4 fun, free Earth Month activities

Explore the outdoors

What’s better than enjoying our amazing hiking trails in the spring? Check out these 6 unique trails in San Diego or San Diego County Library’s kid-friendly Story Trails for a unique way to spend your day.

Volunteer at a cleanup or planting event in your community.

The County of San Diego hosts community events to clean up parks and beaches, plant trees, and restore habitats. Bring a friend or the whole family to get involved. Check out all the events happening this month.

Plant a free tree and check out the seed libraries.

Trees aren’t just decorative — they help to remove pollution, cool down neighborhoods, and so much more. Escondido and El Cajon give residents the chance to get a free tree for their homes. Check out your city’s website to find a free tree program near you.

San Diego has eight seed libraries offering free seeds for your garden. You can pick up seeds in person or have them mailed to you. Many locations offer workshops and events, where you can learn more about gardening and composting. Once you grow your plants, save some seeds and send them back to the library to help your community grow!

Not sure which trees or plants to choose? Native plants and trees save water and provide beautiful habitats for hummingbirds, butterflies and other helpful pollinators. The county’s Native Landscape Program has plenty of resources for native plant gardening and water conservation.

Celebrate National Park Week.

From August 22-30, the National Park Service is sharing special themes during National Park Week with fun ways to enjoy our national parks. Joshua Tree National Park is the closest to us. On April 19, there’s free admission to all National Park Service sites, so it’s the perfect time to visit. Check out the other fee-free days.