By Mike Greife,
April 6, 2017
WARRENSBURG, MO - Celebrating sustainability and green living with a week of events
for the campus and the community, the University of Central Missouri will launch its
annual Earth Day 365 celebration April 17-23.
Centered around the global celebration of Earth Day on April 22, the UCM event provides
a variety of events that offer education about sustainability and encourage sustainable
living 365 days per year.
Anchoring the week as the kickoff event is the Coffee Kickoff and Sustainability Fair
from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Monday, April 17, in the lobby of the Student Recreation and
Wellness Center. Representatives of a variety of organizations will be on hand with
information about sustainable living, the environment, health and wellness, and volunteer
opportunities.
The annual Haute Trash Fashion Show returns to UCM at 7 p.m. in the Student Recreation
and Wellness Center upper courts, providing a variety of ideas for creating original
fashions from sustainable materials.
On Tuesday, April 18, the Office of Sustainability and the American Democracy Project
will host the annual Green Luncheon at 12:30 p.m. in Classroom C of the SRWC. Environmental
educator Marty Kraft, founder of the Urban Wilderness urban garden in Kansas City,
will be the keynote speaker. Those planning to attend should RSVP online at ucmo.edu/sustain.
Campus and community members may drop off electronic waste recycling from noon to
6 p.m. Wednesday, April 19, in UCM Parking Lot 52 at the northwest corner of South
and Washington streets. Computer and electronic devices will be accepted, but televisions
and appliances cannot be accepted. Also on Wednesday, the UCM student Earth Day of
Service is planned for noon to 6 p.m., with students completed service project throughout
the community. UCM student volunteers may sign up at ucmo.edu/volunteer.
On Thursday, April 20, a demonstration of hydroponics and mealworms will be available
on the Elliott Union mall from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Also on Thursday, musician Craig
Wolfe will perform from 7-9 p.m. in the Student Recreation and Wellness Center.
An old-fashioned kite derby is planned for 3 p.m. Friday, April 21, on the lawn of
the James C. Kirkpatrick Library. Participants may bring kites of their own design,
or kite building kits will be available throughout the week, free of charge, at the
front desk of the Student Recreation and Wellness Center. The Environmental Education
Center at UCM Nature Central on South Holden Street also will host an open house from
3-5 p.m. Friday.
Wrapping up the week’s events is A Day at the Mitchell Street Farm from 1:30-3:30
p.m. Saturday, April 22. Warrensburg’s Citizens for Environmental Action will partner
with the Warrensburg community to provide a variety of activities, including opportunities
to purchase locally grown food, learn about native plants and animals and how to build
a cold frame and garden bench.
All Earth Day 365 events are free, and the public is encouraged to attend. For more
information, contact the UCM Office of Sustainability at 660-543-8733.
