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30 Days of Connected Conservation

infographic of April calendar and complete alt text is in next section
This infographic is a calendar for April 2021. Behind the calendar grid is a photograph of a starry sky. The arrowhead logo is on the top corner. The calendar grid contains conservation actions to take each day as follows.
#ConnectedConservation
#RecreateResponsibly
1 Commit to taking a Conservation Action every day for 30 days.
2 Plant a native plant in your yard/balcony to help create migration corridors.
3 Explore a National Natural Landmark in your area.
4 Swap out a disposable water bottle for a refillable one and use the filling stations in parks.
5 Reduce light pollution by turning off your exterior lights for International Dark Skies Week and then stargaze.
6 Protect oceans and coasts: pick up beach litter, buy ocean-friendly products, & limit single-use plastics.
7 Park Rx: Spend some time in nature to improve your physical and mental well-being today on #WorldHealthDay.
8 Buy products made from recycled goods, which uses 55-95% less energy than products made from new materials.
9 Stop the spread of invasive species: #PlayCleanGo - clean your gear before spending time on public lands.
10 Remove invasive plants from your yard.
11 Going hiking? Always leave archeological artifacts (arrowheads, shards, etc.) where you find them.
12 Talk to your friends and family about connected conservation and how they can get involved.
13 Explore a local river, stream, or creek. How many animals, including worms and insects, do you see?
14 Watch the wildlife in your area, but keep a safe distance: 75 ft (about 2 busses) from deer and 150 ft from bears.
15 Swap out a car ride for a bike ride.
16 Do some Citize Science: Download NASA's GLOBE app to get ready for Earth Day next week.
17 For #BatAppreciationDay, improve your backyard bat habitat by reducing the use of pesticides.
18 National Park Week. On #WorldHeritageDay, learn about the indigenous people who live(d) in your area.
19 National Park Week. Find a quiet spot outside and listen to the sounds around you. Are they natural or made by people?
20 National Park Week. Help birds by keeping your cat indoors.
21 National Park Week. Head outside tonight to watch the Lyrid Meteor Shower, born of the dust of Comet Thatcher.
22 National Park Week. Join the #EarthDay events in your community, & add your observations to NASA's GLOBE app.
23 National Park Week. For #WorldBookDay, read a book about conservation or Traditional Ecological Knowledge.
24 National Park Week. Go camping...even if it's in your backyard or living room!
25 National Park Week. Teach your pup to be a BARK ranger: bag waste, use a leash, and respect wildlife.
26 Wilderness is for you! The first step in conserving these places is spending time in them.
27 If you hunt, switch to lead-free ammunition to help protecte wildlife, like the California condor.
28 Join a conservation organization where you live so you can support #ConnectedConservation all year.
29 Encourage community leaders to set a good example by using energy-efficient products and mass transit.
30 It's #ArborDay - plant a native tree.
More information is available at nps.gov/connectedconservation

Week 1: Commit to Connected Conservation

April 1 - Connected Conservation 101
Commit to a month of Conservation Actions. Learn more about Connected Conservation and find even more ideas to get involved.

April 2 - Operation Pollination
Plant a native plant in your yard/balcony to help create migration corridors for pollinators.

April 3 - National Natural Landmarks
Find and explore a National Natural Landmark near you. There are more than 600 of these special sites recognized for outstanding biological or geological features.

Week 2: International Dark Skies Week


April 4 - Equitable Landscape Conservation
Reading Weaving the Strands Together is an excellent way to explore how principles of justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion strengthen landscape conservation efforts across the United States. See landscape conservation in action when you visit a National Heritage Area.

April 5 - Light Pollution
At home, reduce light pollution by turning off your exterior lights for #InternationalDarkSkiesWeek. Watch Teens & Turtles to see how a group of teenagers in Florida help turtles return to the ocean instead of getting distracted by city lights.

April 6 - Ocean and Coastal Resources
Protect oceans and coasts by picking up beach litter, buy ocean-friendly products, and limit single-use plastics. You can practice Leave No Trace Principles on beaches, on trails, in the mountains, on any public land.

April 7 - World Health Day
Write yourself a Park Rx: Spend some time in nature to improve your physical and mental well-being and to develop a relationship with the natural world.

April 8 - Fire Resilient Landscapes
For millenia, fire has been a major disturbance at times, but also used as a conservation tool at other times. Learn about the Wildland Fire Season in your area. Think about how fire has had an effect on the land where you live or if it has changed it recent years.

April 9 - Slow the Spread of Invasive Species
Each one of us can help slow the spread of harmful invasive species. Try one of this actions: #CleanDrainDry after boating, remove invasive plants from your yard and a neighbor's yard, and always #PlayCleanGo. Keep the adventure, leave the invasive species.

April 10 - US Biosphere Network
Learn about the US Biosphere Network.

Week 3: #RecreateResponsibly

April 11 - How to Visit Archeological Sites
Just like the Leave No Trace Principles for hiking and camping, follow these House Rules to show respect when visiting archeological sites: Look but don't touch, Don't go where you're not invited, and leave all artifacts where they are.

April 12 - Night Skies
Take a moment to remember how we’re all connected under one sky. Here are some ideas to stargaze, no matter where you are.

April 13 - Wild & Scenic Rivers
Explore a local river, stream, or creek. How many animals, including worms and insects do you see? And check out this interactive map of Wild & Scenic Rivers and learn why they're important and worthy of protection.

April 14 - Watching Wildlife
Watch the wildlife in your area, but keep a safe distance: 75 ft. (about 2 busses) from deer, and 150 ft. from bears. Our actions affect wildlife, so it's important for their safety and ours to keep a safe distance, never feed wildlife, and learn how to be bear safe.

April 15 - Climate Conscious
Many parks have switched to electronic vehicles and taken other actions to be climate friendly. Can you ride your bike instead of driving your car today?

April 16 - Citizen Science
Do some science in your community! Download NASA's GLOBE app and get involved in data collection and the scientific process so we can better understand the Earth and the global environment.

Week 4: National Park Week

April 17 - Park Rx Day
Kick off National Park Week by improving your physical and mental health by walking, hiking, climbing, paddling, or picnicking in a natural area near you. And for #BatAppreciationDay, improve your backyard bat habitat by reducing the use of pesticides so bats have plenty of insects to eat.

April 18 - Volunteer Sunday
Apply to be a volunteer in your local natural areas. And be sure to recognize #WorldHeritageDay, by learning more about the indigenours people who live(d) in your area and join the Twitter Chat about World Heritage Sites with San Antonio Missions NHP, Mesa Verde NP, Everglades NP, Glacier NP, Western National Parks Association, the NPS Office of International Affairs, and other park partners.

April 19 - Military Monday
Thank you to all who have served to protect our freedom. The National Park Service preserves and shares the stories of the American military over the last three centuries.

April 20 - Transformation Tuesday
We have the power to transform our world, one action at a time. Start in your backyard: Help birds by keeping your cats indoors! Take this quiz about bird identification.

April 21 - Wayback Wednesday
Head outside tonight to watch the Lyrid Meteor Shower, born of the dust of Comet Thatcher, discovered April 5, 1861. And while you're out there, notice what you hear. Sounds of Your Park is a growing collection of the planet's protected sounds, and an excellent playlist for your meteor-gazing.

April 22 - Earth Day!
Join the Earth Day events in your community! Add your observations to the GLOBE app.

April 23 - Friendship Friday
Check in with a friend: go for a walk, pick up litter, volunteer at your local natural area. Connected Conservation is more fun with a buddy! And on #WorldBookDay, read a book about conservation to get inspired.

April 24 - Junior Ranger Day
You can be a Junior Ranger, no matter where you are. So be a Junior Ranger - Go camping...even if its' in your backyard or living room!

April 25 - BARK Ranger Day
For many of us, pets are important parts of our lives and families. We can help our pups keep our parks healthy, too, by taking the B.A.R.K. pledge: Bag your pet's waste, Always leash your pet, Respect wildlife, and Know where you can go.

Week 5: Connected Conservation Every Day

April 26 - Wilderness Areas
Wilderness is for you! Spending time in wilderness is the first step in conserving these special areas. We put together some ideas of how to recreate in wilderness.

April 27 - Condor Conservation
Learn about the importance of lead-free ammunition to protect California condors and other wildlife.

April 28 - Traditional Ecological Knowledge
Learn what traditional ecological knowledge means for conservation.

April 29 - Wildlife Connectivity
Join a conservation organization where you live so you can support #ConnectedConservation all year. And one of the thing important things Connected Conservation does is help wildlife that live in fragemented areas. Check out this story about desert bighorn sheep.

April 30 - Plant a Park
It's #ArborDay - plant a native tree! Check in with your local extension office for planting tips, and get some inspiration for your space - no matter how big or small: 20 Ways to Create a Park.

Last updated: March 31, 2021