By Mike Greife,
April 8, 2016
WARRENSBURG, MO – Celebrating sustainability and green living with a week-long celebration,
the University of Central Missouri will launch its annual Earth Day 365 celebration
April 18-23.
Centered around the global celebration of Earth Day on April 22, the UCM event provides
a variety of events for the campus and surrounding community 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 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Monday, April 18, 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. Those scheduled to attend include:
- Missouri State Parks
- The Johnson County Sheltered Workshop
- The Community Bat Project
- Warrensburg Farmers Market
- Missouri Department of Conservation with free seedlings
- Warrensburg Citizens for Environmental Action
- Sodexo with organic coffee choices
- UCM Volunteer Services
- UCM Cycles Bike Share
- UCM Fashion Business Association Textile Recycling
- Sustainable Pinterest Crafts
Also on Monday, the UCM Office of Sustainability and Spotlight will sponsored a Kite
Flying Derby from 2-5 p.m. on the lawn of the James C. Kirkpatrick Library, weather
permitting. Participants may bring their own kites or build a kite with supplies provided
by the Office of Sustainability.
The annual Haute Trash Fashion Show returns to UCM at 7 p.m. Monday in the Elliott
Student Union ballroom. In addition to the popular show of fashions created from recyclable
materials, recycled arts and crafts also will be on display. Local retailers also
will be on hand from 6 p.m. until after the show with products offering solutions
for sustainable living.
On Tuesday, April 19, The UCM Center for Print Production will offer free document
shredding from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. in Elliott Union 109. 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. Jere Gettle from Baker Creek Heirloom Seed Company will
be the keynote speaker. Those planning to attend should RSVP online at ucmo.edu/sustain
by April 13. Completing the day’s activities is the showing of the film “The Lorax”
at 3 p.m. and 7 p.m. in the Elliott Student Union Cinema.
Warrensburg CEA members Steve Mohler and Phil Miller will host the TED talk “The Case
of Optimism on Climate Change” at noon and 1 p.m. Wednesday, April 20, in Classroom
D of the SRWC, followed by discussion. Computer Repair Center of Warrensburg will
sponsor electronic waste recycling from noon to 6 p.m. in UCM Parking Lot 52 at the
northwest corner of South and Washington streets. The UCM student Earth Day of Service
is planned for noon to 6 p.m., with students completed service project throughout
the community. Volunteers may sign up at ucmo.edu/volunteer.
Events planned for Thursday, April 21, include a demonstration of vermicompost and
ecosystems on the Elliott Union mall from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and a showing of the documentary
“Gimme Green” at noon in the Elliott Student Union Cinema. Electronic waste recycling
will again be available from noon to 6 p.m. in UCM Lot 52, and “Pedal Power,” a demonstration
and discussion of the energy resources developed by bicycle riding, is planned for
2-4 p.m. in the SRWC lobby.
UCM Life Long Learning and Warrensburg’s Citizens for Environmental Action will host
“Electrifying Your Commute” from 2-6 p.m. Friday, April 22, at the Missouri Safety
Center at South Holden Street and Hale Lake Road. A variety of opportunities will
be offered to learn about hybrid and electric vehicles, including a display of vehicles
and a 3 p.m. presentation by Alexander Richards, assistant professor of automotive
technology at UCM.
Wrapping up the week’s events is A Day at the Mitchell Street Farm from 1:30-3 p.m.
Saturday, April 23. CEA will partner with the Warrensburg Parks and Recreation Department
and 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.
