Environmentally focused students are leading Earth Week events at Kalamazoo College this year.
Events will begin at 4 p.m. Friday, April 19, when K student organizations, the Environmental Stewardship Center and climate-action groups from around the city will gather for a climate rally at Bronson Park. Hear from sustainability-focused speakers and network with local environmentalists. The event is organized by Western Michigan University’s Climate Change Working Group and the ARDEA Youth Climate Coalition. K students interested in attending can gather in Red Square at 3:30 p.m. to walk to Bronson Park as a group.
Also Friday, Camran Stack ’24 and the student composting crew will host the K community at The Grove, between the Living Learning Houses and the Arcus Center for Social Justice Leadership, for some cathartic composting in Rot Your Troubles at 6 p.m. Write down your fears, troubles and pet peeves on compostable materials, and transform them into healthy and abundant soil that supports plant life.
Then, join the student Bike Co-Op for a ride along the Kalamazoo River Valley Trail beginning at 4:10 p.m. Monday, April 22. Ten bikes are available through Outdoor Programs for student use on a first-come, first-served basis. The ride will depart from the Dewaters Hall parking lot. Or, if you want to enjoy nature a bit closer to campus, join Jessalyn Vrieland ’24 and the other Hoop House Interns from 4:30–6 p.m. for some gardening with food crops. By the way, watch for more information on a Hoop House After Dusk on Friday, April 26, in collaboration with the Kalamazoo College Council of Student Representatives (KCCSR). Dress up in earth tones, enjoy some snacks and have fun with crafts.
Finally, the annual Senior Integrated Project (SIP) Symposium focused on sustainability will kick off with a keynote address at 7 p.m. Tuesday, April 23, in Dewing Hall, Room 103. Ashley Cole-Wick of the Michigan Natural Features Inventory will discuss her work to protect species of butterflies. Students then will present their SIPs in environmental studies, critical ethnic studies, biology and more at 7 p.m. Wednesday, April 24, in the Hicks Student Center Banquet Room.
“Sustainability is about making a dedication to and caring for this Earth that has existed since before we were here,” Vrieland said. “It’s important to remember that what we do impacts the environment. It’s something that we should make space for and exist alongside rather than over.”
For more information on Earth Week and other environmental efforts at the College, visit the Sustainability at K website.