University departments and student organizations held numerous successful events during March and April to celebrate Earth Month. The Office of Sustainability co-hosted three outdoor events that drew 237 mostly student volunteers.
On March 21, the Office of Facilities Management grounds unit led tree-planting activities along the greenway near the Toby Creek restoration. River birch, pine trees and many more varieties were planted to enhance biodiversity and increase the campus tree canopy. This event contributes to the University earning Tree Campus Higher Education awards annually since 2014.
Campus cleanup, a semester tradition, was held March 25, resulting in 306 pounds of litter being removed. This volunteer event is especially effective for cleaning the campus forests that are beyond the daily routine of landscaping crews and is a way to help reduce the pollution of natural habitats.
The second-annual student garden day was held April 1, with more than double the volunteers of the first year. Volunteers planted pollinator beds near McEniry Building, the student garden beside Robinson Hall and vegetable beds at the Jamil Niner Student Pantry. These volunteers contributed 275 hours of labor to improve these student garden areas, learned gardening skills and helped support worthy causes, such as decreasing food insecurity among student communities.
Other events included the Earth Club and the Black Student Union’s free “Party for the Planet” April 21, which was catered by Chartwells and had many fun activities, including bamboo houseplants and customized T-shirts; and the Office of Environmental Health & Safety’s Earth Day celebration from noon to 3 p.m., April 22.
There is still time to celebrate Earth Day in Charlotte. Take the light rail to First Ward Park, near The Dubois Center at UNC Charlotte Center City and join the citywide Charlotte Earth Day Celebration from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., April 23.