USD celebrates Earth Day with week of activities

Earth Day will be more than just 24 hours in Vermillion for the third year in a row.

This week a slew of events to spread awareness and knowledge about sustainability has been planned for “Earth Week.” USD’s sustainability program and Greening Vermillion are working with the Vermillion community for this week’s events.

“The events aren’t put on by any one entity,” sustainability program coordinator Megan Jarchow said. “We have different people and organizations putting on events, which makes it really a community feeling. It was the idea to encourage students to go to all of the events, even if they’re off campus.”

Jarchow said the scheduling was a result of networking between the community, the sustainability program and the sustainability club.

“We tried to have a variety of events and activities,” she said. “We hope that there is something for everyone to find interest in this week. They are all free and open to the public.”

The events for this week are meant to excite all ages about Earth Day, Jarchow said.

“This is the third Earth Week we have put together, and I think each year we do it it gains momentum,” said Emily Roberson, vice president of the sustainability club. “Hopefully lots of people will get involved.”

To kick the week off, Frog Watch USA held a training program Sunday from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m.

Other events of the week include the showing of “This Changes Everything,” a documentary about climate change, and Green Thursday on the Platz.

Green Thursday will be on Main and Market St. from 5 to 7 p.m. Events scheduled for Green Thursday include face painting, arts and crafts, touring a tiny house and learning how to repurpose household things from the Civic Council.

“The beauty of it is that everyone is included,” Jarchow said.

Roberson said joint activities between USD and the community are important.

“I think community-based actions are a super important part of creating sustainable communities,” she said. “Organizing events like the Trash Bash are small ways that we can make positive changes.”

The city-wide Trash Bash is open to everyone.

“The Trash Bash is a two-hour event on Thursday where anybody can come and help make Vermillion beautiful,” Roberson said. “We will be giving out trash bags and gloves and assigning streets that people can go to to look for litter.”

The Earth Day fair will take place on Friday. Various students and community members will be tabling and promoting green living, Jarchow said.

“I have been a part of the fair for the last two years, and it is always a lot of fun,” Roberson said. “I like that it gets students outside of the sustainability program interested in what is going on in the community and on campus, and I also like the energy it brings to the MUC.”