Western Kentucky University will mark the 40th anniversary of Earth Day with a full day of events on April 22.  The annual WKU Earth Day Festival, hosted by the WKU Office of Sustainability and WKU Recycling, will feature informational booths, exhibits, and workshops, activities and entertainment.

The event will begin at 9 a.m. at the WKU Farm with a focus on sustainability technology projects, such as Organic Alchemy’s digester, which uses manure to generate energy, and the WKU Engineering Department’s biodiesel facility, which is turning used cooking oil into fuel for the farm vehicles. Tours will be conducted from 9 a.m. to 11a.m. in 30-minute increments. To participate, go directly to the farm where signs will direct visitors to each site.

At noon, Earth Day Festival events begin on the main campus at the Downing University Center Courtyard.

• Noon: Environmental Education students will examine what we throw away on campus, performing a “Garbology” dumpster audit. Garbology is sponsored by the WKU Center for Environmental Education and Sustainability.
• 1 p.m.: Come help plant this spring’s addition to the Community Herb Garden in a workshop led by the WKU Garden Crew.
• 2 p.m.: “Sustain Your Style” recycled materials fashion show, produced by students in the Design Merchandising and Textile Program in the Consumer and Family Sciences Department. “Celebrity” judges Julie Ransdell, Cheryl Osborne and Laura Rogers will select the winning styles.
• 3 p.m.: Composting Workshop by WKU Recycling. Learn how to transform your kitchen scraps into black gold, and take some worms home to help.
• 4 p.m.: Join the Bowling Green Interfaith Coalition for Earth Care in a candlelight procession from the WKU campus to Fountain Square in downtown Bowling Green for prayer, reflection and open mic.

Other Earth Day activities and informational demonstrations include the following: “Eco-feminism” by WKU Women’s Studies; Sky Farmers’ Market; “Solar Powered Smoothies” by WKU Restaurant and Catering; Big Red’s Bike program; and entertainment by local musicians.

Many campus and community partners will participate to make the Earth Day Festival fun, educational and inspiring. Planners are working on some surprises yet to be announced.

*Community exhibitors include: BGGreen, Chaney’s Dairy Barn, General Motors Corvette Assembly, GO BG Transit, Greener Groundz, Hildreth Adoption Center, Interfaith Coalition for Earth Care, Kentuckians for the Commonwealth, Kentucky Division for Air Quality, Kentucky Division of Water, the Nutrition Center, Organic Alchemy, Sierra Club, SKY Farmers’ Market, TVA & BGMU, UK College of Agriculture and Universalist Unitarian Church.

*WKU exhibitors include: ALIVE Center, Big Red’s Bikes, Biology Department, Bookstore, Center for Environmental Education and Sustainability, Department of Engineering, Department of Facilities Management, Ecology Club, Environmental Health & Safety, Gardening Crew, Gatton Academy of Mathematics and Science Green Team, Geology Club, GreenToppers, Habitat for Humanity, Horticulture Department, Institute for Citizenship and Social Responsibility, Outdoor Recreation and Activities Center, Parking and Transportation, Recycling, Restaurant and Catering, Student Government Association, Surplus and Supply, Well U and Women’s Studies.

Getting to the Earth Day Festival

GO BG Transit will provide free rides on Earth Day (visit http://casoky.org/transportation or call (270) 782-3162 Ext. 238 for information).

Campus community members who share a ride to campus that day will be rewarded with Parking and Transportation’s carpool appreciation treats at their Earth Day booth.

Guests on campus may park in the Creason parking lot without a visitor pass (on Earth Day only). From this lot, visitors can ride the campus shuttle (White Line which runs every 10-15 minutes) to the Student Publications Building and be near the festival.

For visitors wanting to park closer, stop by the Parking and Transportation office on Campbell Lane for a $2 visitor parking pass. For campus map and parking information, visit http://parking1.wku.edu/dnn/

For information about the Earth Day Festival, contact WKU Sustainability Coordinator Christian Ryan-Downing at christian.ryan-downing@wku.edu or (270) 745-2508.