Lawrentians live out their values. That includes events, celebrations, and activities surrounding sustainability.

Earth Week Schedule

April 21 – 27


A student sells plants at the 2022 Earthfest.
SUNDAY, APRIL 21

Earthfest! Sponsored by Greenfire
1 – 4 p.m. | Main Hall Green (Kaeyes Mamaceqtawuk/Library Plaza)
Earthfest is a tabling and network-based event in celebration of community and coming together for Earth Day. Greenfire, is the environmental justice-based club here on campus and is inviting outside organizations as well as Lawrence-specific groups for a day of collective action, as well as eating delicious soup and listening to fantastic music. This event is for celebrating the earth, appreciating each other, plus organizing and fostering a great space to learn/try something new. Lunch will be served for everyone (while supplies last) from Bon App catering. We’ll have 4 different soups available. Student bands will perform from 2-4 p.m. In the event of rain, festivities will move to Warch (Lobby near Mail Center, Esch Hurvis, and Mead Witter). 

MONDAY, APRIL 22

Science Hall Colloquium
4:30 p.m. | Thomas Steitz Hall of Science (Rm. 102)
Dr. Relena Ribbons Forest and agricultural soils are home to vast quantities of soil microbe communities, yet we have only scratched the surface when it comes to understanding these systems. My lab blends tools and approaches from forestry, ecology, biogeochemistry, and soil microbiology to investigate these communities. I will share insights from studies my research students and I have conducted across our region: Bjorklunden's forest of cedars and maples along the shoreline of Lake Michigan; a network of sites in the woods of Peninsula and High Cliff State Parks; and here on the Lawrence campus, using soil microbiological markers to examine polyculture practices of co-planting tomatoes with marigolds.

Paint the Wall
5 p.m. | Lawe Street (under the bridge near SLUG)
Come help us paint a mural on the wall in celebration of Earth Day!

SLUG Earth Day Gardening Session
6 – 8 p.m. | SLUG
Join SLUG for an Earth Day gardening session, followed by a campfire and s’mores! Attendants will be entered into a raffle to win jars of honey produced by our own SLUG bees.

TUESDAY, APRIL 23

Rechargeable Battery Giveaway
All Day | Students will be notified of the pickup location
Introducing Lawrence University's annual sustainability giveaway. This year we will be giving out rechargeable batteries & charging stations to the student body. If you would like a set of your very own, please fill out the form at the Greenfire Earthfest tabling event on Sunday, April 21.

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 24

Movie: Erin Brockovich
7 p.m. | Warch Cinema

Food Recovery Network
7:30 p.m. | Warch (Rm. 414)
This is a food safety training session for Earth Week so students can come volunteer at the food recovery session.

THURSDAY, APRIL 25

SLUG Open Garden
5 – 7 p.m. | SLUG

Movie: Food Inc.
7 p.m. | Warch Cinema

FRIDAY, APRIL 26

Infrastructurally-Oriented Model of Sustainability
4:30 p.m. | Walking Tour Start Location: The Arch (College Ave. and Drew Street)
Professor Brozek has been integral to the institution of the bike lanes here in Appleton. Join him on a walking tour where he teaches about an infrastructurally oriented model of sustainability and how anyone can make an infrastructural impact at the local level!

SATURDAY, APRIL 27

Sustainability and CCE Appleton Trash Pickup
Depart: 11 a.m. – 1 p.m., Return: 3 – 5 p.m. | Shuttle Stop Location: TBD
In Collaboration with the Center for Community Engagement, LUCC Sustainability Committee is organizing shuttles to nearby Appleton parks in which students, staff, and faculty can clean up areas that aren’t maintained as well as campus. Join us to volunteer!

Invasive Species Pull
12 – 2 p.m. | Start Location: Hiett Hall
Come help restore native ecosystems! Join the Sustainability Committee and learn how to identify and remove invasive species including Garlic Mustard and Burdock. We will start in front of Hiett Hall at noon and continue by the access road to SLUG. Afterward, there will be a drawing to win a pesto made from the Garlic Mustard harvested!