Hi,

On Earth Day this spring, first graders at Buffalo Trail Elementary in Virginia did something big with something small: they convinced their cafeteria to go plastic-free for a day. They made videos, designed posters, and worked with school administrators to execute a simple idea — less waste makes healthier kids and a better planet.  

Students' mission to protect the Earth isn’t just seen at Buffalo Elementary, but around the world.

• In Pune, India, students stood up for cleaner rivers.  
• In Namibia, a school turned “trash” into a runway-ready fashion show to expose fast fashion’s cost to our planet.  
• In Maryland, a group of high school students rallied to clean up their school grounds
  

Students around the world taught their communities that anyone can make a meaningful impact on the Earth Day movement. This movement has deep roots. Earth Day began in classrooms and on campuses in 1970, when student organizers helped bring 20 million Americans into the streets. The goal was first and foremost to educate people about their impact on the environment. Today, we still carry the same mission.

This fall, let’s make every day Earth Day everyday for students.

EARTHDAY.ORG is equipping educators and students with the tools to turn learning into action all year long. Your gift powers free resources, teacher training, and policy advocacy so that climate education reaches e very school classroom. 

Your gift supports:

• Hands-on learning, real-world impact. We help schools run “Plastic-Free Lunch Days,” student climate showcases, and local solution projects. We are also hosting a Back-To-School Webinar, bringing together experts who are using media, literacy, and technology to teach engaging and age age-appropriate content.  

• Teacher-ready training. Our School Guide to Climate Education gives educators a practical framework built on three pillars, (Climate Mental Well-Being, Green Muscle Memory, and Climate Solutions) so they can embed climate topics across subjects and grade levels. 

• Policy that sticks. This summer, Oregon enacted the nation’s newest K–12 climate education law (HB 3365, signed June 26, 2025). As part of the Oregon Educators for Climate Education coalition, we supported that effort with testimony, op-eds, and educator outreach. This is proof that organized voices can move classrooms and lawmakers.
  

When young people lead, communities follow. If we teach climate the right way — age-appropriately, across subjects, and tied to local action — we can help sow the seeds for the next generation of environmental activists.

Share the gift of climate education.

Thank you for your generosity,

The EARTHDAY.ORG Team