Save these Earth Hour activities and ideas so that you can celebrate in your own way with those that you love!
Disclosure: Old World New uses affiliate links.
What is Earth Hour?
What: Earth Hour is a symbolic event where people around the world are encouraged to switch off their lights for an hour in order to show support for our Earth.
When: Annually, the last Saturday in March at 8:30 pm your local time (Saturday March 27, 2021)
Who: Everyone!
Where: Wherever you are located.
Why: To raise awareness about the climate crisis and spark conversations that create solutions to heal nature and to care for all beings.
How: Simply turn off your lights for an hour at 8:30pm your local time.
So what can you do during Earth Hour with the lights out at home? This year, the official Earth Hour platform is streaming a video on their social media pages. The Earth Hour “Virtual Spotlight” is a surprise, so we won’t know what it is until they post it on the night of March 27, 2021. Whatever it is, they want us to share it so that we can “put the spotlight on our planet.” Let’s get Earth trending!
Aside from the mystery video, here are some Earth Hour activities that I think will be creative, fun, and all about mama Earth. Enjoy them with your partner or with your young children!
STOP and PIN this post!
Earth Hour Activities for Families with Young Kids
Little Boo is only 4 years old, and Earth Hour happens after his bedtime. Being that my son will be asleep during the official event, I want to help him celebrate earlier in the day. Here are some pre-Earth Hour activities for younger children. Below, I’ll be sharing affiliate links to some fun items that we own. However, I encourage you to firstly use what you already have, and secondly borrow or shop secondhand for similar items.
Play a nature-inspired board game
Wildcraft!: An Herbal Adventure Game
This is a fun game that requires players to work together to make it to pick blueberries and back to their Granny’s house before the sun sets. Along the way, players get ailments that can be resolved with herbal remedies. We have loved learning more about the herbs in this game!
Put a nature-inspired puzzle together
Above + Below Crocodile Creek Jumbo Floor Puzzle
While this puzzle was a last minute random end cap purchase right before Christmas, it is such a cute puzzle that encourages conversations about animals’ natural habitats.
DIY Indoor scavenger hunt
An outdoor scavenger hunt would be great during the day time, and even at night if you can safely do so at home. But to make it more fun, why not have an indoor scavenger hunt? Want to make it educational? Add riddles for everyone to solve in order to find where the scavenger hunt items are hidden!
Dinosaur dig with a headlight
National Geographic Mega Fossil Dig Kit
Go for an indoor night dig! Wear a headlamp and use the lights-off time to discover fossils and dinosaur bones. Don’t forget to repurpose! From my experience, the casing that holds the fossils makes perfect sidewalk chalk.
Watch BBC Earth together
Channels/networks like BBC Earth, Disneynature, National Geographic, and the Discovery Channel share some awe-inspiring programs. In fact, BBC Earth even has children-specific programing. BBC Earth Kids has shows like Bugface and Earth’s Natural Wonders online.
Spend the day outside
Some little ones may go to bed before Earth Hour at 8:30pm. Why not can make the whole day about the Earth? Plan a day of nature-centered activities.
- Go for a hike
- Have lunch at the park
- Go bird watching
- Use a field guide to identify flowers, trees, and mushrooms
- Teach a lesson about sustainability outside under the sun
Enjoy a day of admiring the Earth and learning together as a family before bedtime.
Earth Hour Activities for Couples
Meat free date night in the dark
Make your Earth Hour a date night or a safe hang out session with the people close to you! Have a meat free dinner and/or dairy free desserts to lessen your impact on the Earth. Check out this Valentine’s Day post for some meat free date meal ideas.
Glow-in-the-dark Paint Night
This would be fun for kids, as well, but I think this would make such a fun date night, solo activity, or group activity! Use glow in the dark paints to create a fun masterpiece while painting in the dark. You could paint your favorite endanger animal in order to raise awareness about them, or you could paint Mother Earth. Check your painting out in the light after Earth Hour to see what it looks like. Pro sustainable tips:
- Buy secondhand canvases, or paint on cardboard in order to lessen you impact
- Drink a cup of sustainably-made and/or vegan wine while you paint
Spark a conversation about sustainability
Use these conversation starters to talk about sustainability or write down your thoughts on a matter. We can never have too many people talking about sustainability!
- What has been your favorite new sustainable innovation?
- What niche of sustainability are you most passionate about? Why? What do you propose to spark change in this area?
- What do you want to learn to do more sustainably? Ask each other for suggestions, and search for ways to make it more sustainable together.
- What was the last petition you signed, or who was the last government official you emailed or called, and for what cause?
- How does your city/county/state handle environmental issues? What are you thankful for that they’ve done so far? How can they do better? How can you, as a citizen, help them do better?
- When was the last time you emailed a company that you love to either:
- thank them for a sustainable change or sustainable practice they do (like compostable packaging)?
- ask them to do something more sustainable (like add more sustainable packaging instead of plastic)
Don’t forget to tune in to the Earth Hour Virtual Spotlight!
This is a reminder to watch the Earth Hour Virtual Spotlight, which you will be able to find on their social media pages. The Virtual Spotlight can serve as a conversation starter or it can be the one thing that you do to honor Earth Hour! I am excited to see what they are going to share, and I’ll definitely be sharing it as soon as I see it.
Final Thoughts on Earth Hour Activities
Whether you choose to go all out and make your Earth Hour activities some to remember forever, or whether you simply head to bed early, I believe that Earth Hour is another holiday to spark much-needed conversation and inspire innovation to make our lives more sustainable. Earth Hour doesn’t have to end at 9:30 PM, either. Let these ideas inspire you throughout the year!
Like this article? Choose an image and pin it!
These are such good ideas, and not just for Earth Hour. I think they could also be used to entertain children when storms cause the power to go out.
That is so true!!
Thank you for reminding me of that event. We will definitely choose something from your suggestions above, My favorite is Glow-in-the-dark Paint Night.
I’m excited about that one! We’ll do it for a date night, but it will also be fun for a family night and even outside in the summer!