Simple Steps for Hosting an Earth Day Picnic for the Planet

An Earth Day Picnic for the Planet is a celebration of the Earth we live on, the natural gifts it provides and the individuals & groups who work to preserve it. Hosting a Picnic at your school is a simple, fun, engaging way to connect students, parents, teachers, and administration to our Earth through the food they love and the people they enjoy sharing it with!

What Does a Picnic Look Like?  

It looks like school children & young adults, parents, teachers, and administration sitting outside on the grass, enjoying a healthy lunch, natural daylight, and fresh air. 

Plan & Receive Approvals:  Earth Day is on April 22, annually.  Pick a few good days around this time to hold your school’s Picnic, check your school calendar, and ensure there are no conflicts with other activities or testing. Describe the activity to your principal, assure them that it is a simple, but very rewarding activity, and confirm the   date. Choose an area at your school that is outside to have the picnic.  Check with your school’s P.E. and science teachers to ensure outdoor area(s) can be available throughout all lunch   periods. Coordinate with your maintenance staff to have recycling and waste depositories near the picnic site. Have a backup plan for bad weather...change the date or move the tables out of the cafeteria, and have everyone sit on the floor & pretend your outside.

Engage: Engage interested students, teachers, and parents in the planning process. Consider capping off your school’s other Earth Day Celebration activities with a Picnic! Invite all parents to join their children for lunch that day.  Invite teachers, staff, and administration to attend, as well!.

Make it Healthy & Waste-Free: Encourage students to pack a lunch that will create little or no   waste by using reusable lunch containers, cloth napkins, and reusable water   bottles. Promote organic & local, fresh fruits, veggies, lean meats, and   whole grains for their lunch.