Held on Tuesday, April 22 this year, Earth Day has been around for more than 40 years, and during that time, it has inspired millions of people to increase their awareness of, and their appreciation for, the environment. Since the dawn of the twenty-first century, people increasingly have adopted eco-friendly lifestyles and attitudes, and the continued embrace of environmentally friendly practices and principles has made the struggles of Earth Day pioneers, like former United States Senator Gaylord Nelson, more than worth it.Address Eating HabitsTeach Conservation TechniquesPurchase Recycled ProductsDid you know?Though Earth Day is synonymous with protecting the environment, the holiday can trace its roots to an environmental disaster that occurred in Southern California in 1969.

Nowadays, children grow up learning about the environment in school and at home. For example, many households participate in their community's recycling programs, and such households are raising eco-conscious children, perhaps without even recognizing they're doing so.

While a transition to a more eco-conscious lifestyle might not be seamless, it's far easier than many might suspect and even easier for kids who have yet to develop a lifetime of habits that might not be so eco-friendly. With Earth Day on the horizon, the following are a few ways parents can get their kids involved in activities or lifestyles that benefit the environment.

Over the last several years, the opportunities to eat in an eco-friendly manner have increased dramatically. Organic foods have grown more and more popular, and parents can use this growing trend to teach their kids about the environment. When shopping for groceries, choose organic products that weren't grown with pesticides or harmful chemicals and explain this difference to kids.

Shopping locally provides another opportunity for parents to involve food when teaching kids about the environment. Explain to kids that shopping locally reduces reliance on fuel because products don't need to be shipped, be it through the air or on the ground, to your community, minimizing fuel consumption.

Conservation provides another easy opportunity for parents to instill eco-friendly ideals in their children. Conservation is about reducing waste, so conservation techniques don't involve sacrifice. Instead, they involve being more responsible when it comes to using our resources.

Parents know full well the constant reminders kids need when it comes to dental hygiene. But use these daily reminders about brushing and flossing as an opportunity to impart a lesson about the environment. Instead of keeping the faucet running while brushing your teeth, turn the faucet off and encourage kids to do the same. When they ask why, explain that this helps conserve water, and show them how it's just as easy and effective to clean teeth without the water running as it is when the faucet is on. This teaches kids that conservation is simple and often just requires minimal effort to make a big difference.

There are additional lessons about conservation that parents can impart. For instance, when grocery shopping, always make a list before leaving the house and explain to kids that you do this so you don't have to make two trips to the store and waste the gas that the second trip would require. In addition, encourage kids to turn the lights off when they leave a room to better conserve energy.

Recycling is a practice that many of today's kids grew up with, and as a result, many of them might take it for granted, failing to fully realize the positive impact they're making whenever they recycle. If recycling is as natural to kids as breathing, then it's no surprise they might not recognize its impact.

One way parents can address this issue is to purchase products made from recycled materials. A host of products are made from recycled materials, from the paper you put in the printer to the toys under the tree on Christmas morning. Explain to kids why you're choosing these products, and let them know such products wouldn't be possible without their own recycling efforts.

Another way to help kids realize the value of recycling is to make crafts from recycled products. For instance, make a papier mache globe to celebrate Earth Day by using old newspapers as your primary material. Such lessons show kids their efforts make an impact and increase the likelihood they'll continue this eco-friendly lifestyle well into adulthood.

Over a 10-day period that began on Jan. 28, 1969 just six miles off the coast of Santa Barbara, Calif., roughly 80,000 to 100,000 barrels of crude oil spilled into the Santa Barbara Channel and onto the beaches of Santa Barbara County. Thousands of birds and marine animals, including dolphins, elephant seals and sea lions, were killed as a result of the spill, which at the time was the largest such spill to ever occur in United States waters (it is now the third-largest spill after the Deepwater Horizon spill in 2010 and the 1989 Exxon Valdez spill).

Though devastating, the Santa Barbara oil spill proved inspiring to Senator Gaylord Nelson of Wisconsin, who is today considered the founder of Earth Day. Senator Nelson used the sense of social consciousness that prevailed throughout much of the United States in 1969 and the outrage at the Santa Barbara oil spill to infuse energy into a growing movement to raise awareness about air and water pollution.

His risk paid off, as more than 20 million Americans took to the streets on April 22, 1970 to demonstrate for a healthy, sustainable environment.

Local Earth Day Events

Annual Branford Clean-Up Day:

Saturday, April 5, 9 a.m. Rain date April 12. Volunteers will pick up litter and possibly larger debris from along the Branford River and the town's roadways. Check in at the Green starting at 9 a.m. to choose a work area or be directed to locations that particularly need attention. For more information, contact Maryanne Hall at mlhall511@comcast.net or 203-488-4272.

North Haven Earth Day 2014 Celebration:

Saturday, April 5, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. North Haven Middle School, Bailey Road. Sponsored by the North Haven Conservation Commission. Take in composting and recycling demonstrations and information, learn about solar and energy efficiency, and grab some seedlings from the Boy Scouts. Beekeeper Ray Sola is also expected to be on hand with his bees and some fresh local honey. Free giveaways and activities for children.

Hamden's Earth Day Celebration:

Saturday, April 12, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Hamden Middle School, 2623 Dixwell Ave. Free. For info, contact 203-287-7021 or proach@hamden.com.

Earth Day Program in Lyme:

Tuesday, April 22, 7 p.m. Lyme-Old Lyme High School. Conservation biologist and ornithological expert Dr. Paul Spitzer will discuss osprey in the lower Connecticut River estuary. Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection biologist Steve Gephard will discuss the state's diadromous fisheries program. The Lyme-Old Lyme High School Ecology Club will provide refreshments. Attendees can also visit with representatives of the Connecticut River Gateway Commission and the Potopaug Audubon Society.

Rock to Rock Earth Day Ride:

Saturday, April 26. All day. New Haven. Rock to Rock is New Haven's biggest Earth Day celebration. Travel from West Rock and East Rock with celebrations on both sides of the city. Along the way, eat tasty food, hear great music, take on environmental service projects, and explore the city's parks and neighborhoods. All are welcome. Families and college students, serious riders, and weekend warriors are all part of Rock to Rock. Register now. Looking for a challenge? Take the 20-mile, 40-mile, or metric century routes. Have a little kid in tow? Ride part of the way. For info, visit www.rocktorock.org.

Celebrate Earth Day with Friends of Hammonasset:

Saturday, April 26. 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Hammonasset Beach State Park, Madison. Earth Day celebrations at Meigs Point Nature Center include a book signing, live creature shows, geology and archaeology exhibits, and, at noon, an Atlatl demonstration for kids. Ranger Russ Miller will lead a hike at 3:15 p.m. following the book signing. Contact

info@hammonasset.org or 203-245-2785 for more info.