Â??it is Easy Being Green’ Â?? 2008 Sustainability Week and Earth Day Celebrations at Colorado State University

Colorado State University will celebrate Sustainability Week from April 21-24 with an Earth Day Celebration and Open Your Mind Fair from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. on the Lory Student Center Plaza on campus on April 22.

Earth Day events will include live entertainment, booths and fun activities. Mojambus will perform on the main stage throughout the event with additional entertainment provided by drummers, hip hop performers, swing dancers and even a recycled fashion show.

Booths will feature information and activities on renewable energy, gardening, waste reduction and more. This event is free and open to the community.

A schedule of events for Sustainability Week and Earth Day follows.

Monday, April 21

– "An Inconvenient Truth" slide presentation – 7 p.m., A102 Clark Building

Cami Hay, a registered nurse and health educator/consultant from Fort Collins, has been trained by Al Gore to present slides from the documentary, "An Inconvenient Truth." Hay, an active environmentalist, created and produced a puppet show called "Earth Day is Every Day" when her daughters were young. This play was accepted as part of the Denver Civic Theater’s School Tour Program. Currently, Hay works as the district manager for the Rocky Mountain District of the Climate Project. T-shirts will be given out to the first 100 participants.

Tuesday, April 22

– Earth Day Celebration and Open Your Mind Fair – 10 a.m.-2 p.m., LSC Plaza

This year’s Earth Day Celebration and the Open Your Mind Fair will focus on all aspects of sustainability – environmental and personal sustainability – and will feature booths, a recycled fashion show, live entertainment by Mojambus and hands-on activities. Information will be available on waste reduction, energy conservation, alternative transportation, renewable energy, green products, composting, recycling, sustainable energy and changes individuals can integrate into their daily activities to lead more sustainable lives. The Recyclemania Trophy will be presented to the winning residence halls and university apartment buildings. "It is Easy Being Green" T-shirts will be given away.

– Discover Why CSU is The Green University – 11 a.m.-1 p.m., LSC East Atrium

Explore university clean-energy research projects, learn about the new Clean Energy Supercluster from the experts themselves and enjoy a free green cookie.

– Gary A. Peterson and Dwayne G. Westfall Annual Lecture with William Bryant Logan – 2 p.m. and 7 p.m., LSC West Ballroom

Former New York Times garden columnist and award-winning nature writer William Bryant Logan will speak at Colorado State as part of the university’s annual Earth Day celebration. Logan is the author of "Dirt: The Ecstatic Skin of the Earth" and "Oak: Frame of Civilization." He presents and teaches classes and workshops on the care of trees and the natural history of soils including a recent lecture to the Soil Science Society of America. He also taught nonfiction writing at the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism.

– Catherine Greener – 7-9 p.m., LSC East Ballroom

Greener, vice president of consulting for Saatchi & Saatchi S, will speak about her experiences working to help Wal-Mart go green. Greener will speak from 7-9 p.m. in the East Ballroom of the Lory Student Center on campus. Greener will discuss how she accomplished educating Wal-Mart’s 1.3 million U.S. employees about sustainability. Greener also will share her 20-plus years of experience in sustainable operations to explain how the "green collar" workforce is evolving and how students can position themselves for working in the changing business environment. "It is Easy Being Green" T-shirts will be given away to the first 100 people in attendance.

Wednesday, April 23

– Annual Stomp, Romp and Wag with a green theme – 10:30 a.m.- 2:30 p.m., Hartshorn Lawn

The Hartshorn Health Service will be hosting the 6th annual Stomp, Romp and Wag event. This event educates students about the effects secondhand smoke on pets. This year, the event will be educating and promoting environment-friendly practices – the green effect – for household pet owners and their pets.

– Changing Climates Tour – 2-4 p.m.

This presentation will include an overview of our planet’s changing climate issues with one of CSU’s internationally acclaimed atmospheric scientists, a talk with Professor Sue Ellen Campbell about how CSU is working to infuse this topic across the curriculum while building interest in the sciences and major global issues, and a tour of the new green Transit Center in the Lory Student Center with one of the university’s experts in green-building and LEED certification from the Institute for the Built Environment. Contact Stacy Dotson at stacy.dotson@colostate.edu or (970) 491-3858 to register.

– Thrillhead Creations and Climate Change in the Rockies – 7 p.m., A102 Clark Building

Two CSU graduates and founders of Thrillhead Creations will present "Climate Change in the Rockies." Thrillhead Creations is a grassroots production company committed to creating films, promotional videos and broadcast programming in a fresh and innovative manner that supports a sustainable network of businesses and promotes environmental stewardship.

Thursday, April 24

– Lights Out – 8-10 p.m., CSU Residence Halls

Lights Out Event sponsored by the Live Green Community in all residence halls. A variety of programs will be offered in the residence halls.

Sustainability Week is sponsored by CSU’s Office of the President. Earth Day Celebration and Open Your Mind Fair are sponsored by Housing & Dining Services, the Live Green Team and the University Counseling Center.

For more information about Sustainability Week, visit www.green.colostate.edu.

Colorado State’s Environmental Learning Center also will celebrate Earth Day during its annual Earth Fest from April 21-25. This year’s festivities include the Great School Escape on April 21 for kindergarten through sixth graders. This year’s "Plant your way to Earth Day" theme will involve activities for the kids to learn about plants; seeds and germination; organic gardening; and native versus non-native plants. The kids will also help out in the ELC’s garden at the center’s East Drake site, 2400 Ziegler Road.

For the rest of the week, students will be visiting the ELC to learn about other environmental issues. On April 23, first graders from the Poudre School District will learn about wildlife habitats and adaptations. On April 25, fifth graders will learn about water quality and monitoring.

On April 22 and 24, ELC staff members and Pulliam Scholars from CSU will be taking fifth grader up to Bobcat Natural Area in Fort Collins to learn about geology and how humans, fire and water shape the landscape.

The ELC consists of 212 acres of land and trails along the Poudre River. Each year, the center offers more than 180 environmental education programs for 3,000 children and individuals of all ages.

For more information about the ELC’s Earth Fest 2008, visit www.warnercnr.colostate.edu/elc.

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