Earth Month 2022

The Office of Sustainability is hosting its annual Earth Month celebration from mid-March to late April. Join us and our campus partners in highlighting the roots of education for sustainability, historical and inspirational educators, and  sustainability-focused engagement while enjoying fun experiences and a renewed sense of community along the way. See the full calendar of events below and check back for new additions. We can’t wait for you to join us!

Follow the Office of Sustainability on its social media platforms (@SustainableWFU) to stay up to date on all events.

	Tree Tags Keep an eye out for yellow tags hanging on trees around campus that explain the value of ecosystem services that trees provide, the positive benefits of trees in our landscape, and sentiments from authors about the inestimable value of our beloved trees. Learn why we’re so proud to be recognized as a Tree Campus USA and be guided through nature-focused mindfulness practices through a self-guided scavenger hunt, which will be available on social media (@SustainableWFU).
	Campus Garden Volunteer Hours Sundays, March 13 – April 24 from 5 – 7 PM | Weekdays, March 14 –  April 29 from 5 – 6 PM WFU Campus Garden (1141 Polo Road)Come enjoy a hands-on experience in the Campus Garden. Practice the fundamentals of gardening, lead your peers in productive work that helps alleviate hunger, and learn about the connections between regenerative agriculture and climate change. There are opportunities for every experience level! Click here to learn more, including how to sign up.
	Forsyth Creek Week Saturday, March 19 – Sunday, March 27 Hosted by Forsyth Creek WeekWater is a vital and finite resource for all living creatures, including all of us in Forsyth County. Creek Week helps us “connect the dots” between quality of life and the health of creeks and streams, not only as a water source, but as a source of recreation and aesthetic pleasure. This year’s Creek Week offers a mix of virtual and limited attendance, socially distanced events that allow residents to appreciate, enjoy, and protect our creeks and streams. Learn more here.
	Hammock Haven Kickoff Event Sunday, March 20 1 – 4 PM | Trees next to Winston HallHosted by the Sustainability Leadership GroupDo you feel stressed? Do you want to go outside but can’t dedicate too much time out of your day? Do you want an awesome place to relax with other Deacs? Well then, check out Hammock Haven, brought to you by the Sustainability Leadership Group Class of 2025! With an assortment of colorful and cozy camping hammocks to choose from (or bring your own!), all you have to do is come find us by the trees next to Winston Hall (The Biology Building) with the intent to chill! Whether it’s to study with your feet up, catch a quick nap, or enjoy the community of fellow Deacs coexisting in nature, Hammock Haven is the cool new place to hang outside. Our first official Hammock Haven Hours is March 20th from 1-4 pm, the first Sunday after Spring Break, so come and join us! We have around 14 prime hammock spots (unless you have the keen eye to find more), so space is limited. Register here.
	SIGNATURE EVENT: Spring Equinox Celebration Sunday, March 20 4 – 6 PM | WFU Campus Garden (1141 Polo Road)The Spring Equinox Celebration is a festive gathering of people, plants, and animals hosted at the Campus Garden on Polo Road. All are invited to  welcome the transition to spring with a spreading of wildflower seeds, mural painting on the garden shed, s’mores roast, plant-forward recipe sampling, and interactive learning with chickens, chicks and bees. Participants will have the opportunity to learn about reducing food waste with Campus Kitchen and visit a ZSR Library mobile Free Little Library to take home an environmentally-themed read.
	ESG Finalist Week at WakeMonday, March 28 – Friday, April 1 Farrell HallHosted by the School of BusinessESG week provides an opportunity to explore and engage in bold and creative thinking about how the university embraces ESG principles. Interested students will be able to participate in a pitch competition in early March with selected finalists presenting during ESG Week. Click here to learn more, including prizes and how to submit your pitch.
	Brit Hensel Short Film Festival @ the Campus Garden Friday, April 1 7:30 PM | WFU Campus Garden (1141 Polo Road)Hosted by the Intercultural Center and the Office of SustainabilityCome join us for a movie under the stars! We’ll be screening a series of short films by Brit Hensel.Brit Hensel is an Oklahoma based writer and award-winning filmmaker whose work focuses on Indigenous storytelling and environmental justice. A citizen of Cherokee Nation, she was recently awarded the 4th World Indigenous Media Fellowship and is a 2022 Tulsa Artist Fellow.  Brit recently worked on the first season of the FX series, Reservation Dogs. Her short film, ᎤᏕᏲᏅ (What They’ve Been Taught) was an official selection at the Sundance Film Festival in 2022. ᎤᏕᏲᏅ (What They’ve Been Taught) is also a part of the Reciprocity Project by Nia Tero at Upstander Project.Brit’s work largely explores traditional Cherokee values, language, and her peoples’ connection to land in Oklahoma (former Indian Territory) and in her ancestral homelands of North Carolina (Qualla Boundary). Brit continues to use her love for storytelling to help amplify the voices and values of her community. Most importantly, she hopes her work honors and makes Cherokee people proud.
	Clothing Exchange: Monday, April 4 at 10 AM – Friday, April 8 at 4 PM Magnolia 104, Student LoungeHosted by the Office of SustainabilityJoin us for this semesters sustainable consumption campus wide clothing exchange. Students can pick out as many new items as they donate. Register here.Clothing Collection: March 14th-31stNorth campus collection event: March 16th, 11:00am – 1:00pmSouth campus collection event: March 22nd, 2:30pm – 4:30 pm
	Chef Dissen Takeover @ The Pit Tuesday, April 5 9 AM – A PM | The PitHosted by Harvest TableChef William Dissen, named “Most sustainable chef in the world” by Celebrity Chef Gordon Ramsay,  is coming to visit Wake Forest University for a complete grill station takeover in the Pit! Awarded “Green Chef of the Year” two years in a row by FORTUNE Magazine, Chef Dissen currently owns three high-end farm-to-table restaurant concepts: The Market Place in Asheville, N.C., Billy D’s Fried Chicken at The North Carolina Zoo, and Haymaker in uptown Charlotte, N.C. In 2021, Chef Dissen faced off and beat Celebrity Chef Gordon Ramsay on National Geographic. Stop by the Pit next week to get a taste of Chef Dissen’s famous Billy D’s Chicken Sandwich and all the fix’ns! Learn more.
	Environmental Work in the Caribbean Webinar Series Wednesday, April 6 | 11 – 11:50 AMHosted by the Department of CommunicationJoin us for Zoom conversations with practitioners from St. Vincent & the Grenadines as well as Antigua and Barbuda. These conversations are organized as part of a narrative collection project for the First Year Seminar called ‘Greta Thunbergs Everywhere: Caribbean and Pacific Island Youth In Environmental Communication.’Conversation with Dr. Andrew Simmons, author of the 2021 book ‘Impacts of Climate Change on Young People in Small Island Communities.’ Dr. Simmons is an environmental activist and founder of the Caribbean Youth Environment Network (cyen.org). He has been an environmental activist and practitioner for four decades. Register here.
	Cracked Earth, Cracked Community: Decolonizing Relationships to Land Enhance Wellbeing Wednesday, April 6 1 – 2:30 PM | WebinarHosted by the Office of Wellbeing and the Wellbeing CollectiveAs part of the Advancing Wellbeing Equity Webinar Series, speaker Savannah Baber will lead participants in an exploration of how indigenous land acknowledgements can serve as the foundation of a wellbeing practice grounded in reconciliatory community building, pre/decolonial relationships to land, and indigenous knowledge. Participants will learn how to cultivate a sense of wellbeing based on interdependence with other people and nature. Register here.
	SIGNATURE EVENT: Earth Talks Thursday, April 7 6 – 8 PM | Pugh Auditorium, Benson University CenterHear from your fellow Deacs as they share their knowledge, research, experiences, and passions on a variety of sustainability topics. Each brief session will be student-led and presented in the style of a TED Talk, with opportunities for Q&A and interaction to follow. Refreshments will be provided. Register here.
	Wayward Funkadelic Fashion ShowFriday, April 8 5 – 8 PM | Southeastern Center for Contemporary Arts (SECCA)Hosted by Wayward FashionWayward Fashion is proud to announce their second annual, fully sustainable, 70’s themed fashion show in collaboration with vendors from both Wake Forest University and local second-hand partners. In addition to a night of groovy looks, there will also be live performance from Wake Forest groups and an art market with local goods and clothing. Learn more here.
	Campus Garden Movie: Interstellar Friday, April 8 8 PM | WFU Campus Garden (1141 Polo Road)Hosted by Student Union and the Office of SustainabilityCome join us for a movie under the stars! We’ll be screening the 2014 epic science fiction film Interstellar. Interstellar chronicles the adventures of a group of explorers who make use of a newly discovered wormhole to surpass the limitations on human space travel and conquer the vast distances involved in an interstellar voyage. Register here.
	SIGNATURE EVENT: Earth Month Banner Painting Tuesday, April 12 11 AM – 7 PM | Manchester Plaza (Lower Quad)Hosted by the Office of Sustainability, Intercultural Center, Women’s Center and the LGBTQ+ CenterGrab some friends or colleagues and create a banner design inspired by women who have shaped  global environmental movements. Student organizations, offices, and departments are encouraged to register as teams. All materials will be provided and completed banners will be displayed on Hearn Plaza during April. Register here.
	Greeks Go Green Fair Tuesday, April 12 5:30 – 7:30 PM | Manchester Plaza (Lower Quad)Hosted by the Office of Sustainability and SAFCelebrate Earth Month with free food, banner painting, conversations about sustainability & fun at our first Greeks Go Green Fair! All students are welcome to attend, regardless of their Greek affiliation. The first 150 attendees will get free hot dog combo meals from local NC food truck, Mike’s Vegan Cookout!
	Susty Tuesday Trivia Tuesday, April 12 7 – 8 PM | Shorty’s Hosted by Student Union and the Office of SustainabilityJoin Student Union for their weekly Tuesday Trivia where your knowledge of various subjects is tested each week! In honor of Earth Month, this Tuesday Trivia will be focused on sustainability. Students can compete in teams and also grab a meal at Shorty’s while they play. A prize of a $50 giftcard will be given to the winner(s) so make sure to come out and compete! Register here.
	Provide & Thrive: Garden Boot Camp Wednesday, April 13 5 PM | Campus Garden (1141 Polo Road) Hosted by Athena’s Lifting Club, the Office of Sustainability, the Office of Wellbeing, and the Intercultural CenterCome out to the Campus Garden and experience the health benefits of the outdoors through a gardening-themed entry level workout class led by Athena’s, Wake Forest’s women’s lifting club. Run an obstacle course style workout class consisting of garden task related stations and win prizes like water bottles and t shirts! Refreshments will be provided.
	Great Decisions 2022 – Global Climate Policy: The Despair and the Hope Thursday, April 14 7 PM | Scales Fine Arts Center Room A-102Hosted by the Department of Politics and International AffairsGreat Decisions 2022 is an informative weekly forum open free to the public. The discussion of each Great Decisions topic is led by an expert in the relevant field. The Great Decisions Series is a national foreign policy education program sponsored by the non-partisan Foreign Policy Association. This  forum will be led by Justin Catanoso, WFU Department of Journalism.Writing for Mongabay, a leading international environmental news organization, Catanoso has covered the last seven United Nations climate summits, including the most consequential meetings in Paris (2015) and Glasgow (2021). He was previously editor of the Triad Business Journal and was on WFDD-FM giving local business reports for 15 years. He has been on the journalism faculty at Wake Forest since 1993. Learn more.
	Environmental Work in the Caribbean Webinar Series Monday, April 18 | 11 – 11:50 AM (with a follow-up conversation about partnership opportunities at 12 PM)Hosted by the Department of CommunicationJoin us for Zoom conversations with practitioners from St. Vincent & the Grenadines as well as Antigua and Barbuda. These conversations are organized as part of a narrative collection project for the First Year Seminar called ‘Greta Thunbergs Everywhere: Caribbean and Pacific Island Youth In Environmental Communication.’Conversation with Arica Hill, Executive Director of the Environmental Awareness Group of Antigua & Barbuda (@EAGAntigua). This organization, founded in 1988, promotes sustainability in the twin-island nation including the management of invasive species. Register here.
	Rooted: Poetry, Ecology & Mindfulness Tuesday, April 19 6:30 PM | Tohi Garden/WFU Campus Garden (1141 Polo Road) Hosted by the Office of Wellbeing and the Office of SustainabilityJoin the Office of Wellbeing and the Office of Sustainability as we inaugurate the Rooted sit spots on campus designed by Anna McRay (UF ‘22). We will meet in the Tohi Garden behind Angelou Hall at 6:30pm for a brief introduction to the spots, an overview of the available resources, and an opportunity to participate in a few poetry and mindfulness activities. For participants who have never been to the Tohi Garden, we will meet in front of Angelou Hall at 6:25 PM and walk over to the garden together. We will then walk as a group over to the Campus Garden on Polo Rd to check out the location of the other sit spot as well as the newly installed mural on the garden shed. Stay around for a brief but fun found poetry workshop (supplies provided), delicious s’mores and a chance to watch the sunset! Register here.
	Environmental Work in the Caribbean Webinar Series Wednesday, April 20 | 11 – 11:50 AM (with a follow-up conversation about partnership opportunities at 12 PM)Hosted by the Department of CommunicationJoin us for Zoom conversations with practitioners from St. Vincent & the Grenadines as well as Antigua and Barbuda. These conversations are organized as part of a narrative collection project for the First Year Seminar called ‘Greta Thunbergs Everywhere: Caribbean and Pacific Island Youth In Environmental Communication.’Conversation with Katrina Collins-Coy, founding president of Union Island Environmental Alliance of St. Vincent & the Grenadines (https://environmentalattackers.org/). More commonly known at the Union Island Environmental Attackers (UIEA), this organization, founded in 1999, continues to build climate resilience on the 3 mile x 1 mile Grenadine island of Union–population 3000. Register here.
	SIGNATURE EVENT: 9th Annual Champions of Change Campus Sustainability Awards Friday, April 22 11 AM – 12 PM | Green Room, Reynolda HallJoin us in recognizing the work of those who have enhanced the culture of sustainability at Wake Forest at the eighth annual Champions of Change: Campus Sustainability Awards ceremony. Students, faculty, and staff will be recognized in a variety of categories, including Resource Conservation, Academics and Engagement, Service and Social Action, Bright Ideas, and more. Due to gathering size restrictions, this year’s event will be invitation only. Winners will be recognized publicly through social media and on the Office of Sustainability’s website, where you can learn more about past winners as well.
	Piedmont Earth Day Fair Saturday, April 23 10 AM – 4 PM | Winston-Salem FairgroundsHosted by Piedmont Environmental AllianceJoin Piedmont Environmental Alliance for their 17th annual Piedmont Earth Day Fair filled with videos, programs, and activities for everyone to celebrate, learn about, and get more connected to local environmental action. Learn more here.
	Campus Garden Movie: Youth v. Gov Wednesday, April 27 7:45 PM | WFU Campus Garden (1141 Polo Road)Join us at the Campus Garden for a film screening of Youth v. Gov. This powerful documentary follows the story of Juliana v. The United States of America constitutional lawsuit and the 21 kids, ages 14 to 25, who are taking on one of the world’s most powerful governments. Since 2015, these youth have been fighting their landmark case against the U.S. government for violating their constitutional rights to life, liberty, personal safety and property through their willful actions in creating the climate crisis and their neglect in fighting to lessen the devastation the climate crisis will continue to create for their generation to inherit.
	Wake Speaks: Narratives of Environmental Justice Thursday, April 28 5 – 6:30 PM | WFU Downtown Auditorium Hosted by the Department of CommunicationStorytelling about the modern environmental justice movement and environmental disparities in the communities students call home. Register here.