Dark Sky Week & Earth Day events

Rapid City and Delaware are using this week’s environmental observances to pull residents into parks, trails, and night-sky programs before the broader spring season ramps up. (kotatv.com) (news.delaware.gov) Rapid City Mayor Jason Salamun proclaimed April 13 through April 20 as Dark Sky Week on Wednesday, April 15, and the city said the effort is meant to raise awareness of light pollution and encourage more responsible outdoor lighting. (kotatv.com) (drbulb.com) In Delaware, the Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control announced Earth Day programming on April 15, with hikes, cleanups, tree plantings, and other events at parks and public spaces across the state. (news.delaware.gov) (wgmd.com) Dark Sky Week is timed to the week of the new moon, when skies are darkest, and DarkSky International lists this year’s observance as April 13 through April 20. The group says the campaign focuses on reducing light pollution and protecting natural darkness. (darksky.org) (idsw.darksky.org) Earth Day falls on April 22, and Delaware’s parks agency is stretching the observance across April as part of Earth Month programming. The state says Earth Day events have become a focal point for outdoor activities, volunteer work, and environmental education. (dnrec.delaware.gov) (news.delaware.gov) Rapid City’s proclamation connects an international awareness week to local geography. Organizers said light pollution affects views of nearby dark-sky destinations including Badlands National Park and Wind Cave National Park. (drbulb.com) (kotatv.com) Delaware’s announcement ties the Earth Day calendar to the state park system’s volunteer pipeline. The same agency had already promoted the 34th annual Christina River Watershed Cleanup and other Earth Month service events earlier this spring. (news.delaware.gov 1) (news.delaware.gov 2) The common thread is short-term programming with a practical ask: turn off unnecessary lights, sign up for a cleanup, join a hike, or plant trees. In both states, officials are using a one-week hook in mid-April to bring people back outdoors as spring visitation rises. (darksky.org) (news.delaware.gov) (kotatv.com)