For years, the Powell community celebrated Earth Day with a local event. Now, that tradition is being revived.

On Wednesday, those interested in learning more about local, environmentally focused organizations are invited to stop by the Powell Valley Recycling Center between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m.

Representatives from seven different organizations — Park County Citizens for Sustainability, Absaroka Fence Initiative, Greater Yellowstone Coalition, Homesteader Roots (which plants trees in Powell), Blue Ribbon Tree Service, St. John’s Thrift Store and the recycling center itself — will be on hand to share info about their efforts.

Organizer Sue Woods said it’s an opportunity for community members to “find out what kind of groups are working in the area, if they need volunteers, if they need donations.” Plus, Woods said, it’s “just kind of a way to let people know that we are working for the environment” and to encourage others to do things like recycle or repurpose.

“Let’s take care of our good Earth,” she said of the message.

U.S. Sen. Gaylord Nelson, D-Wisconsin, first proposed Earth Day in 1970 in an effort to show there was “broad and deep support for the environmental movement.”

More than 20 million Americans participated in that year’s inaugural day, Nelson later recalled, describing it as an “overwhelming response.”

He said the demonstration helped spur the creation of the Environmental Protection Agency in late 1970 and the subsequent passage of landmark legislation like the Clean Air Act, Endangered Species Act and Safe Drinking Water Act.

More than a half-century later, Earth Day continues, being observed every April 22.

Woods is hoping to make the local celebration an annual event, but purposely started small this year.

“We hope people come down and check out what goes on in our areas, environmentally,” she said.

The Powell Valley Recycling Center is located on the city’s western edge at 946 Road 10, which is known as Tower Boulevard on the opposite side of the road.