Earth Month 2022 Wrap-Up

Thank you for celebrating Earth Month with sustainNU! Our events engaged students, faculty, and staff in practicing sustainability in their daily lives. Our Reuse and Repair Fair brought together ten campus and community organizations, including a local bike shop, clothing mending organization, tool library, zero-waste small business, and an off-campus composting program. The fair allowed participants to explore ways to reduce their consumption and prolong the life of the items they own. Attendees were encouraged to pledge to take at least one action to reduce or reuse in exchange for a sewing kit or multitool. A raffle with the chance to win sustainability-themed prizes was also offered.

The next event on the Earth Month calendar was a Soundwalk led by teaching artists from the Midwest Society for Acoustic Ecology and sponsored by One Book One Northwestern. Participants explored the Evanston campus soundscape, noticing specific sounds of their environment that they otherwise would not have registered in the hustle around campus. The event provided space to explore the relationship between humans, our environment, and the sounds we make and consume.

Photos of soundwalk courtesy of Mike Ellison/ The Daily Northwestern

In celebration of Arbor Day and Northwestern’s 2021 Tree Campus Higher Education recognition, not one, but two tree planting events were held. In partnership with the Facilities Grounds crew, the first tree planting took place on the Evanston campus. Just through the iconic Northwestern arch and in the Sculpture Garden, students planted 17 trees which included oak, redbud, witch hazel, and dogwood, among others, all of which are native to Illinois.

sustainNU also hosted our second annual urban beautification tree planting in partnership with the City of Evanston and Chicago Gateway Green. More eager tree planters joined us in Centennial Park, planting serviceberry, redbud, and oak trees. 

These trees will all grow to sequester carbon and provide animals and insects with shelter and food. Special thanks to our dedicated Grounds crew who keep our campus tree canopy healthy and thriving.

Photos of City of Evanston tree planting courtesy of Matt Mansuento Photography Inc.

Thank you to everyone who took part in Earth Month activities. We hope that these events have inspired you to take action for the planet throughout the year. For updates on Northwestern’s sustainability achievements and goals and sustainability-related events, make sure to subscribe to our newsletter and follow us on Instagram and Twitter.