Today, April 22, 2020 marks the 50^th anniversary of Earth Day ­– the largest secular environmental movement celebrated as a day of action to change human behavior and support of environmental protection. What started on April 22, 1970 with 20 million Americans taking to the streets and parks in demonstration, is now celebrated annually in 193 countries with the participation of more than 1 billion people.

But the year 2020 has not been like any other. With the world currently sheltering in place, most Earth Day events have been cancelled and many are experiencing a physical separation with the natural world. Yet, there are still plenty of ways to celebrate mother nature today, and for many days to come.

To bring Earth Day celebrations into your home, several museums, cultural sites, and other institutions across the U.S. are honoring the planet’s 50^th anniversary online. Here are some of our favorite virtual activities happening in honor of Earth Day 2020.

Virtual Earth Day Activities

The American Museum of Natural History is offering an all-day family-friendly EarthFest. Starting with a “YouTube Watch Party” at 1 p.m. ET, you can take a look back at what’s happened to our planet in the last 50 years. At 6 p.m ET there will be a virtual tour of Venus, Earth, and Mars with AMNH’s planetary geologist Martha Gilmore. And you can end the day by participating in “Earth Trivia” at 8 p.m. ET.

Celebrate Earth Day 2020 with the Birch Aquarium. Download and participate in their Earth Day Challenge and be sure to tune in on Thursday at 2 p.m. to their Kelp Cam Facebook Live event.

The Savannah African Art Museum gets innovative with an online DIY workshop where you and the whole family can learn how to make mats for the homeless out of single-use plastic bags.

For the Wild Life & Nature Enthusiasts

The New York City Department of Parks & Recreation is celebrating our planet all week long. To keep the fun going, Friday, April 24, you can view a live tour of the oldest tree in NYC, the Alley Pond Giant. Or participate in their Virtual Botanical Drink ‘n’ Draw with local artist Jessica Dalrymple.

Enjoy beautiful nature paintings in the National Gallery of Art’s virtual tour of the True to Nature: Open-Air Painting in Europe, 1780-1870 exhibition.

Family Fun Activities

The Museum of the City of New York has created fun-filled Earth Day activities to help your young ones learn about how they can help keep the Earth clean.

Tomorrow, Thursday, April 23, kids can learn how to make recycled flower art with members of the New York City Department of Parks & Recreation.

Explore through 50 years of Earth Day art, posters, buttons, stamps, and other environmental objects from the Smithsonian collections.

Additional resources

Check out HUFFPOST's 50 ways you can celebrate Earth Day’s 50th Anniversary and help take care of the planet from your home.

Join Earth Day Network’s global call to climate action.

View NASA's previous years' Earth Day posters and download the 2020 poster.

Written by Jessica Noyes - Communications Coordinator, WMA