Earth Day
Earth Day – and Earth Month in April – is the time of year when nature awakens after the slumber of winter and our field season begins to have the greatest possible impact for the Connecticut River watershed. Whether you’re taking small steps to support your local environment, or you’re ready to get your hands dirty for cleaner rivers, we have several ways to get involved.
Community Events
See a list of community events from our partners including volunteer opportunities, Earth Day festivals, and other ways to lend a hand for nature.
Support CRC's Mission
Make a gift to support clean water and healthy habitats throughout the Connecticut River watershed all year round!
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Organize a DIY Cleanup
Trash is a big issue in our rivers and you can organize a group of any size to clean up a beach or park near you. Get started with our DIY Cleanup Guide.
Watershed-Wide City Nature Challenge
Join the Connecticut River Conservancy and partners throughout the watershed for the 2026 City Nature Challenge April 24 - 27. Take note of observations on land, in the sky, and in our waters. Start in your backyard or head to your favorite local park or preserve. We will look, listen, and document nature's abundant and unique biodiversity together using iNaturalist. Results will be gathered and announced in May.
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Events including guided nature walks are happening throughout the Connecticut River watershed in NH, VT, MA, and CT. See all the details and sign up for an event near you!
Wild & Scenic Film Festival
Enjoy an evening of short films about environmental stewardship, adventure, and fellowship in the natural world at the Bellows Falls Opera House in Vermont on Thursday, April 30th.
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Festival-goers can expect family-friendly films handpicked by CRC and featuring people working around the globe to promote cleaner water, healthier habitats, and more resilient communities. Tickets can be purchased in advance or at the door. ​
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There will also be refreshments, raffle prizes, and guest speakers! Proceeds from the event will benefit CRC’s programs in VT & NH. See the film details and get your tickets.
More Ways to Get Involved
If you’d like to read up on the latest river updates, our news page covers a range of stories including past and upcoming restoration projects, LiveStream recordings, education about local habitats and species, and more. You can also sign up for our newsletter to get watershed news delivered to your inbox.
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If you observe a riverside area that could use a trash cleanup, contact our Source to Sea Cleanup Coordinator at slennard@ctriver.org.
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Looking ahead beyond Earth Day to volunteer with us? We’ll have many community science activities throughout the summer. Sign up for the volunteer newsletter at the link above to hear about them when they go live!
Community & Partner Events
Massachusetts
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April 6-10 Plastic Free Lunch Week at Leverett Elementary School
April 11, 10am Greenfield Spring Cleanup, Downtown Greenfield & Greenfield Bike Path
April 11, 10am Leverett Earth Day Cleanup, Leverett Transfer Station
April 11, 1pm Art for the Earth Exhibition Reception, Leverett Crafts & Arts
April 11, 6pm Art for the Earth Evening Performance, Leverett Crafts & Arts
April 19, 11am Springfield Museums Earth Day Festival, Springfield, MA
April 22, 12-2pm Lake Wallace Cleanup, Belchertown, MA
April 22, 6pm Screening of Microplastics Madness, Leverett Crafts & Arts
April 25, 8:30am Hadley Spring Cleanup Day, Hopkins Academy parking lot
April 25 Statewide Volunteer Days with MassAudubon
April 25, MA DCR Park Serve Day
Connecticut
April 25 - Wethersfield, CT – City Nature Challenge Guided Walk with GMCT
April 25 - Chester, CT – Chester Celebrates Earth Day on Main Street from 12-4pm
May 2 - Middletown, CT – Connecticut River Environmental Summit
Vermont & New Hampshire
April 25, 7am City Nature Challenge: Mink Brook Nature Preserve Guided Walks, Hanover, NH
April 25 - Brattleboro, VT - City Nature Challenge Guided Walk with library & conservation commission
More events may be added!
Contact Stacey at slennard@ctriver.org to submit your event.
