(schedule will be updated as events are finalized)
Ongoing All Week:
Nature Photo Contest— GCI is hosting our annual Earth Week nature photo contest! To participate, just go out and take pics of nature and either tag us on social media (#GCIPhotoContest) or email us. We will randomly choose a grand prize winner, and 2nd & 3rd place winners. Location: Online and IN NATURE!
Plogging 5k— Sponsored by Green Team, SEAD, and Divest UMS. A combination of jogging and plocka upp, Swedish for “to pick up,” plogging entails jogging and quickly stopping to pick up trash while you go. Click here to download the flyer. A Google form is available for anyone to submit their 5k times and volume of trash that they’ve picked up. Location: Virtual
Human Dimensions of Climate Change Film Series— Sponsored by Fogler Library. If you missed our Human Dimensions of Climate Change film series, you can still participate! Watch the films, and listen to a podcast, here. Our seventh annual film series includes media that highlight the ways that multiple stakeholders have either faced, and/or tried to address, climate impacts, and what the implications are for future generations. Location: Online
JSTOR Sustainability Database— Sponsored by Fogler Library. Discover a wide range of journals, ebooks, and more than 5,400 Open Access research reports in the field of sustainability. The subjects of resilience and sustainability are explored broadly, covering research on environmental stresses and their impact on society. Resources are part of a trial database subscription running through June. Location: Online
Hot Topics: Plastics and the Environment— Sponsored by Fogler Library. Published by the Fogler Library Reference and Information Literacy Department, Hot Topics: Plastics and the Environment contains introductory readings, statistics, and other resources to help anyone researching the effect plastics have on the environment. Location: Online
UMaine Bookstore Sale— Sponsored by UMaine Bookstore. Do you hate using disposible straws? Then come down to the UMaine Bookstore during Earth Week and invest in a pack of silicone straws! Normally $14.99 but to celebrate Earth Week the UMaine Bookstore has them on sale for $9.99! While supplies last. Location: UMaine Bookstore
Daily Events:
Sunday, April 18th, 2:00 PM: Trash Clean Up — Sponsored by Divest UMS, Green Team, and the Wildlife Society. Meet at Stewart Quad where we will provide trash bags and gloves. We will work our way around the Hilltop outdoor dining area then progress to the Hilltop parking area. Location: Stewart Quad
Sunday, April 18th, 1:00 – 4:00 PM: Beginner Mountain Biking — Sponsored by Maine Bound. Come and improve your mountain biking skills on UMaine’s awesome DeMeritt Forest Trail System. Please register for trips and clinics 48 hours prior to the scheduled date and time. You will receive an email with more information, meeting locations, packing lists, etc. Schedule, including dates and locations, may change. Please be sure to review Maine Bound’s Program/Trip Policies prior to registration. Location: Check Maine Bound email
Monday, April 19th, 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM: Plant Sale — Sponsored by Permaculture & Gardening Club. Plant sale at the Terrell House! Mostly potted houseplants, some veggie or flower seedlings. Proceeds to the PGC. Location: 491a College Ave
Monday, April 19th, Noon – 2:00 PM: Sowing Seeds — Sponsored by Permaculture & Gardening Club. We will sow garden beds outdoors, and start seeds for indoor growing and later transplanting. Attendees will be welcome to take seeds started for indoor growing, or leave them here for later transplant into the garden! Location: 491a College Ave
Tuesday, April 20th, 4:00 PM: Letter Writing Workshop — Sponsored by Divest UMS. Come learn how to write a letter in support of your cause! We will have a basic template for people to reference and then we will discuss appropriate language and what we are campaigning for. We will also be drafting letters to send to university officials requesting full divestment from fossil fuels. Location: 137 Bennett Hall
Tuesday, April 20th, 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM: Plant Sale — Sponsored by Permaculture & Gardening Club. Plant sale at the Terrell House! Mostly potted houseplants, some veggie or flower seedlings. Proceeds to the PGC. Location: 491a College Ave
Tuesday, April 20th, 6:00 – 9:00 PM: Lead Climbing Clinic — Sponsored by Maine Bound. Learn the basics of lead climbing and belaying in the gym. This class is required for lead climbing in the gym. Please register for trips and clinics 48 hours prior to the scheduled date and time. You will receive an email with more information, meeting locations, packing lists, etc. Schedule, including dates and locations, may change. Please be sure to review Maine Bound’s Program/Trip Policies prior to registration. Location: Check Maine Bound email
Wednesday, April 21st, All Day: Scavenger Hunt — Sponsored by GCI. Earth Week scavenger hunt. Keep an eye out for a GCI sticker hidden somewhere on campus. If you find it, tag us on social media or send us a message to set up a time to collect your free prize! Location: On Campus
Wednesday, April 21st, 11:30 AM – 5:00 PM: BBE Scheduled Pickups — Sponsored by Black Bear Exchange. The Black Bear Exchange is our on-campus food pantry, open to students and their immediate families as well as staff and faculty. If you would like to get food from the BBE, visit the website to learn how! Special Earth Day treats will be included with orders this week! Location: Order Online & Pickup at 55 York Village
Wednesday, April 21st, 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM: Plant Sale — Sponsored by Permaculture & Gardening Club. Plant sale at the Terrell House! Mostly potted houseplants, some veggie or flower seedlings. Proceeds to the PGC. Location: 491a College Ave
Wednesday, April 21st, 7:00 PM: Leave No Trace Presentation — Sponsored by Maine Outing Club. MOC Officers will give a presentation on Leave no Trace principles that will cover the 7 principles and teach students about the best way to recreate responsibly. The presentation will be offered in-person and via Zoom: find the zoom link in their Instagram Bio (@MaineOutingClub). Location: Online and in-person at 100 Nutting
Wednesday, April 21st, 6:00 PM: Succulent Propagation Workshop — Sponsored by Horticulture Club. The Horticulture Club will be hosting a propagation workshop where participants will learn about different growing techniques, while working with different plant species. At the end, you can take home your very own succulent! Sign up for a time slot here. Location: Roger Clapp Greenhouse Classroom
Wednesday, April 21st, 5:30 PM: Trivia Night — Sponsored by Divest UMS and SEAD. Trivia related to climate change and fossil fuel divestment. Location: 101 Neville Hall
Earth Day!
Thursday, April 22nd: Spire Issue #5 — Spire: The Maine Journal of Conservation and Sustainability is publishing is largest issue ever! Spire issue #5 contains a variety of submissions, including art, poetry, photography, research, and personal stories. Access the latest issue and back-issues by clicking here. Location: Online
Thursday, April 22nd, 4:30 – 8:00 PM: Farm to Table Dinner — Sponsored by University of Maine Dining. UMaine Dining will be featuring a farm to table menu on Earth Day to celebrate all of their local food purchases. Location: Hilltop and York Dining Halls
Thursday, April 22nd, 11:00 AM – 2:00 PM: Community Art Project — Sponsored by Green Team and Divest UMS. This project will provide little fabric squares for anyone to decorate in any way they please. Squares will be sewn or strung together for display on campus. Location: Table on the Mall
Thursday, April 22nd, 11:00 AM – 2:00 PM: Carbon Footprint Simulation — Sponsored by SEAD. Come and visualize your carbon footprint. How often do you drive back and forth to campus? How often do you eat red meat? How long are your showers? Figure out your carbon footprint and compare it to the average American. Location: Table on the Mall
This Event Has Been Rescheduled: New Date is Wednesday, April 28th, Noon: Plant ID Walk — Sponsored by Permaculture & Gardening Club. Join the Permaculture and Gardening Club for a Plant ID Walk starting at Androscoggin Hall on campus. Plan to walk the DeMerritt Forest trails, and bring footwear that can take some mud! Location: Meet in front of Androscoggin Hall
Thursday, April 22nd, All Day: Bookstore Giveaway — Sponsored by UMaine Bookstore. Come to the UMaine Bookstore to celebrate Earth Day with a free campus bag, in-store with any purchase! While supplies last. Location: UMaine Bookstore
More Events:
Friday, April 23rd, Noon: Contemplative Nature Walk — For the next three Fridays — April 23, April 30, May 7, weather permitting — assistant professor of philosophy Don Beith is again leading contemplative nature walks on the University Forest trails. Participants gather at the trailhead near the New Balance Student Recreation Center at noon and return by approximately 1 p.m. Social distancing and face covering guidelines are in effect. For more information, contact donald.beith@maine.edu Location: trailhead near the New Balance Student Recreation Center
Friday, April 23rd, 7:00 PM: Dynamic Earth Movie Showing — Sponsored by Versant Power Astronomy Center. Explore the inner workings of Earth’s climate system with visualizations based on satellite monitoring data and advanced supercomputer simulations. Limited seats available, so sign up now! Tickets required. $5 for UMaine Students. Location: Versant Power Astronomy Center
Friday, April 23rd: Food Recovery — Sponsored by UMaine Dining, GCI, and Black Bear Exchange. Every week our UMaine department of Auxiliary Services and the BBE collaborate to collect any food from our dining halls that would otherwise go to waste. Volunteers then pack that food so it can be offered through the BBE on-campus food pantry. This is a great opportunity to volunteer. Look for opportunities to sign up next fall when you return! Location: On Campus
Saturday, April 24th, 9:00 AM – Noon: BBE Scheduled Pickups — Sponsored by Black Bear Exchange. The Black Bear Exchange is our on-campus food pantry, open to students and their immediate families as well as staff and faculty. If you would like to get food from the BBE, visit the website to learn how! Special Earth Day treats will be included with orders this week! Location: Order Online & Pickup at 55 York Village
Saturday, April 24th – Sunday, April 25th, Overnight: Overnight Canoe Trip — Sponsored by Maine Bound. Come for an overnight canoe trip with Maine Bound! We will leave from campus, paddle upstream, and camp along the riverside, teaching you all the skills you need along the way! Please register for trips and clinics 48 hours prior to the scheduled date and time. You will receive an email with more information, meeting locations, packing lists, etc. Schedule, including dates and locations, may change. Please be sure to review Maine Bound’s Program/Trip Policies prior to registration. Location: Check Maine Bound email
Sunday, April 25th: Office of Sustainability Newsletter — Read about COVID Trash, Food Waste, and the Old Town Paper Mill. Sign up to have the Office of Sustainability Newsletter delivered directly into your inbox, or access the latest issue and back-issues by clicking here. Location: Online
Sunday, April 25th – Friday, May 7th: Clean Sweep — Sponsored by GCI. As the end of the semester nears, please note that there will be Clean Sweep donation collection boxes in the lobby of each residence hall for any items you don’t take with you. Donations will be collected and distributed to the Black Bear Exchange, our on-campus food pantry and clothing swap. We will be collecting items like unopened toiletries and non-perishable food items, school/office supplies and clothing. There will also be a box for any other donations you may have, as well as one to collect any dishes and flatware from UMaine Dining that you may have accumulated over the semester. If you have any questions, please contact um.gci@maine.edu Location: Lobby of Each Residence Hall
Tuesday, April 27th, 3:30 PM: Rezendes Ethics Lecture — Sponsored by The Honors College and Native American Programs. Rezendes Ethics Lecture: “Tribal Sovereignty, Social Justice, and Building Equity from a Maine Tribal Perspective” by Maulian Dana ’06. The Honors College will host the upcoming John M. Rezendes Visiting Scholar in Ethics, Penobscot Nation Tribal Ambassador Maulian Dana. The event will feature Ambassador Dana’s talk on tribal sovereignty and social justice and a recognition of the winner and finalists of the 2020-2021 Rezendes Ethics Essay Competition. For more information and the Zoom link, click here. Location: Online
