Earth Day 2010 has come and gone, hopefully with much fanfare and celebration. But, as with many holidays, Earth Day commemorates something much larger than a one-day event. We're told that the spirit of the holidays should stay with us throughout the year. This should be especially true about Earth Day. The spirit of stewardship and care for what sustains us should be one that stays with us beyond April 22nd. In much the same way, what we do to commemorate Earth Day stays with us for countless years to come.  Here are some examples of how schools across the country chose to leave their mark on the 40th anniversary of Earth Day. 

Lehigh University***|*(PA)- Love the earth every day...
The message of Lehigh's celebration of the 40th anniversary of Earth Day was, "Love the earth every day, not just one day out of the year." The celebration included live music, educational events informing students on biodiesel, geothermal energy, composting and recycling and the ceremonial planting of a white birch tree. The events of the day were highlighted in a this short “Lehigh Marks 40th Anniversary of Earth Day” video.

Fayetteville State University ***|*(NC)- FSU Goes Green
Chancellor James A. Anderson's signing of the American College & University Presidents’ Climate Commitment highlighted Fayetteville State's Earth Day celebration. Students were invited to attend a showing of “An Inconvenient Truth” and the UNC Kenan-Flagler Global Innovations in Energy Conference via webcast. The FSU Green Team also sponsored a recycling competition between dorms.

University of Florida- Earth Day Celebration
The Earth Day celebration at the University of Florida was a culmination of "40 Days of Change," an initiative which began on March 16th and allowed students to interact with issues of sustainability across the campus.  Students were able to participate in "green" sporting events, panel discussions, film screenings, and a recycled goods arts and crafts forum, among many other things.  The annual Sustainable Solutions Awards were presented at the Earth Day celebration to "recognize individuals or teams that have made significant contributions toward advancing sustainability at UF."  Events of the day aslo included a plant give away, clothing drive and a panel discussion on “Greening Your Career: Bringing Sustainability into the Workplace.”

Loyola University Chicago (IL)- North Lake Shore Community Earth Day 2010
The theme of the Earth Day event hosted at Loyola's Lake Shore Campus was "Recipe for a Healthy Planet"  Designed as an outreach to the surrounding community, the main goal of the event was to "provide community members with a better understanding of our global food system and how it affects them and future generations."  Events included a green fair, panel discussions, a workshop on organic and seasonal cooking, local food, and a neighborhood bike rides.  The day culminated in a live recording session and community environmental awards presentation. 

Northampton Community College (PA)- Earth Day
Soren Jensen, Deputy Chief of Mission for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Denmark highlighted Northhampton's Earth Day celebration.  Mr. Jensen spoke on "Energy Security and Climate Change: COP15 and Beyond. The Danish Experience in Energy Efficiency, Sustainability and Independence."  Northampton also hosted Jill Schoff, author of "Green Up Your Clean Up," to talk about creating green cleaning products at home.  Students were also invited to test drive a fuel cell car and attend screenings of "No Impact Man" and "King Corn" on campus.

Oakland University****(MI)- Recycling for Charities
In partnership with the non-profit organization, Recycling for Charities, the Sustaining Our Planet Earth organization of Oakland University celebrated Earth Day by attempting to collect 50 tons of electronic waste for recycling which would otherwise be sent to the landfill. Those who broguht e-waste to be recycled were entered in prize drawings and participated in organic t-shirt screen printing, seed planting, and organic food eating.  Funds raised from e-waste recycling were donated to Hospice of Michigan.

University at Buffalo (NY)- 40 Years of Environmental Learning
The University at Buffalo Libraries presented a CyberExhibit to commemorate the 40th anniversary of Earth Day. This unique exhibit is completely available online (see the above link) and includes a brief history of Earth Day; a listing of internet resources; and sections dedicated to children, teachers, and students.  Also included is a general section on K-12 educational resources for climate change.

• Justin Mullikin
    AASHE Intern / Earth Day Enthusiast