Events

Earth Month

"Walk the Walk" Earth Month logo depticting a globe with a shoe and the Western Carolina University logo

Earth Month, dedicated to Earth Day on April 22nd, is a FUN-filled month with various environmental and sustainability related activities and events for students on campus.

This month is devoted to those wanting to demonstrate their dedication to creating a healthy and sustainable world. Celebrate our bountiful planet with WCU!

Join this year's Earth Month Celebration, as we promote sustainability and give thanks to our planet.

Wednesday, April 10th

12:00pm-12:45pm
&
5:00pm-5:45pm

Location: Meet in front of Stillwell

WCU Heritage Tree Walk
Join us on a 45-minute walk around campus, led by WCU Arborist Mr. Andrew Thigpen, to celebrate Arbor Day! During the tour, he will identify and discuss our heritage (older) native trees. Please wear comfortable shoes and bring water.

Wednesday, April 10th

5:30pm

Location: WCU Soalr Hammock Lounge

Hammock Lounge Hangout
Join Eco CATS for a relaxing hammock hangout at the WCU Solar Hammock Lounge. Bring your own hammock or rent a hammock from WCU Base Camp Cullowhee.

Friday, April 12th

1:00pm-4:00pm

Location: Jackson Co. Greenway

Community Day of Service: Invasive Plant Removal Jackson County Greenway

Join CCESL and Mountain True for this community event. Volunteers will help remove invasive plants by pulling up roots and using hand tools to remove invasive shrubs like Chinese privet and then treating the stumps. The volunteers will be guided on how to identify the invasive plants as well as the proper way to remove them.We recommend volunteers come wearing warm layers and closed toed shoes.

Thursday, April 18th

6:30pm Doors Open

Location: Hinds UC Theater

Wild & Scenic Film Fesitval
The Wild & Scenic Film Festival features films from several regions of the world, highlighting outdoor adventure and environmental activism. This event will feature a 2-hour program of film selections curated by WCU faculty & staff to entertain and inspire. It is being held in conjunction with the 40th Annual Tuck River Cleanup as we celebrate 4 decades of cleaning up our local watershed! We hope that these incredible films inspire you to join us on Saturday, April 20th as we continue this important work! Sponsored by Base Camp Cullowhee.
Ticket Sales end Wednesday, April 17th at Noon. Puchase yours today!

Friday, April 19th

2:30pm-3:30pm

Location: Hinds UC Catamount Room

Our Air: Campus & Community initiatives on air quality – Dr. Sara Duncan, Assistant Professor, Environmental Health

Join Dr. Duncan to learn about her important research on air quality at WCU. She will discuss her Whee Breathe real-time air quality stations around campus and what it all means incuding the purple air network. Sponsored by Enivironmental Health and Sustainable Campus Inititiative.

Saturday, April 20th

9:00am-4pm

Location: Hinds UC Lawn

40^th Annual Tuck River Clean-up

Join Base Camp Cullowhee and come help clean up one of Jackson County’s largest natural resources! The Tuck River Cleanup is one of the nation's largest single-day river cleanups. Hundreds of volunteers unite to clean 15 miles of the Tuckasegee river from Cullowhee to Whittier, NC. Registration will take place on the UC Lawn by the Alumni Tower at WCU. To raft the river, one must register the day of the event. Registration will take place from 9:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. Due to available gear, registration will be limited to about 500 volunteers.

Tuesday, April 23rd

12:30pm-4pm

Location: Hinds US Lawn

ART FOR EARTH Paint Party

Join Dr. Georgia Ennis, Assitant Professor and muralist/MFA student Mia Loia to help us paint a mural celebrating Cherokee environmental knowledge & learn about Cherokee history. Sponsored by Department of Anthropology & Sociology, School of Art & Design, Sustainable Campus Initiative

Wednesday, April 24th

3pm-4:30pm

Location: Pinnacle Park (transportation provided from WCU)

Shinrin Yoku: Japanese Forest Bathing

Celebrate our earth, immerse yourself in nature, and let your stress melt away with Shinrin-Yoku, the ancient Japanese art of Forest Bathing. Studies show that a focused session in nature lowers blood pressure, anxiety, and stress, boosts the immune system, and increases mental clarity. Join us in practicing Shinrin Yoku and appreciating our planet in the pristine natural beauty of North Carolina’s only Certified Nature Forest Therapy Trail at Pinnacle Park in Sylva. Transportation is provided. Please RSVP .

Thursday, April 25th

2pm-5pm

Location: Hinds UC Lawn

ART FOR EARTH Printing Party

Come make screen print designs that celebrate our campus’s environmental history with campus experts in anthropoloy and print making. Pick up a free canvas tote or bring your own item to upcycle with local art! Lots of free giveaways! Sponsored by Department of Anthropology & Sociology, School of Art & Design, Sustainable Campus Initiative.

Thursday, April 25th

5:30pm-6:30pm

Location: Killian Courtyard

TWO SPARROWS TOWN Teach Out

Our campus is at the heart of the spiritual and cultural homeland of the region's largest Native American population, the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians. Join us for exhibition of student research and art about the environmental relationships of Cherokee & Appalachian communities in the past, present, & future. Learn from experts in the Department of Anthropology & Sociology, Cherokee Studies, Campus Theme: Community and Belongingness, Sustainable Campus Initiative

RecycleMania

RecycleMania is a friendly competition and benchmarking tool for college and university recycling programs to promote waste reduction activities to their campus communities. Over a 10-week period, campuses compete in different contests to see which institution can collect the largest amount of recyclables per capita, the largest amount of total recyclables, the least amount of trash per capita, or have the highest recycling rate.

America Recycles Day

America Recycles Day is celebrated every year on November 15th. This day is full of events promoting recycling and more awareness of the things we can recycle.

Tailgate Recycling

Tailgate recycling occurs with help from EcoCATS every home football game. We meet 3 and 1/2 hours before each game and help pick up recyclables from the tailgate. These events can be used as community service hours through the Office of Service Learning.

SLIDESHOW

Events