Athens, Ga. – Each spring, the University of Georgia hosts UGA Earth Week to encourage sustainable living. The weeklong celebration centers on the national Earth Day holiday on April 22.
From April 22-27, the UGA Office of Sustainability, Students for Environmental Action and other campus and community organizations will host events highlighting opportunities ranging from alternative transportation and local food to water resource preservation and career insights from industry leaders.
UGA Earth Week is held in conjunction with Athens-Clarke County Green Fest, a community-wide event that provides citizens with the opportunity to increase their awareness of and interest in improving the environment of their homes, yards, businesses and communities.
April 22: Earth Day
• Tabling at Tate from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the Tate Student Center Plaza kicks off UGA Earth Week and will feature information promoting sustainability initiatives from student-focused and community organizations. The free event will include hands-on learning activities, volunteer opportunities and a visit from the goats of the Tanyard Creek Chew Crew.
• The 2013 Earth Day Lecture will be held from 7-8:30 p.m. in the State Botanical Garden’s Day Chapel. The Environmental Ethics Certificate Program, Georgia Review, State Botanical Garden of Georgia and Jane and Harry Willson Center for Humanities and Arts will host author Scott Russell Sanders, a distinguished professor emeritus of English at Indiana University who was elected to the American Academy of Arts and Sciences in 2012.
April 23: Waste and Recycling Day
• A campus waste audit will be held from 10 a.m. to noon on the Tate Student Center lawn. Audit volunteers—who will include students, faculty and staff—will sort recyclable materials and collect data that will help UGA get closer to its waste reduction goals. Spots are limited. To participate, email sustain@uga.edu. In the event of rain, the audit will be canceled.
• Recycling Happy Hour will be held from 5-7 p.m. in parking lot E01 of the UGA Intramural Fields. This drive-through electronics recycling event is sponsored by Athens-Clarke County Recycling Division, WUGA, Coca-Cola, UGA Parking Services, the Office of Sustainability and several local businesses. Bring electronics—such as TVs, computers, phones, cables—batteries, light bulbs and cooking grease to the intramural fields and receive a free beverage in return. To volunteer, email sustain@uga.edu.
• The annual No-Waste Dinner will be held from 7-9 p.m. at the Odum School of Ecology. Hosted by Real Food UGA and Students for Environmental Action, the no-waste dinner will incorporate a panel discussion of local food initiatives. Participants are asked to bring a fork, plate and cup to the fourth annual sustainable dinner.
April 24: Transportation & Food Day
• Local cycling advocacy organization BikeAthens will hold a bicycle safety training from 11 a.m. to noon on Myers Quad. Learn tips on bike safety, helmet fittings and cycling etiquette.
• UGArden SXSM (South by South Milledge) Sustainable Spring Concert will be held from 6-9 p.m. at the UGArden on South Milledge Avenue, located just past the State Botanical Garden. Admission is $2. Participating bands include the Ecotones and Barlettas, among others. The event is cosponsored by UGArden and WUOG. In case of rain, the concert will be rescheduled for April 29.
April 25: Leaders in Sustainability Day
• A UGA webinar on “Red, Black and Green: Creating a Culture of Sustainability in Your Workplace” will be held at 10 a.m. The webinar will provide participants with the basics to begin cultivating a culture of sustainability in the workplace, including information about UGA’s Sustainable Office Program, tips for “greening” events, suggestions for creating buy-in and changing behaviors and profiles of student affairs units enacting sustainability. The event is sponsored by the UGA Division of Student Affairs. For more information, and to register by April 18 at 5 p.m., see http://studentaffairs.uga.edu/student-affairs-webinar-series/.
• The Georgia Leaders in Sustainability Career Panel will be held from 3:30-5 p.m. in the Larry Walker Room of the Dean Rusk Center. The career-oriented panel will feature the Georgia-based industry Leaders in Sustainability with speakers from Novelis, Ignition, Intercontinental Hotels Group and Southface. The event is cosponsored by the Office of Sustainability, the Terry College Net Impact student organization and School of Law Environmental Law Association.
• UOWN Terrapin Night will be held from 5:30-7:30 p.m. at Terrapin Brewery, 265 Newton Bridge Road, in support the Upper Oconee Watershed Network. The event will include live music, a food cart and information on organizations working to increase sustainability within the Athens community.
April 26: Water Day
• The Middle Oconee River Kayaking and Cleanup will be held from 2-5 p.m. at Big Dogs on the River, 2525 Atlanta Highway. Participants will join Big Dogs on the River, UOWN, Keep Athens Clarke County Beautiful, UGA Outdoor Recreation and the Office of Sustainability to paddle and clean up the riverbanks of the Middle Oconee River. Live music and local food will be served after the event. No paddling experience is required for the cleanup.
April 27: Local Food Day
• A Campus Kitchen Greens Cook-Off will be held from 10 a.m. to noon at the Athens Farmers Market, 705 Sunset Dr., and is a collaborative event with EarthFare, UGA’s Campus Kitchen and the Athens Farmers Market. Contestants must have their dishes turned in at the farmers market by 9:30 a.m. Judging is open to the public through purchase of a ticket. For more information, contact Nathalie Celestin at celestin@uga.edu.
For more information about UGA Earth Week 2013 activities and volunteer opportunities, see http://sustainability.uga.edu/earthweek. For more information on events and activities during the Athens-Clarke County Green Fest, see http://athensgreenfest.com/About_GreenFest.php.
