day.
Now, onto the events, ideas, and freebies going on today and this weekend!!
FREE Admission to National Parks:
April 16-24 is National Park Week, and that conveniently falls around Earth Day this year. Admission to all 394 U.S. national parks is being waived - 100 percent FREE on Earth Day! There are lots of activities going on at many parks too. Check this out for some great information!
FREE Coffee or Tea at Starbucks:
Stop into your local Starbucks from 5am - 9pm today and get a free brewed coffee or tea when you bring in a reusable cup, mug, thermos - even a styrofoam cup! ;) Remember to still tip the baristas and be patient if there's a long line - today is very busy and crazy for them! Say hi to my sister who's working hard today! ;) (and they give a 10¢ discount every day for bringing in your own cup/mug)
FREE Coffee at Caribou Coffee:
Caribou Coffee is also giving away a free cup of their "coffees of the day" to guests who bring their own mug to participating locations from 5am - 10pm today. (Save .50¢ any day when you bring in your own drinkware)
FREE Full-Size Cleanser at Origins:
Like I mentioned here, if you print out this form and bring it in today, April 22nd, to an Origins near you along with your current skincare (full or empty), they give you a full size Origins cleanser.
FREE Disney tote bag:
Bring in any 5 plastic shopping bags to recycle, and you'll get a Disney reusable tote bag from your local Disney store. One bag per guest, while supplies last. ("For our guests in Canada, please join Disney Store on April 23rd!")
Old Navy Recycling Flip-Flops:
Not a giveaway or freebie, but starting today they'll be partnering with TerraCycle and accepting old flip-flops to recycle into playground equipment, which is kind of cool!
FREE Blockbuster Express DVD rental:
Use the code THANKYOU April 22nd or 23rd for a free one night DVD rental. (I haven't been able to verify this, so YMMV)
(Check the list of free Redbox codes here)
FREE Workshop for Kids at Anthropologie:Find an Anthropologie near you to check out free Earth Day craft workshops for kids things like "Children's Potting Workshop" and "Crafting With Cork." Check the schedule here (pick your area under the graphic).
FREE Workshops at Home Depot:
Check out this schedule of workshops at Home Depot this weekend. There are options for kids and adults.
Michigan Earth Day Fest:
If you're a local(ish) reader, the MI Earth Day Fest is being held from April 23-25, 2011 in Rochester, MI. From their website:
The MI Earth Day Fest will welcome to downtown Rochester an anticipated audience of 100,000 people from around Michigan, eager to learn about green and healthy living, and seeking earth-
Lowe's is celebrating Earth Day by giving away a million trees. Saturday, April 23rd, the first 1 million customers who stop into a local Lowe's home improvement store can get a free tree just for the asking.
And of course Laurie at TipJunkie has a great list of Earth Day ideas, projects, crafts and recipes! Lots of great ways to teach our kids about this amazing planet and creatively reusing things!
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