NCM Supports Global Youth Service Day in April

From participating in a river cleanup to creating butterfly feeders, the National Children's Museum (NCM) presents kids and families with enjoyable opportunities to protect their environment and improve their neighborhoods during the month of April.

Kids everywhere can help improve the world during Global Youth Service Day (GSYD) from April 23-25. GYSD is an annual campaign that celebrates and mobilizes the millions of children and youth who improve their communities each day of the year through service and service-learning. Established in 1988, GYSD is the largest service event in the world and is now celebrated in more than 100 countries! Visit www.gysd.org for more information.

In the spirit of Global Youth Service Day, families can take action with NCM and other community organizations to make a difference throughout April. NCM supports community service programs as they allow families to develop a sense of pride, self-esteem, and most importantly see themselves as active contributing members of society. NCM programs include Children's Day Adventures at The Accokeek Foundation at Piscataway Park and Earth Day Every Day.

April 3: Join NCM at partner organization the Accokeek Foundation for a day full of educational and entertaining activities on Children’s Day. Families can attend a performance of the Wally the Water Bottle puppet show (appropriate for ages 4 and up) at 11 a.m. followed by Mini River Cleanup along the Potomac River. After learning from Wally about how damaging litter is to the river’s ecosystem, families will gather trash from the shore of the Potomac River. Other workshops and activities take place throughout the day. Visit www.accokeek.org for more information. 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.,The Accokeek Foundation at Piscataway Park, 3400 Bryan Point Road, Accokeek, Md. 20607.

April 17: Earth Day Every Day highlights the importance of creating wildlife habitats in our own backyards. Learn how to create colorful butterfly gardens and make a butterfly feeder and other crafts at the Launch Zone. 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., Launch Zone, 201 Waterfront St., National Harbor, Md. 20745.  

Still looking for more earth-friendly events in April? On April 10, the Alice Ferguson Foundation’s 22^nd Annual Potomac River Watershed Cleanup takes place from 9 a.m. to noon at locations across the city. Find a cleanup site near you at www.fergusonfoundation.org/trash_initiative/rc_sites.shtml.  Also on April 10, families can participate in the Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission Potomac River Waterfront Park Cleanup which takes place from 9 a.m. to noon at the Potomac River Waterfront Park, National Harbor, MD. Signs will direct volunteers to the parking and cleanup site. For details, visit the website at www.anacostiaws.org/programs/stewardship/earthday. On April 24, the Anacostia Watershed Society’s 40^th Anniversary Earth River Cleanup and Celebration takes place from 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. More information is available at www.anacostiaws.org/programs/stewardship/earthday.