2008 Environmental Events Calendar

January 1: On January 1, 1970, the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 was enacted. It required all federal agencies to assess the impact of federal actions on the environment.

January 21: Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service, www.mlkday.org

February 2: World Wetlands Day, www.ramsar.org/wwd/wwd_index.htm

February 15-18: Great Backyard Bird Count, www.birdsource.org/gbbc

February 21: Establishment of the Washington Monument 1885, www.nps.gov/wamo/home.htm

March 1: On March 1, 1872, Yellowstone National Park, the nation's first national park, was established by an act of Congress, and signed into law by President Ulysses S. Grant, www.nps.gov/yell/index.htm

March 1 - May 31: Great American Cleanup, www.kab.org

March 13: On March 13, 1903, the National Wildlife Refuge System was established, www.fws.gov/refuges

April: National Garden Month, www.nationalgardenmonth.org

April 13-19: National Environmental Education Week, www.eeweek.org

April 19-27: National Park Week, www.nps.gov/npweek

April 22: Earth Day, www.earthday.gov and www.earthday.net

April 25-27: National and Global Youth Service Day, www.ysa.org/nysd

April 27 – May 3: National Volunteer Week, www.pointsoflight.org/programs/seasons/nvw

April 25: National Arbor Day, www.arborday.org

May 1-31: American Wetlands Month, www.epa.gov/owow/wetlands/awm

May 3: Join Hands Day, www.joinhandsday.org/scripts/home.cfm

May 4-10: Drinking Water Week, www.awwa.org/advocacy/dww

May 10: International Migratory Bird Day, www.birdday.org

May 16: Endangered Species Day, www.endangeredspeciesday.org

May 28: Sierra Club founded in 1892, www.sierraclub.org

May 31 – June 8: National River Cleanup Week, www.nationalrivercleanup.com

June 1-30: Great Outdoors Month, www.greatoutdoorsmonth.org

June 7: National Trails Day, www.americanhiking.org/events/ntd

June 1-8: National Fishing and Boating Week, www.rbff.org/page.cfm?pageID=11

June 5: World Environment Day, www.unep.org/wed

June 9-13: Great Outdoors Week, www.greatoutdoorsmonth.org

June 14: National Get Outdoors Day, www.nationalgetoutdoorsday.org

June 28: Great American Backyard Campout, www.backyardcampout.org/girlscouts

June 29 - July 5: National Clean Beaches Week, www.cleanbeaches.org

July 18-25: Wyoming's Wildlife Wonders STUDIO 2B destination,www.studio2b.org/escape/destinations

August 4: On August 4, 1954, the Small Watershed Program was enacted to help communities protect watersheds.

August 9: Smokey Bear's birthday, www.smokeybear.com

August 25: National Park Founder's Day. On August 25, 1916, the National Park Service was created by an act signed by President Woodrow Wilson.

September 3: The Wilderness Act of 1964 enacted by Congress

September 20: International Coastal Cleanup, www.coastalcleanup.org

September 18: World Water Monitoring Day, www.worldwatermonitoringday.org

September 27: National Public Lands Day, www.npld.com

September 27: National Estuary Day, www.estuaries.gov/neday.html

October 2: Appalachian Trail established in 1937, www.nps.gov/appa

October 7-13: National Wildlife Refuge Week, www.fws.gov/refuges

October 18: 1972 Clean Water Act enacted by Congress

October 25: Make a Difference Day, www.usaweekend.com/diffday/index.html

November 15: National Family Volunteer Day, www.pointsoflight.org/programs/seasons/nfvd

November 18: On November 18, 1977, the Soil and Water Resources Conservation Act was enacted to further the conservation, protection and enhancement of the nation's natural resources for sustained use.

December 23: On December 23, 1985, the 1985 Farm Bill was passed. It was the first farm bill to include a conservation title and to require that farmers follow conservation measures to be eligible for USDA program benefits.

Additional Information

Girl Scouts can earn the Get with the Land Patch by volunteering in environmental events done in collaboration with a federal or state natural resource agency or on federal or state lands. Girls can also work on many other Girl Scout environmental, outdoor and STEM awards while volunteering. See the list of awards that can be downloaded.

Visit www.takepride.gov and www.volunteer.gov for additional events.