WNY Earth Day 2023
Welcome to the 2023 WNY Earth Day Challenge beginning March 18th. Challenges and prizes will be updated throughout the months of March and April.
Easy to Participate
Once you Sign-up you will be placed on our mailing list. You will receive an email from recycle@erie.gov with the link to take you back to your entry form. Use that link to add activities as they are completed. Please save that email and the link.
See the list of activities below. We have a lot of different things you can do – most of them are free and flexible as far as timing. Some you can accomplish at home, some online and others you may need to go to a special location. Please check back as more activities may be added during the month.
Each time you complete a Challenge Activity submit it on a submission form that was emailed to you. You will receive 1 point for each Challenge completed. The more Challenges you complete, the better your chances to win a prize.
The activities are designed to help raise awareness of local organizations working to protect our region's ecosystem. We are in this together, so please share this Challenge with your friends and family. By participating in these Challenge activities, you can help to protect our special corner of this amazing planet.
The submission form will allow you to upload a photo, but we encourage you to also post your photos on social media sites using #wnyearthdaychallenge.
Sign-up and join in on the 2023 Earth Day Challenge:
| Title | Description | Cost | Audience | Location | Action/Task | Sponsor |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Attend any Erie County Community Climate Action presentation or event | Attend any Erie County Community Climate Action presentation or event to learn about what Erie County is doing to respond to the impacts of climate change. Learn more. |
Free | All | As listed | Attending an event makes you eligible for prizes. |
Erie County Community Climate Action Planning |
| Sign the Healthy Lawns Pledge | Learn how to take care of your lawn and sign the Healthy Lawns Pledge |
Free | All | At Home | Your "Pledge" will be be your submission for entry to prizes. |
Erie County Environmental Management Council |
| Watch the Healthy Lawns Video | Before having your lawn sprayed for pesticides please watch this video. |
Free | All | At Home | What did you think about the video? |
Erie County DEP Recycling |
| Visit a small business | Visit a small local business |
Free | All | Erie County | Visit a small local business and ask what they are doing to “go green” and then take a selfie at the establishment. |
Erie County DEP Economic Development |
| Get involved with Erie County Community Climate Action Planning | Erie County Community Climate Action Planning invites you to choose any/all of three Challenges:
|
Free | All | Online | Tell us which action you choose, and any thoughts you have. Your entries on the Climate Action website will act as entries into the Earth Day Challenge. |
Erie County Community Climate Action Planning |
| Participate in GO Buffalo Niagara's "Give Transit a Try!" program | Give Transit a Try! is a program where GO Buffalo Niagara offers significantly discounted monthly NFTA Metro passes at $35, a $40 discount. Participants can register for the program in April, and purchase passes beginning May 1st (passes can be activated for use at any point after purchase). This is a great way to encourage folks to drive less by riding public transit without having to commit to a regular monthly pass. Join the program. |
Discounted Rate | On the road | Tell us about your travel experience and dates |
GO Buffalo Niagara | |
| Take an Earth Day Challenge Quiz | Take an Earth Day Challenge quiz. One or all four; Learn from your answers. |
Discounted Rate | Teens and up | Online | Did you take all four quizzes? How many did you get right? Describe something you learned. |
NAACP Buffalo Branch |
| Take care of your Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) in the month of April | Go to erie.gov/recycling and find out how to properly dispose of any household hazardous waste. Take your hazardous waste to Hazman or register to attend our next special drop-off event on May 6th. |
Free | Two options | Did you make an appointment? Are your poisonous materials properly and safely stored? |
Erie County Recycling | |
| Submit a photo of you participating in a Challenge Activity | Take a photo of you participating in one of the Earth Day Challenge Activities and submit the photo on the submissions form. |
Free | Online | Give it a caption in the description field, By uploading the photo and caption, you are giving us permission to post them on social media. |
Erie County DEP | |
| Hike the History Trail at Reinstein Woods | Take a hike on the History Trail at Reinstein Woods that follows the seven Leave No Trace ™ Principles, a framework for minimizing the impact of your visit to nature! Learn about the Leave No Trace ™ Principles |
Free | Family Friendly | Reinstein Woods | Upload a selfie taken one of the trailside signs or share a sentence noting a highlight of your visit |
Reinstein Woods Nature Preserve |
| See how much money you are eligible for from the Inflation Reduction Act | Visit this site to see how much money you are eligible for with the Inflation Reduction Act- this includes low-income residents |
Free | At Home | Tell us you registered and/or submit a copy/photo of an email confirmation. |
ECLIPSE- Erie County Low Income Program for Sustainable Energy | |
| Visit the Buffalo & Erie County Botanical Gardens and their Earth Day Celebration on April 22 | Take a trip to the Buffalo & Erie County Botanical Gardens. The Botanical Gardens will be hosting their second annual Earth Day Celebration on April 22 from 10am-3pm. All are welcome to attend. |
Admission Charge | Family Friendly | Buffalo & Erie County Botanical Gardens | Take your picture with Freddie the Gnome at the Freddie and the Bees selfie spot or tell us about your experience. If you like, post it with #wnyearthdaychallenge |
Buffalo & Erie County Botanical Gardens |
| Visit the Buffalo & Erie County Botanical Gardens and Bring a Book | Take a trip to the Buffalo & Erie County Botanical Gardens and bring a new or gently used nature book to give to the Buffalo Bookmobile to receive an admission pass April 1st-22nd. |
Free | Family Friendly | Buffalo & Erie County Botanical Gardens | Tell us what book you donated. |
Buffalo & Erie County Botanical Gardens |
| Be a tree steward with The Tool Library on April 22 | Find more information about this event at The Tool Library's website |
Free | Family Friendly | The Tool Library | Tell us about the event. |
The Tool Library |
| Create a DIY Rain Barrel | Find out more information on how to create a DIY Rain Barrel here |
Cost Required | Family Friendly | Tell us about your rain barrel building experience or submit a picture. |
Western NY Stormwater Coalition | |
| Join in on the Buffalo Niagara Waterkeeper annual Spring Sweep | Join us for Buffalo Niagara Waterkeeper's annual Spring Sweep and collect data on the litter removed from our watershed alongside volunteers in WNY and throughout the entire Great Lakes region! Learn more on the Buffalo Niagara Waterkeeper website. |
Family Friendly | Various Locations | Submit a screen shot of your litter pick up data after using the Spring Sweep application, or take a selfie at your site! Learn more on the Buffalo Niagara Waterkeeper website. |
Buffalo Niagara Waterkeeper | |
| Participate in the GO Buffalo Niagara - Bike to Work Week Challenge | Bike to work week is a national celebration. Join the GO Buffalo Niagara's Bike to Work Week Challenge on May 15-19 to receive an entry in the WNY Earth Day Challenge. Learn more about the challenge here. |
Free | Teens and up | On the road | Tell us how many days you biked to work. |
GO Buffalo Niagara |
| Participate in Tifft's Earth Day Tree Planting Volunteer Event on Earth Day | Tifft Nature Preserve is hosting an Earth Day Tree Planting Volunteer Event on April 22nd. There is a morning shift from 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM and an afternoon shift from 1:00 PM to 4:00 PM. Register for the morning shift here or the afternoon shift here. |
Free | Family Friendly | Tifft Nature Preserve | Tell us about your tree planting experience or submit a photo from the event. |
Tifft Nature Preserve |
| Visit the Buffalo Museum of Science Earth Day Weekend | Visit the Buffalo Museum of Science on Earth Day weekend- Friday, April 21 - Sunday, April 23- and mention the WNY Earth Day Challenge to receive $1 off per person admission. |
Discounted Rate | Family Friendly | Buffalo Museum of Science | Tell us about your experience at the Buffalo Museum of Science. |
Buffalo Museum of Science |
| Bike ride 50 miles during the month of April | There are many great bike trails in Western New York. Take some time throughout the month of April to ride your bike and appreciate with mother earth has to offer. |
Free | Family Friendly | Outdoors | Tell us about your biking experience or send a picture of something you saw along the way. |
Bert's Bikes & Fitness |
| Start An At Home Composting Bin | Start a composting bin in your home. Composting at home is a great way to reduce your waste stream. Learn more here. |
Free | Family Friendly | At home | Tell us about your experience or send a picture of your bin. |
Modern Disposal Services |
| Participate in a Bring Your Child to Work Day | Bringing your child to work is a great way to expose them to potential career choices. |
Free | Family Friendly | Your work | Tell us about your experience at your care giver's work or share a picture from your visit. |
Erie County DEP |
Prizes:
A Fuji Nevada Mountain Bike curtesy of Bert's Bikes & Fitness (valued at $799)
www.BertsBikes.com
| Quantity | Prize | Sponsor |
|---|---|---|
| 4 | $25 gift card | NAACP Buffalo Chapter |
| 1 | DIY Rain Barrel Kit | Western New York Stormwater Coalition |
| 1 | Compost Bin | Western New York Stormwater Coalition |
| 1 | Penn Dixie 2-hour Private Expedition for up to eight (8) guests valued at $400. | Penn Dixie |
| 1 | Penn Dixie Trilobite 2 Guest Passes valid for adult or child admission valued up to $28 | Penn Dixie |
| 4 | Buffalo & Erie County Library tote bag with some books valued at $30 | Buffalo & Erie County Public Library |
| 6 | e716 $50 gift card | Erie County Department of Environment & Planning |
| 1 | A 1-year family membership to Reinstein Woods | Reinstein Woods |
| 5 | Water conservation kit | Lake Erie Watershed Protection Alliance |
| 1 | GO Buffalo Niagara t-shirt and GO Buffalo Niagara water bottle | GO Buffalo Niagara |
| 1 | Tifft Birthday Party | Tifft Nature Preserve |
| 1 | Buffalo Museum of Science Family Membership | Buffalo Museum of Science |
If you are with an organization or business that wants to sponsor an activity or prizes, please contact us at recycle@erie.gov. We can accept prizes and actions throughout the Challenge. All partner organizations will have their names and logos displayed on our page.
