Earth Month activities will help make the campus greener

A tree planting, the spring Campus Cleanup and an Earth Day Festival are just some of the activities planned by UNC Charlotte’s Sustainability Office to encourage the University community be become more aware of and involved in environmental issues.

On Wednesday, April 5, which is Tree Campus USA Day, there will be a ceremonial tree planting near the main entrance at 10:30 a.m. Then, volunteers can assist with the planting of trees near Laurel Hall, starting at 11 a.m. A representative from TreesCharlotte will deliver a presentation on urban forestation in the Popp Martin Student Union, starting at 12:30 p.m. Later that afternoon, at 2 p.m., the UNC Charlotte Botanical Gardens will host the tour “In the Company of Trees,” starting at the McMillan Greenhouse.

This semester’s Campus Cleanup is set for 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Wednesday, April 12. Students, faculty and staff can meet at two stations (Belk Plaza and the Motorsports Lab) to pick up “litter cleanup” supplies. Chancellor Philip L. Dubois has authorized 90 minutes of release time for employees to participate in the cleanup and tree planting. Pre-register to participate via email to Shannon Caveny-Cox (sccaveny@uncc.edu) or volunteer on the day of the events (with supervisor approval).

The Earth Day Festival and Blood Drive will be Wednesday, April 19. The festival, scheduled for 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., at the Belk Plaza, will feature representatives from more than 30 organizations who can provide information on environmental issues in the community and how to become involved. The American Red Cross will be in Atkins, Room 146; individuals can pre-register and make an appointment to donate blood through this link.

Faculty, staff and students will have the opportunity to provide input on the University’s Sustainability Plan by attending one or more of these scheduled workshops:

• Consuming Materials, Water and Energy – April 18
• Transporting People and Goods – April 19
• Engaging Teaching, Learning and Scholarship – April 26
• Producing Waste and Pollution – April 27

All workshops will be from 3 to 6 p.m. in the Popp Martin Student Union, except for the April 26 offering, which will be in the Cone University Center, Room 113.

For more information on any of the Earth Month activities, email Tyler Sytsma, University sustainability coordinator, at tsytsma@uncc.edu.