Stetson Hosts Two Weeks of Events for Earth Week

Demonstrating a strong commitment to sustainability initiatives, Stetson University has hosted an Earth Day celebration on campus every year since the event’s inception in 1970. This year, a coalition of student organizations will host two weeks of activities to demonstrate support for environmental protection including an Earth Day Fair on Monday, April 16.

Fair activities will include live music, outdoor games, information booths and an eco-printing workshop. The event will take place from 1:30-3:30 p.m. on the lawn of Sage Science Center at 136 E. Minnesota Ave. in DeLand. The event is open to the public free of charge.

“There are many facets of our campus community that work toward the goal of improving environmental sustainability,” said senior student Sarah Coffey, Stetson University Environmental Fellow and Earth Week event organizer for the past three years. “Earth Day provides a platform to educate the community about what Stetson is doing, as well as what still needs to be done for the environment. It’s a day to share ideas and to be inspired, and I believe that inspiration leads to change.”

Sarah Coffey

There will be many opportunities for fair attendees to learn about Stetson’s sustainability initiatives and how to live a sustainable lifestyle. Stetson Beekeeping will sell honey, discuss honey bee conservation, and offer a foraging game. To teach about the importance of native pollinators, the interns of the Volusia Sandhill Ecosystem restoration will provide wildflower seeds and instructions on making origami bumblebees.

Students from a range of disciplines, including digital arts, environmental science, biology and music, also will be involved in the celebration. Stetson Organization for Native American Revitalization (SONAR) will host native games that have been preserved for hundreds of years and the Stetson Environmental Club will share ways to get involved in the community to conserve our local ecosystems. Textile artists from the Creative Arts Department will co-host, with the Gillespie Museum, an eco-printing workshop, showing how native plants and processes can be used to dye silk scarves. Students from the School of Music will perform live and many more activities will be offered.

-Heather Hunter

Stetson University Earth Week Activities Schedule
(All events are free and open to the public unless noted.)

Thursday, April 12, 7 p.m.
“Rain: A History for Stormy Times”
Lecture by Cynthia Barnett, environmental journalist
Stetson University, Marshall & Vera Lea Rinker Welcome Center, 529 N. Woodland Blvd. in DeLand

Saturday, April 14, 10 a.m.-Noon
Earth Day Beach Clean-up and Microplastics Talk
Winterhaven Park, 4589 S. Atlantic Ave., Ponce Inlet

Wednesday, April 18 (2 events)
2-4 p.m.
Wildflower Wednesday at the Volusia Sandhill Ecosystem
Gillespie Museum, 234 E. Michigan Ave. in DeLand

6-8 p.m.
Dolphin Tale Movie Showing
Sage Hall Room 213, 136 E. Minnesota Ave. in DeLand

Thursday, April 19, 2018 (3 events)
5-7 p.m.
Hatter Harvest Potluck
Rinker Environmental Learning Center, 234 E. Michigan Ave., DeLand
Tickets are $5 in advance at the Earth Day Fair, $7 per person at the door. Only cash and Venmo payments will be accepted.  For more information email [email protected] or contact Allison Terry at 417-234-6103.

5-7 p.m.
Virtually Green Opening Reception
Gillespie Museum, 234 E. Michigan Ave. in DeLand

5-6:30 p.m.
Food Recovery Network Event
Elizabeth Hall 319, 421 N. Woodland Blvd., DeLand

Saturday, April 21
10 a.m.-Noon
Earth Day Science Saturday
Gillespie Museum, 234 E. Michigan Ave., DeLand

Thursday, April 26, 7-8 p.m.
Science Café
Professor Gregor Falk: “Alexander von Humboldt: A Liberal Ecologist”
Gillespie Museum, 234 E. Michigan Ave., DeLand

Friday, April 27
Arbor Day Celebration
Rinker Environmental Learning Center, 234 E. Michigan Ave., DeLand
Volunteers are needed to plant 115 native trees around campus and understory plants in the Volusia Sandhill Teaching Landscape. Contact the Gillespie Museum to volunteer.

For more details about these programs visit www2.stetson.edu/gillespie or www.facebook.com/sustainstetson.