Sunday is Earth Day, and Virginia State Parks are inviting residents to get outside and help clean up.
To celebrate, volunteers can plant trees, maintain pollinator gardens, remove invasive species, make crafts out of recycled materials and clean up shorelines and trails, Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation said.
At York River State Park, volunteers can join the park’s Native Plant Maintenance Program. The program involves identifying and planting flowers and shrubs native to the area.
Volunteers should meet at the contact station at the park.
This Earth Day’s focus is on plastic pollution, and the Department of Conservation and Recreation encourages Virginians to use fewer single-use plastic containers and straws, as well as recycling plastics that are used.
More than 1 billion people throughout 192 countries participate in Earth Day activities, the department said.
Download the Earth Day Toolkit to learn more about celebrating the day.
Note: A previous version of this article included information from the Department of Conservation and Recreation stating boat rentals would be available Sunday. According to Amanda Jolly from.York River State Park, the water is still too cold for boat rentals to be available.
