Established in 1970, April 22 is the day we commemorate our Earth. It’s a time to reflect and move forward towards a sustainable future. If you’re wondering how to spend the day celebrating the Earth, here are some things you can do in the Wausau area!  

FALL HIKE

Spend time outdoors  

  • Explore a new trail or path 

    • Finding a new trail is like uncovering an unexpected treasure! Bring your pet along with you and create new memories together as you wander. You can find a whole list of hiking trails or biking trails on our website. 

  • Going on a rainbow walk

    • Challenge yourself to find all the colors of the rainbow as you go on a walk. Whether that be out in a forest or on an urban street, the world is blooming with colors that deserve our attention.  

  • Support our pollinators  

    • Pollinators such as bees and birds support the fertilization of plants and flowers. Spend the day planting pollinator-friendly plants that are non-invasive to your area! You can find everything you need at shops like Wild Birds Unlimited, Down to Earth Greenhouse & Landscaping, and HSU Growing Supply. 

  • Support our state park  

    • Rib Mountain State Park is one of the oldest geological formations on earth, dating back to around 1.8 billion years ago! The top of the park offers spectacular views of the Wausau area and Wisconsin River and is the perfect lookout point for the entire city.  

  • Visit The Monk Botanical Gardens 

    • Dedicated to environmental education, The Monk Gardens is a free public garden that is beloved by families and visitors.  

  • Go geocaching  

    • If you’ve never heard of it before, geocaching is an outdoor treasure-hunting activity. Originally using a GPS (global positioning system), you can now use the Geocaching App; participants navigate to cleverly hidden containers called geocaches. You can find more information here on geocaching and even the list of caches in the Wausau area.  

  • Participate in Wausau Rocks! 

    • Wausau Rocks is a community group that paints rocks and hides them around town for anyone to find! You can participate freely on your own, and if you find a rock, take a picture to share on their page. Wausau Rocks is a wonderful way to engage with the community and better someone's day.

  • Star Gazing  

    • There’s something mesmerizing about what lies beyond the vast sky, and it’s what has driven humans throughout time to uncover its secrets. Take some time to give yourself a moment with the night sky as you gaze upon the stars. The further you are from light pollution, the easier it is to see stars.  

 

More things you can try 

  • Take a day off from technology  

    • We live in a world saturated with technology and social media that’s blasted right to our faces. Even if it’s for an hour, take some time to unplug and enjoy the moment with something or someone you love.  

  • Turn off unused lights 

    • An oldie but a goodie! Turning off unused lights conserves energy, which reduces the environmental impact. Not all lightbulbs are the same, so if you’re in the market for an energy-efficient bulb, you can switch to LED light bulbs! 

  • Read a book 

    • Read. Read. And then read some more. You can find great books at The Story Cellar or Janke Bookstore. We find that the best places to read are cozy places you can make your own. Get in a hammock or laze about on a park bench and crack open a good book. We recommend Crossings: How Road Ecology is Shaping the Future of our Planet by Ben Goldfarb. It’s a fascinating read that delves into the history of roads, their impact on nature, and what we are doing to help.  

Family biking in outdoors

Giving back to the Earth and the community 

  • Join Ghidorzi Green and Clean  

    • Everyone is invited to join on Saturday, April 26, for the Ghidorzi Green and Clean, Wausau’s annual cleanup to free our beautiful landscape of litter and debris. The event, which has removed 40.42 TONS of trash to date, is a productive way for individuals and groups of all ages to celebrate Earth Day and engage in a healthy outdoor activity in support of our community.  

  • Try eating vegetarian for the day 

    • While there is nothing wrong with eating meat, meat production increases greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, contributing to global warming, and red meat has a high water footprint. Even just cutting one meat-based meal can significantly reduce your carbon footprint. Try opting for tofu or other plant-based options. We love the Massaman Curry with Tofu from Lemongrass and the Vegan Cheez Delight Pizza from Glass Nickle Pizza!  

  • Buy local food 

Let’s celebrate Earth Day and give back to the wonderful planet we inhabit! How will you spend the day?