On Saturday 28 March at 8.30pm local time, people around the world will mark Earth Hour. This year is especially significant, as it marks 20 years of Earth Hour since the campaign began in 2007 and grew into a global movement reaching more than 190 countries and territories.
Many people know Earth Hour as the moment when lights are switched off for one hour as a symbol of support for the planet. That remains an important part of Earth Hour. But the message has grown. Earth Hour now also calls on people to “Give an hour for Earth” by spending 60 minutes doing something, anything, positive for our planet. Importantly for Scout Groups and Sections, that hour does not have to happen only at 8.30pm. It can happen earlier in the day, at a meeting, outdoors, or at home.
Scouting has always been about learning by doing, caring for the world around us, and taking action in our communities. Across world Scouting, work linked to the Sustainable Development Goals is not treated as something separate from the Youth Programme, but as part of how young people grow into active global citizens through practical action, service, and reflection.
Why Earth Hour Matters
Earth Hour matters because the world is facing two connected challenges: climate change and nature loss. The Earth Hour materials make the point clearly that protecting nature is not optional. Nature underpins the air we breathe, the water we drink, the food we eat, and our health and wellbeing. Earth Hour is designed to shine a spotlight on both the climate crisis and the loss of biodiversity, while also giving people a hopeful, practical way to respond.
Young people do not need to solve everything in one go. But they can take meaningful action, build good habits, and inspire others. One hour may sound small, but Earth Hour is built on the idea of collective impact. When one person, one family, one Six, one Patrol, one Unit, or one Scout Group gives an hour, it matters. When thousands and millions do it together, it becomes something powerful.
What kind of hour counts?
One of the most useful ideas in the Earth Hour handbook is that a good “Give an hour for Earth” activity should be meaningful, enjoyable, and easy to take part in. In other words, it should have purpose, feel engaging rather than like a chore, and be accessible to as many people as possible. The Earth Hour education materials also show that there is no one right way to take part. Activities can be based around sustainability, nature, food, fitness and wellness, creativity, or entertainment.
That gives plenty of scope for Scout Sections of different ages to take part in ways that suit them.
Ideas for Scouts, Sections, and Groups
Your Earth Hour could be simple, practical, creative, reflective, or active. For example, your Section or Group could:
- switch off lights and spend time outdoors under the night sky
- organise a nature clean-up crew in your local area
- become a nature detective and identify local plants, birds, insects, or habitats
- make seed dumplings / seed balls to support pollinators and biodiversity
- create a simple bee hotel and learn more about the role of pollinators
- learn about ways to reduce food waste at home or in your Group
- plant herbs or vegetables and start learning where food comes from
- take part in a calm outdoor reflection or mindfulness session and reconnect with nature through your senses
- watch an educational video or documentary about nature, wildlife, or sustainability and talk about what action could follow
The important thing is not making it perfect. The important thing is making it meaningful.
A Scout way to take part
Earth Hour gives us a simple way to live out values that are already central to Scouting: respect for nature, responsibility, community action, and learning through experience. It can be quiet and reflective, or energetic and hands-on. It can be one small action, or the starting point for a bigger environmental or community project later in the year.
That is what makes it valuable. It is not just about one symbolic hour of darkness. It is about giving young people a chance to connect concern with action.
Want ideas and activities?
Earth Hour has produced a wide range of education resources with activity ideas for different ages and interests, including nature, food, biodiversity, creativity, fitness and wellbeing. You can find them here.
This Saturday, give an hour for Earth
So this Saturday 28 March at 8.30pm, or earlier in the day if that works better for your Group, why not take part in Earth Hour?
Switch off. Step outside. Learn. Create. Reflect. Act. Give an hour for Earth.
Because a better world is built one action at a time.
