Earth Day was founded to educate people about their environment and to focus on nurturing and renewing the Earth. Many people chose to celebrate an Earth week or an Earth month as well. The day was declared because if each person spends at least one day a year raising awareness about the environment, a difference can be made.

The first Earth Day was held on April 22, 1970, after years of planning by former U.S. Sen. Gaylord Nelson, D-Wis. He announced in November 1969 that environmental "teach-ins" were going to be held across the nation to raise awareness about the condition of the Earth. Previously, Nelson's concern helped spark President John F. Kennedy's conservation tour in 1963 and led to the establishment of the Environmental Protection Agency.

An estimated 20 million demonstrators participated in peaceful rallies, turning their antiwar dynamism into "save the Earth" energy.

There are numerous ways to donate time, energy, and resources to help better the Earth. Simple, everyday contributions include turning off unnecessary lights, fixing leaky faucets, lowering water heater settings, and walking instead of driving a car will help conserve energy and lower pollution. Increasing awareness about when to recycle, reduce and reuse helps to decrease the amount of waste building in landfills. Volunteers are always needed to monitor water for pollutants, adopt a highway or clean up a watershed.

Some Key Dates

• 1969: Sen. Gaylord Nelson announces plans for an Earth Day teach-in
• 1970: 20 million people participate in the first official Earth Day April 22
• 1970: Environmental Protection Agency established
• 1970: Clean Air Act passed
• 1972: Clean Water Act passed
• 1973: Endangered Species Act passed
• 1986: Congress declares the public has a right to know when toxic chemicals are released into air, land, and water.
• 1988: Congress bans ocean dumping of sewage sludge and industrial waste.
• 1995: Sen. Nelson awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom
• 1996: National Wildlife Refuge Improvement Act passed