Throughout 2022 Fairfax County Public Library (FCPL) is celebrating literacy in all its forms, showcasing a different type through programs, activities and resources each month. With Earth Day celebrated recently and spring blooming into summer, May is Environmental Literacy Month at your local library.
What is Environmental Literacy?
According to the North American Association for Environmental Education (NAAEE) as noted by the Ecological Society of America’s Ecosphere journal, environmental literacy is “an awareness of and concern about the environment and its associated problems, as well as the knowledge, skills, and motivations to work toward solutions of current problems and the prevention of new ones.”
Whether you’re an avid environmentalist or gardener already, or you’d like to learn more about contributing to a healthier planet — or simply a greener neighborhood — for the next generations, the following library programs and resources will help you nurture your understanding of the natural world and our impact on it.
Free Environmental Literacy Month Events
Join FCPL virtually on Thursday, May 12, at 7 p.m. for a discussion about our favorite delectable and delicate foods that may disappear as a result of climate change. Advance registration is required.
Visit Sherwood Regional Library this month for hands-on workshops: upcycle old pieces of paper and cardboard and learn the art of storytelling through collage May 12 at 10:30 a.m.; and learn to grow and use 12 common culinary herbs May 22 at 2:30 p.m. Advance registration is required for both programs.
Explore gardening with native plants and wildlife in mind in a series of programs with local experts. Discover how to create a butterfly-friendly habitat in your own yard on Thursday, May 5, at 2 p.m. at Tysons-Pimmit Regional Library. Pop into City of Fairfax Regional Library Saturday, May 7, from 1 to 3 p.m. for native plant seeds and advice from Fairfax County Master Gardeners. Explore ways to support songbirds and achieve personal landscaping goals with native plants in virtual presentations on May 9 and May 11. Advance registration is required for virtual programs.
For more events like this, check out the library events calendar at bit.ly/FCPL_GG-environment.
Lifelong Learning
FCPL cardholders can borrow fine-free* from the library’s collection and enjoy 60+ recommended books on the environment: bit.ly/FCPL_Env-Lit-Books.
Plus, find a curated list of virtual and in-person lifelong learning opportunities in the library’s online guide for Adults and 50-Plus at bit.ly/FCPL_LifelongLearning. Massive Open Online Courses(MOOCs) are free, online, college-level courses from universities and other providers worldwide; numerous courses in environmental science and other environmental literacy topics are available at bit.ly/CourseBuffet_EnvSci and bit.ly/ClassCentral_EnvSci.
More for Gardeners
Find out how to help Fairfax County’s flora and fauna thrive in FCPL’s interview with a Plant NOVA Natives member. Read the article in the spring issue of Branch Out magazine: bit.ly/FCPL-flora-fauna.
Have more questions about any type of gardening? Ask a Fairfax County Master Gardener at a plant clinic! Find times and locations at bit.ly/FCPL_PlantClinics.
Finally, make sure you’re growing in healthy soil by picking up a soil testing kit from any FCPL branch: bit.ly/FFX_SoilTests.
*Some special collections, including interlibrary loans, Chromebooks and hotspots, continue to accrue overdue fines.