Sonoma State University is hosting several events throughout the week of April 17 for a special Earth Day celebration, including a volunteer-led sustainable renovation of a small lawn on campus to a water-friendly alternative.
Volunteers will help replace the 4,180-square foot lawn adjacent to SSU's G. Edward Rudloff pool with a water-efficient woodchip lawn using a sheet mulch procedure, saving 134,763 gallons of water per year -- equivalent to one-fourth of the water needed to fill the adjacent pool.
"This week is a great way to educate ourselves and others about the issues our environment is currently facing and most importantly, what actions we can take to preserve the amazing Earth we have for future generations to come," says Jazmine Kary, director of sustainability for student volunteer group JUMP (Join Us Making Progress), which is organizing a week of Earth Day activities on campus April 17-22. Students are encouraged to create come help remove and replace the lawn on Earth Day, April 22, 10 a.m.-1 p.m.
The week kicks off Monday, April 17 with an Earth Day Fair that brings environmental activities with prizes and local community sustainability partners to campus. Petaluma Bounty Farm and Sonoma County Spare the Air are just two of the groups scheduled to participate. Students can also take advantage of an e-waste drive, free bike maintenance and the chance to make their own smoothies powered by a stationary bicycle hooked up to a blender.
On Wednesday, April 19, Campus Rec will host a screening of the documentary "Time to Choose" in Seawolf Plaza at 7 p.m. with complementary non-GMO popcorn.
Sonoma State University's commitment to sustainability has been recognized by one of the largest international higher education sustainability nonprofit organizations in the world. The University has received a Bronze Award from the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE)'s Sustainability Tracking, Assessment and Rating System (STARS) program. SSU is one of 787 institutions around the world using the STARS tool and one of eight campuses in the 23-campus California State University system with a STARS award.
Earth Week Schedule of Events
Monday, April 17
Earth Day Fair 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Darwin Stevenson Quad: Environmental interactive tabling activities, prizes, music, e-waste drive, clothing drive, free bike maintenance, and smoothie bike! Come out and engage in four or more tabling activities AND/OR donate clothes/e-waste to win prizes like an awesome Earth Day T-shirt and a CamelBak water bottle!
Clothing Drive all week (Drop off locations: Campus Rec, Student Center, Library, & International Hall)
Tuesday, April 18
Free Outdoor Yoga, noon-1 p.m. outside the Rec Center
Campus Garden Work Party noon-2 p.m. at the Campus Garden (near the Environmental Technology Center & Cabernet Village)
Clothing Drive
Wednesday, April 19
"Time to Choose" Documentary on LoboVision 7 p.m. in Seawolf Plaza. Free Non-GMO popcorn!
Clothing Drive
Thursday, April 20
Clothing Drive
Friday, April 21
Outdoor Pursuits: Alamere Falls Hike at noon. (Sign up at the front desk of the Rec Center)
Clothing Drive
Saturday, April 22
JUMP Service Day 10 a.m.-1 p.m. SSU Lawn Transformation near lot G. Sign ups
Flowery Elementary School Garden Work Day
Spend your Earth Day volunteering at Flowery Elementary clearing garden beds in preparation for the kids to plant this summer! Snacks provided and carpooling from campus. Sign ups
Clothing Drive