Saturday, April 22, may officially be Earth Day, but the Tennessee Valley Authority and its volunteer partners have more events designed to celebrate and give back to the planet than can fit in a single day. Ten different activities, from reservoir cleanups to nature walks to fishing, are scheduled in the coming days across the Tennessee Valley.
Interested participants can discover details and sign-up opportunities for each of the following activities on TVA’s website:
• Friday, April 21
Earth Day Cleanup in Calloway County, Ky., 10 a.m. – 12 p.m. CDT
• Saturday, April 22
Towns County Big Sweep on Chatuge Reservoir, Hayesville, N.C., currently underway and continuing through April 22
Cherokee Lake Users Association Annual Earth Day Cleanup at multiple marina locations around the lake near Morristown, Tenn., 9 a.m. – 1 p.m. EDT
Norris Dam BioBlitz in Andersonville, Tn., 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. EDT
Cast for Kids at Chester Frost Park in Hixson, Tn., 8:30 a.m. – 1 p.m. EDT
• Sunday, April 23
Earth Day at Monte Sano State Park in Madison, Al., 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. CDT
• Saturday, April 29
Athens Earth Day at Friendship Church in Athens, Al., 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. CDT
Marbut Bend Walking Trail in West Limestone, Al., 7:30 a.m. – 9:30 a.m. CDT
Chickamauga Dam BioBlitz in Chattanooga, Tn., 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. EDT
• Saturday, May 6
Douglas Lake the Beautiful Spring Cleanup at multiple locations around the lake near Dandridge, Tn., 8:30 a.m. – 12 p.m. EDT
New to the Earth Day celebration this year is a special #TVAnature photo contest, which encourages everyone to show their love of nature by snapping and sharing pictures on TVA lands between April 20-25. Complete contest rules can be found at http://tvanature.hscampaigns.com. Photos can be posted directly on the contest website, or on Twitter or Instagram by using the hashtag #TVAnature. Prizes for the best photos include a camping lantern with a solar mobile charger, a double hammock and a solar powerbank that's compatible with almost any smartphone.