A Festivus for the Rest of … Earth
EarthFest Celebrates Sustainability on Campus
Natalie Wathen ’26, left, and Amudha Krishnan ’26 look for the queen bee in a beehive presented by UMD’s Honey Bee Lab. “Our campus just became a pollinator campus, which is a really big deal because it means we’re working toward making sure our campus is safe for pollinators,” said Kensie Olson ’22, a technician in the Honey Bee Lab.
Photos by Stephanie S. Cordle
From eco-friendly confetti, reusable bags and windowsill-ready succulents to loads of information about sustainability-oriented clubs, Friday’s EarthFest had everything a nature-loving Terp could need.
The annual event, hosted this year by the Student Government Association Sustainability Committee, UMD’s Office of Sustainability, the Department of Resident Life and the Residence Hall Association, brought out some 30 campus organizations to McKeldin Mall, encouraging attendees to learn more about thinking and living with the earth in mind.
“It’s a day to celebrate sustainability on campus and bring awareness to sustainability efforts, and earth and environmental science,” said Alana Ginsburg ’24, SGA’s director of sustainability.
Check out the gallery below to see some of the day’s activities.
Students from the Sustainable Ocean Alliance sell biodegradable confetti made out of dried flower petals. “We noticed last year during graduation season that confetti was definitely a major problem,” said Juliet Sodergreen ’24. “It was getting into streams, and it was impossible to clean up. (The biodegradeable confetti) is a more sustainable option.”
Jazlyn Lara ’25 browses the selection of free, donated clothes, which encouraged students to choose less wasteful options when it comes to getting dressed.
Students snap up the free succulents given away by the Office of Sustainability. To get one of the plants, Terps had to respond to three questions, including how they currently participate in sustainable practices and what they’d like to see from the office.
Sisters Yohana ’26, left, and Elshaddai Green ’24 decorate reusable tote bags from the SGA Sustainability Committee.
Students strolled through the tents on McKeldin Mall on Friday, the day before Earth Day.
Topics:
Schools & Departments:
Department of Resident Life Division of Student Affairs Office of Sustainability