It’s hard to believe summer is drawing to a close! Soon the kids will be back to school (whew!) and your vacation will be just a memory (aww). But while we’ve still got a bit of summer left, be sure to enjoy it to the fullest with these great upcoming events!
August 9 — National Book Lovers Day
Are you always looking for an excuse to drop everything and curl up in a comfy chair with a good book? Then this day is for you! Bookworms across the country, get ready to stock up on reading material, turn off your cell phone, and settle down for a full day of page-turning indulgence!
Want to support child literacy in America? The Reading Is Fundamental charitable organization has been around since 1966. Learn more and contribute at rif.org.
August 18 — National Honey Bee Day
Bees are more than just chubby striped bugs that might sting you. In fact, the health of the entire planet may be affected by the recent drop in the bee population. One-third of the world’s food production depends on bee pollination, and the population of bees in a given area is a strong indicator of that area’s overall environmental health. Here are a few ways you can help save the honey bees:
Plant flora that bees like. Clover, flowering trees, and blue, purple, and yellow flowers are favorites.
Stop using pesticides. A survey of 800 independent scientific studies concluded that the recent alarming bee die-offs were caused, in part, by the use of chemical pesticides.
Donate to the Pollinator Partnership. This nonprofit is dedicated to protecting and supporting pollinators around the world.
August 19 — World Humanitarian Day
Every day, humanitarian aid workers help ease the suffering of millions of people around the world. The United Nations created this day to honor the humanitarian workers striving to make the world a better place and to remember those who have lost their lives in conflict.
August 26 — Women’s Equality Day
Sufferin’ suffragettes! Did you know there was a time when women could not own property, sign contracts, or even cast a vote to help shape the country they lived in? Thanks to the suffragettes of the late 19th and early 20th centuries, the 19th Amendment was ratified in 1920, prohibiting voter discrimination on the basis of sex and giving women the right to vote.
August 27-September 9 — 50th U.S. Open
Tennis, anyone? With a new logo and a new stadium, the U.S. Open is celebrating its 50th birthday in a big way! We’re all set to watch the game we love, and it’s not our fault we couldn’t get tickets. Check out this year’s schedule so you don’t miss any of the action.