Each year on April 22, millions of people from more than 185 countries come together to help clean up our planet. Earth Day is all about getting outside, getting dirty, and having a good time in the name of service. It's also a great excuse to celebrate with the rest of the world. Looking for something to do? Here are GORP's suggestions for a fantastic Earth Day.

A trail crew takes a hard-earned
break in Bozeman, Montana

	Do some backcountry volunteering. By contributing your weekend or vacation time to a backcountry volunteer project, you can make a solid contribution to rural preservation, restoration, and recreation.
	Volunteer for a trail cleanup. Spend some time with a trail crew building, maintaining, or restoring a path through the trees. Mark your calendar: National Trails Day is June 2, 2001.
	Take action to preserve open space. Join some of the folks who are working to maintain our outdoor getaways.
	Learn Leave No Trace ethics. Leave No Trace teaches responsible wilderness travel and increases the enjoyment of the outdoors for all.
	Help clean up our waterways. Every piece of trash that hits the street eventually ends up in a body of water. Help one of the many groups across the country, such as American Rivers and New Jersey's Clean Ocean Action, stem the tide of pollution.
	Become familiar with the principles of ecotourism. Responsible travel makes sure our most beautiful places are not loved to death.
	Join your city's Earth Day festivity. Across the country people are celebrating Earth Day. Find out what's going on in your favorite city. Be sure to check the GORP Event Finder, or browse here get the lowdown on Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Denver, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, Portland, or San Francisco.
	Go a day without driving. Use public transportation, bike, walk, or carpool to your destination. By biking to work instead of driving, the average American could save more than 400 gallons of gasoline a year.
	Plant a tree. The demand for timber and paper, recent wildfires, and urban sprawl have increased the need for reforestation. Join American Forests and other organizations to sustain the future of our urban and rural forests.
	Enjoy yourself. As environmental hero David Brower asked,"Whoever said saving the world can't be fun?" Whatever you do on this global holiday, remember that Earth Day is a celebration of our home.

	Earth Day Plans What do you have planned for Earth Day? Got any other practical tips for this down-to-earth holiday? Tell us in GORP's destinations forum.

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