by Shae Marcus

There is a particular stillness that comes when our hands meet the earth. The soil is cool. The air carries the faint scent of green. We press a young tree into place, firm the ground around its roots and step back. What was planted is small—but what it will become is not. It will anchor soil, offer shade, filter air and shelter life long after we’ve walked away.

This is the work beneath our feet.

Each year, the world loses millions of hectares of forest. Forests regulate climate, protect water systems, stabilize soil and sustain biodiversity that supports our food and health. When they disappear, the effects ripple outward—into our weather patterns, ecosystems and daily lives.

Earth Month reminds us that meaningful change does not begin in theory. It begins in participation.

For more than 50 years, Earthwatch Institute has connected volunteers with scientists conducting environmental research across the globe. Participants assist with wildlife monitoring, marine conservation and climate studies, contributing to research that informs real-world environmental decisions.

Natural Awakenings Chicago Publisher Peggy Malecki first encountered Earthwatch while in college. She spent three weeks off the coast of British Columbia, Canada, assisting a geologist in mapping small islands and documenting native flora and fauna. Years later, the images remain vivid: traveling between rugged shorelines in a small inflatable Zodiac, gliding beneath trees so lush and filled with raptors they felt “heavy with eagles.”  This trip further strengthened a lifetime commitment to supporting our natural world.

Through WWOOF, individuals stay on organic farms practicing regenerative agriculture, exchanging hands-on participation for lodging and education. Compost steams in early morning air. Seeds are pressed into rows. Healthy soil—alive with microbial life—becomes a reminder that land responds when treated with intention.

Reforestation offers another tangible path. Organizations such as One Tree Planted, Trees for the Future and National Forest Foundation are planting native species in regions affected by wildfire and deforestation. Each sapling represents future stability—roots that will hold soil in place, branches that will absorb carbon and canopies that will shelter ecosystems yet unseen.

Even attention is a form of stewardship. The Wild Wonder Foundation promotes nature literacy through observation and journaling, reminding us that when we slow down enough to truly notice the natural world, care naturally follows.

Participation does not require distant travel. It may begin with planting a native species in the yard or volunteering with a local conservation group. But for those planning their next journey, Earth Month poses a powerful question: What if travel became an act of stewardship?

A mindful journey can support scientific research, strengthen regenerative farms or contribute to reforestation in the places we visit. When exploration meets responsibility, travel shifts from consumption to connection.

The work beneath our feet is steady and quiet. Whether close to home or across the globe, the invitation remains the same: choose experiences that give more than they take—and plant something that will endure long after the journey ends.

Shae Marcus, publisher of Natural Awakenings South Jersey and Philadelphia, also hosts global retreats through The 11:11 Experience—proving that luxury and soil can, in fact, coexist beautifully. For more information, visit www.The1111Experience.com.