Author: Lisa Mungovan

Adrienne Long loves trees, and wanted to find a way to raise money for her local Audubon Society. She decided to become a world-class tree-hugger! Adrienne wrapped her arms around a walnut tree in Chattanooga Tennessee, for 10 hours and 5 minutes, to break the world record. Her friend Sarah Medley, kept her entertained.

The CLEO Institute is raising awareness of climate change, with their “Melting Florida” campaign. They placed a wax sculpture of a man and his granddaughter, eating ice cream cones on a bench. The sculpture will melt in a few days, and reveal a message reading, “More heat, less health.”

There’s a department store in Germany, that sells only recycled items. Berlin’s B-Wa(h)renhaus stocks everything from clothes and furniture, to phones and electronics. Some stuff has been repaired by experts. Other items are perfectly good discards, from retail stores. Things that still function shouldn’t be thrown out, but go to a new home instead.

Today is Tourism Day, but it’s not a very good time to be a tourist. Traveling during the pandemic takes special care, to avoid spreading COVID-19. Instead, explore close to home. Today is also Rivers Day, so picnic by a local river , or skip stones in a creek! Look for wildlife in the water.

Today is Ancestor Appreciation Day. Did any of your ancestors come from other countries? Make a family tree, label your parents and grandparents, and see how far back you can trace. Then go stomp a soda can for Crush A Can Day. It’s fun, plus it makes it more compact to recycle!

Jacinda Ardern, the prime minister of New Zealand, has committed to fighting climate change. Under her leadership, the government planted 100,000,000 trees per year, banned offshore oil exploration, and put limits on synthetic fertilizer. Their biggest goal, is to use 100% renewable energy by 20 30. Iceland, Paraguay, and Costa Rica, are already using all clean green energy.

Paleontologists have been rethinking the Spinosaurus. They had believed the dinosaur spent all its time on land, until they found over 1000 fossilized teeth in a prehistoric river bed. They now believe the Spinosaurus was a “water-dwelling river monster,” with a finned tail that could propel them through the water.

The UK’s People’s Dispensary for Sick Animals, gives awards to animals, honoring their achievements. For the first time, they awarded a gold medal, to a rat. The African giant pouched rat, named Magawa, sniffs out explosives in Cambodia. He has detected dozens of land mines, helping to make 1,500,000 square feet of land safe again.

Today is International Rabbit Day. The world’s biggest rabbit, Darius, is over 4 feet long! Do you have any photos of bunnies? Make a rabbit scrapbook. If they’re digital photos, make sure you’ve backed them up somewhere, since it’s also Save Your Photos Day. Don’t lose your pictures when you lose your phone.

Today is Johnny Appleseed Day, the birthday of John Chapman in 1774. He traveled around the United States, planting orchards of apple trees. He ate out of his tin hat, which is why he’s often depicted with a pot on his head. It’s also Lumberjack Day, originally created as an excuse to eat pancakes!