Earth Month 2025 Schedule of Events

Spring Equinox Celebration (Earth Month Kickoff!)

Sunday, March 30 | 4:00 – 6:00 PM | The Campus Garden (1141 Polo Road) | Hosted by the Office of Sustainability

Join us for activities led by 10+ campus and community orgs, live music, upcycling crafts, plant-forward foods, and interactive learning with farm animals and the garden’s bees. All members of the WFU community — students, faculty, staff, and their families — are invited to welcome the transition to spring and kickoff Earth Month at this celebratory annual event.

Climate Policy Trivia

Monday, March 31 | 11:00 AM | The Pit Patio | Co-hosted by dEaCOfriendly and Wake’s College Democrats

Join dEaCOfriendly and Wake’s College Democrats for a climate action trivia game outside of the Pit! Participants will learn more about North Carolina’s regional climate and climate policies. Earn a succulent plant for correctly answered questions!

The Scrappy Chef’s Kitchen: Waste-Less Cooking

Wednesday, April 2 | 5:00 PM | Magnolia Room | Hosted by Harvest Table Culinary Group *Registration required

Discover the art of reducing food waste in this hands-on Teaching Kitchen! Join Chef Jonathan Burns to learn how to get creative in the kitchen and make the most out of every ingredient. From turning scraps into delicious meals to checking out sustainable cooking techniques, you’ll learn how small changes in your kitchen can have an impact on the planet. Cook smarter, waste less, and enjoy every bite!

Coal Ash Lecture

Thursday, April 3 | 12:30 PM | Tribble Hall A110 (Auditorium) | Sponsored by the Office of Sustainability in partnership with the Writing Program and Sabin Center

In 2014, approximately 39,000 tons of coal ash were released into the Dan River due to a leak in a buried storm sewer. This spill impacted many miles of downstream ecosystems and communities in North Carolina and Virginia. Stan Meiburg, Executive Director of the Andrew Sabin Family Center for Environment and Sustainability, will speak about this environmental disaster from his perspective as an expert in environmental policy. This event is open to all WFU students, faculty, and staff.

Reynolda Trails Cleanup

Thursday, April 3 | 5:00 PM | Timberlake Lane Entrance | Hosted by the Sustainability Theme House

Calling all students! Help beautify the Reynolda Trails by participating in a trail clean up event in honor of Earth Month. Meet at the creek connected to the Reynolda Trails at the Timberlake Lane entrance.

Learn How to Upcycle! @ Wakeville

Saturday, April 5 | 12:00 PM | Scales Fine Arts Center | Co-hosted by dEaCOfriendly and Wayward fashion club

Join dEaCOfriendly and Wayward fashion club at Wakeville to learn all about upcycling. This event will teach participants basic techniques for sewing and embroidery, and provide practice to hone skills and learn the basics of upcycling. There will also be t-shirt-to-tote bag upcycling tutorials and more! This event is open to all WFU students, faculty, and staff.

(Oat)Milkshake Monday

Monday, April 7 | 12:00 PM | Shorty’s | Hosted by the Division of Campus Life

Students: join Dr. Shea for (Oat)Milkshake Monday! There will be a variety of flavors, all made with oat milk. Why the change? Producing one liter of oat milk has been found to use less land and water and emit fewer greenhouse gases than producing one liter of dairy milk (Poore & Nemecek, 2018).

Scrappy Smoothies Outside the Pit

Tuesday, April 8 | 11:00 AM | The Pit Patio | Hosted by Harvest Table Culinary Group

Don’t let good food go to waste! Learn how to make a delicious smoothie out of the produce items you have on hand and walk away with a smoothie of your own in honor of Food Waste Prevention Week. This event is open to all WFU students, faculty, and staff.

DST x dEaCO’s Climate Change Solution Showdown

Tuesday, April 8 | 6:00 PM | Shorty’s | Co-hosted by Delta Sigma Theta Sorority and dEaCOfriendly

Join the Pi Omicron Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated and dEaCOfriendly for this interactive climate change simulation event to honor Earth Month! Teams will learn more about group and individual impacts on climate change in our society. Come out for a night of fun, relevant environmental information, and a chance to win luxurious sustainable prizes! This event is open to all WFU students, faculty, and staff.

A “Delicious” Tasting

Wednesday, April 9 | 11:30 AM | The Women’s Center (Benson 314)| Hosted by the Women’s Center

Join this sampling-menu event highlighting plant-forward dishes by local food vendor Delicious by Shereen. The organization’s mission is to empower the Triad refugee community to use their cooking skills to support their families and affirm their dignity through work. Come try plant-forward foods and support a great cause! This event is open to all WFU students, faculty, and staff.

Earth Talks

Wednesday, April 9 | 5:00 PM | Pugh Auditorium | Hosted by the Office of Sustainability *Registration highly encouraged

Support your fellow Deacs and learn something new at the 5th Annual Earth Talks! Student presenters will share their knowledge, research, experiences, and passions through short talks on different sustainability topics. Each brief session will be presented in the style of a TED Talk, with a Q&A to follow.

Staying Grounded: Climate & Wellbeing

Thursday, April 10 | 5:30 PM | Wellbeing Center Room A330 | Hosted by the Office of Wellbeing *Registration highly encouraged

Participate in this teach-in session meant to understand the connection between climate change and mental health, and combat the negative impacts of climate anxiety. Discuss what climate anxiety is, how it affects us, and how to manage it, and learn why environmental wellbeing is important and practice behaviors and activities for taking care of ourselves and the environment. This event is open to all students, faculty, and staff.

Our Movement Starts Here Film Screening & Conversation

Thursday, April 17 | 5:00 PM | Pugh Auditorium | Co-Sponsored by The Environmental & Epistemic Justice Initiative (EEJI), The African American Studies Program, The Environment & Sustainability Studies Program, The Department of Communications, Department of Women’s Gender & Sexuality Studies and supported by the Mellon Foundation

The Mellon 2025 Environmental Justice Forum will host a film screening and conversation for Our Movement Starts Here, which chronicles the 1982 anti-PCB protests in Warren County North Carolina, and birth of the Environmental Justice Movement.

Warren County community leaders Dollie Burwell, Valerie Jordan, William Kearney, Jenny Labalme, and Allison Friday will engage in conversation with Wake Forest’s Melba Newsome, Rowie Kirby-Straker, and Corey D. B. Walker following the film. This event is open to all WFU community members.

Dinner & Dialogue: Building a Sustainable Future

Thursday, April 17 | 5:30 PM | Social Justice and Campus Kitchen Lounge | Hosted by the Office of Civic & Community Engagement *Registration highly encouraged

Sustainability is about more than just protecting the planet—it’s about justice. How can we create a future where everyone has access to clean air, safe water, and healthy communities? What role do we play in shaping policies, systems, and everyday practices that support both people and the environment?

In honor of Earth Month, join a meaningful conversation over dinner to explore the connections between environmental, social, and economic sustainability. Whether you’re passionate about climate action, community well-being, or just curious to learn more, this is a space to share ideas, hear different perspectives, and consider how we can all contribute to a more just and sustainable world.

A plant forward dinner will be provided! This event is free and open to all WFU community members.

An Evening with Katie Worth, Author of Miseducation: How Climate Change is Taught in America

Thursday, April 17 | 7:00 PM | Pugh Auditorium | Co-sponsored by the Wake Forest Education Department and the Wake Forest Environmental and Epistemic Justice Initiative (EEJI)

Katie Worth will be giving a book talk about Miseducation: How Climate Change is Taught in America on Thursday, April 17 at 7pm in Pugh Auditorium. Her book “examines how textbooks and state standards incorporate climate change. It also provides an account of the many ways in which the fossil fuel industry has attempted to influence educational standards, materials, and policy to cast seeds of doubt amongst students and teachers.” This event is open to all WFU students, faculty, and staff, as well as educators and community stakeholders.

Party for the Planet

Tuesday, April 22 (Earth Day) | 11:00 AM | The Pit Patio | Hosted by Harvest Table Culinary Group

Join Deacon Dining on the patio outside the Pit for a tasty celebration of Earth Day! Learn how sustainability is embedded in the food we have here on campus with the opportunity to meet with some of Harvest Table Culinary Group’s vendors, explore campus partnerships increasing sustainability engagement in dining, and enjoy some carbon friendly food!

First Gen Sprouts

Tuesday, April 22 (Earth Day) | 6:30 PM | Tribble Courtyard | Hosted by First in Flight

Join First in Flight for First Gen Sprouts, a fun and creative Earth Day event! 🌿 Stop by to get a free succulent and decorate your own pot to take home a little piece of greenery. Whether you’re a plant pro or a first-time plant parent, come celebrate sustainability, community, and growth with us!

Arbor Day Celebration

Friday, April 25 (National Arbor Day)| 3:00 PM | Between Babcock & Johnson Residence Halls | Co-hosted by the Office of Sustainability, Residence Life & Housing, and the Facilities, Real Estate, & Planning Landscaping Team *Registration highly encouraged

Join the Wake Forest community for a ceremonial tree planting, service event, and celebratory cookout on National Arbor Day! This longstanding tradition brings students, faculty, and staff together to honor and celebrate our campus trees and the services they provide. It’s also a chance to look back at Earth Month and celebrate the blossoming of spring together with a cookout!

Spring Plant Sale

Saturday, April 26 | 8:00 AM | Reynolda House Museum of American Art – Front Lawn | Hosted by Reynolda Gardens

Shop specialty and hard-to-find annuals, perennials, tropicals, and other staff favorites. This annual sale features plants that have been thoughtfully selected by Reynolda Gardens horticulturalists for their performance in Winston-Salem and surrounding areas. This event is open to the entire Winston-Salem community.

Earth Day River Cleanup

Saturday, April 26 | 8:30 AM | The New River | Hosted by Outdoor Pursuits in partnership with RiverGirl Fishing Company

Join Outdoor Pursuits leaders and the amazing staff of RiverGirl Fishing Company on the final Saturday of the spring 2025 semester! Come celebrate Earth Day with an amazing local company to remove trash and debris from the beautiful and scenic New River, which was unfortunately highly impacted by Hurricane Helene. This trip is an incredible opportunity to give back to a local community, spend time outside, and soak in the spring sun before heading home for the summer. All transportation, food, and any necessary gear will be provided. Sign up with a friend or just bring yourself!

20th Piedmont Earth Day Fair

Saturday, April 26 | 10:00 AM | Winston-Salem Fairgrounds

Enjoy food, music, activities for adults and kids, and community-partner exhibits at the 20th annual Earth Day Fair. Drop by the ZSR Special Collections & Archives booth at the Earth Day Fair to see a popup exhibit along with special collections coloring cards for children, buttons, magnets, and stickers for all ages. A special bookmark will include basil seeds. This event is FREE and open to the entire Winston-Salem Community. Rain or shine! 

Spring Clean-Out

Tuesday, April 29 | 11:00 AM | Lawn Between Bostwick and Johnson | Hosted by the Office of Sustainability Waste Reduction and Diversion Intern, Olivia Delgado

Calling all students! Do you have items you want to part with before the summer? At this free swap and shop event you can clear out your room, refresh your wardrobe, and keep perfectly good items out of the landfill. Bring any unwanted items to the lawn between Bostwick and Johnson Residence Halls; donate what you don’t need and pick up something new. All items will be free!

A secondary Spring Clean-Out event will occur on North Campus on May 4.

Champions of Change Campus Sustainability Awards

Wednesday, April 30 | 3:00 PM | The Green Room, Reynolda Hall | Hosted by the Office of Sustainability

Celebrate this year’s Champions of Change at the 12th annual Campus Sustainability Awards. This signature Earth Month event honors the leadership of the faculty, staff, and students who bring sustainability to life at Wake Forest. Provost Michele Gillespie and Executive Vice President/Chief Financial Officer Jackie Travisano will announce this year’s winners. A reception will follow the awards program. All WFU community members are invited to attend.