A gloomy forecast turned out to be completely wrong, and thousands of supporters of clean energy, wild places, and saving our planet turned out to the National Mall in Washington, D.C. April 25 to celebrate 40 years of Earth Day. Even though Earth Day itself fell on a Thursday, supporters from across the country turned out to learn more about renewable energy, protecting our imperiled ecosystems, and listen to passionate speakers and excellent music.  Read more

Bill Meadows

As we commemorate the 40th anniversary of Earth Day, I remember my dear friend and "Father of Earth Day," Gaylord Nelson. Gaylord was not just an environmental advocate or U.S. Governor and Senator — he was a game-changer who inspired a nation and thrust the environmental movement into a legacy of lasting achievements and activism. The Wilderness Society takes a special interest in this particular anniversary because when Gaylord left the Senate in 1981 he joined our staff, and was a counselor until his death in 2005. Read more

The kids from Bryant Way Learning Center listen as Lost River Cave’s Annie Holt explains how caterpillars turn into butterflies.

From now until Earth Day, we invite you to read our daily staff tips on how you can make a difference for wildlands. My Earth Day tip is not just advice, it is a challenge: Get kids without backyards into nature. I mean, submerge them in it; take them away from the blacktops of parking lots, and show them a place where they can’t see the sky because of all the trees. Read more