UMaine Office of Sustainability announces Earth Week activities

The University of Maine Office of Sustainability has announced a slate of virtual and in-person activities for Earth Week, April 18–24, offered in collaboration with a broad array of campus partners, including the Green Campus Initiative, Spire, Divest UMS, the UMaine Green Team, the Maine Bound Adventure Center, the Maine Outing Club, the Horticulture Club, the Wildlife Society, the Permaculture and Gardening Club, Fogler Library, UMaine Dining, the Bookstore, the Versant Power Astronomy Center, and the Sustainability and Environmental Action Division of Student Government.

Week-long events include a nature photo contest, a sale on reusable silicone straws at the UMaine Bookstore, and an individual “plogging” 5K that asks participants to pick up trash while jogging and record their time and the volume of trash retrieved. 

On April 19, the Office of Sustainability will share the latest edition of their newsletter. Subscribe to learn about sustainability life hacks, to catch up with student projects, discover the history of Earth Day and get informed about the campus sustainability movement.  

Other Earth Week activities include a cleanup of the Hilltop dining area, a letter writing workshop for the community to draft letters asking UMaine to divest from fossil fuels, a campus scavenger hunt, a “Leave No Trace” presentation from the Maine Outing Club, seed sowing and plant sales at the Terrell House Permaculture Living and Learning Center, trivia night, a plant ID walk through the Dwight B. DeMeritt Forest, a farm to table dinner, a carbon footprint simulation and a showing of “Dynamic Earth: Exploring Earth’s Climate Engine” at the Versant Power Astronomy Center. 

On Earth Day, April 22, Spire: The Maine Journal of Conservation and Sustainability will publish the latest issue and the UMaine Bookstore will give away free campus bags with any in-store purchase while supplies last.  

Maine Bound will host three events, including a beginner’s mountain biking course on April 18, an April 20 climbing event and an overnight canoe trip on April 24–25; find more details and register for Maine Bound events online. 

UMaine’s Earth Week activities culminate with a Clean Sweep campaign from April 25–May 7. Students are encouraged to donate unwanted items in drop boxes placed in the residence halls. Donations of non-perishable food, unopened toiletries, office supplies and gently used clothing will be given to the Black Bear Exchange for distribution to the campus community. Dining services will also provide return boxes in the dorms for cafeteria dishes and silverware. 

The full schedule of Earth Week activities is available online. To request a reasonable accommodation, contact Megan Carter, um.gci@maine.edu.