Town of Leland celebrates Earth Day with family activities, sustainability lessons

LELAND, NC (WWAY) — Communities across the country observed Earth Day on Tuesday, which is intended to promote environmental protection and awareness worldwide.

In Leland, residents gathered for an evening dedicated to environmental education and action.

The town hosted an Earth Day celebration at the Leland Cultural Arts Center featuring family-friendly activities designed to teach sustainability and conservation.

Attendees took part in hands-on projects such as planting flower and vegetable seeds, while local experts shared information on topics ranging from beekeeping to regional history. Organizers also scheduled a presentation on the history and future of Eagles Island later in the evening.

Molly Prosser, a recreation coordinator with the town of Leland, said organizers hoped visitors would leave feeling more connected to nature and inspired to make small changes in their daily lives.

“We just hope that everybody connects with nature in a small way,” Prosser said. “So whether it’s doing some seed starting or learning about some sustainable practices in your area, we just want everybody to walk away with a little piece of what they can do to preserve our beautiful area here.”

Lizzie Horvitz, CEO of Finch, an online sustainability hub, said there are some practical tips for building long-term, environmentally friendly habits: replace disposable paper towels with reusable cloths, use a water filter and reusable bottle to reduce plastic waste, and plan meals before grocery shopping to help cut back on food waste.