Starting off with Earth Day (April 22), this past week offered a chance to celebrate our beautiful planet and appreciate all of the wonderful natural places in our world. It’s also a great reminder to care for our Earth and an opportunity to raise environmental awareness both within the United States and abroad.

Since I like the outdoors so much, I decided to explore some regional parks this past week that I hadn’t yet taken the time to visit. By far, my favorite one was Theodore Roosevelt Island, a National Monument located in between Virginia and D.C.

The weather was perfect – that lovely time of year when the sun is shining, but the area hasn’t yet turned into a hot humid mess. I payed close attention to all of the beautiful wildflowers, butterflies, and interesting birds that captured my eye as I leisurely hiked along the island’s path. Apparently Theodore Roosevelt Island is home to many threatened or endangered plants and animals. I was surprised to find myself in a wetland environment, a sturdy boardwalk provided me with a way to get up close and personal with the plants and wildlife. I even heard the telltale sign of a slithering snake, and turned quickly to spot the little fella slipping into a shady spot by a log.

In the center of the island is a huge statue of Theodore Roosevelt himself, the “conservationist president”. This memorial honors the man who set aside 230 million acres of land during his time in leadership. Incredible! If you want to read more history about good ol’ Theo, you can click here.

I enjoyed my foray into this small regional park and spent time throughout the rest of Earth Week investigating natural spaces within my near vicinity. If you didn’t get a chance to celebrate, it’s not too late. Get out there, and get exploring because “every day is Earth Day”. 🙂