Celebrating Earth Day with Bethel Woods

Damage to the environment proved to be yet another weight on the American conscience in the 1960s. Towards the end of the decade, Senator Gaylord Nelson announced Earth Day: a grassroots movement dedicated to protecting against environmental damage.

As our historic site continues to honor the decade that led us to Earth Day, here’s how we’ve been recognizing the ethos of the holiday over the past few years:?

Hello Wood

Hello Wood is an international architecture program where modern aesthetics and eco-friendliness go hand-in-hand. In September of 2021, Bethel Woods was able to take part in a pilot program for Hello Wood. Groups of student architects and designers created three installations using recycled materials that are now placed on-site.

Earth in Focus

To commemorate the environmental movement’s 50th anniversary, Bethel Woods featured the outdoor photo exhibit Earth in Focus: A Celebration of Our Dynamic Planet in 2020.

The exhibit featured work from 21 international photographers who captured stunning landscapes, intricate details of wildlife, and many more examples of Mother Nature’s offerings.

Preservation Efforts

Being able to pass down land for the next generation to utilize and enjoy is one of the main pillars of Earth Day. That’s why we’ve been hard at work to ensure that the Woodstock site’s legacy continues to live on. In 2017, the historic site of the 1969 Woodstock festival was added to the National Register of Historic Places.

One of the main areas of focus has been the Bindy Bazaar Trail System. In 1969, the area acted as a meeting place and a marketplace. Now, it’s been restored as a system of hiking trails where guests can appreciate its historical importance and natural beauty.?

If you're also passionate about preservation and would like to assist in our efforts, won't you consider making a donation?

Images courtesy of Bethel Woods. Written by Lyle Galloway.