America’s Environmental College will celebrate Earth Week with music, lectures, hands-on activities, games, and community activities that emphasize the sustainability-oriented spirit of the founding of Unity College in 1965 and the original Earth Day in 1970.

“Earth Week at America’s Environmental College is a special thing,” said Unity College President Dr. Melik Peter Khoury. “Of course it’s nice to get outside and enjoy the spring weather and each other, but it’s more than that: our students, staff, and faculty also go out of their way to make sure that Unity College celebrates environmental progress and recognizes areas where we still have a ways to go.”

Unity College students agree: environmental progress should be celebrated, but there is still work to be done.

“Earth Week is important to me because it helps bring awareness on this campus and far beyond to the way that we all should be living our daily lives: sustainably,” said Michelle Lewis ‘17.  “Only then will we be able to ensure a healthy planet for nature and future generations.”

The program for Earth Week 2017 represents a balanced perspective on sustainability that integrates intellectual, personal growth, and wellness activities.

“The Sustainability Office worked closely with the Student Success team to plan a week of activities that engage environmental themes through physical movement, healthy sustainable food, and practical creations,” said Chief Sustainability Officer, Jennifer deHart. “I think we found a great balance between Unity College time-honored traditions like the cardboard kayak race, and new experiences like special guest Alex Eaves’ interactive presentation on extreme re-use.”

Here’s the lineup of activities for Unity College Earth Week, April 16-22.

•Sunday, April 16: Wellness Walk, 2 p.m. to 4 p.m., Student Activities Center. Walk the Unity Trails to kick off Earth Week.

•Monday, April 17: Green Trivia, 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., Student Center. Show off your knowledge about the Earth and sustainability. Prizes for the top three.

•Tuesday, April 18: DIY Eco-Terrariums  7:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. in the Student Center. Space fills up fast!

•Wednesday, April 19: Bonfires and S’mores, 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m, Fire pit near Wyman Commons.

•Wednesday, April 19: Meru, 8:00 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. Student Center

•Thursday, April 20: Ocean’s Balance Visit: 11:00 a.m. to 1 p.m., Come to Wyman Commons and enjoy some Maine seaweed treats.

•Thursday, April 20: Alex Eaves: Reuse Talk 11:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., Student Center. Alex Eaves knows that the planet needs help and reuse is an answer. He doesn’t just promote reuse, he lives and breathes it.

•Thursday, April 20: Green Bingo 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Student Center. Play Bingo for prizes.

•Friday, April 21: Earth Day Fair, 12:00 p.m. to 2:30 p.m., Meet outside TerraHaus to kick off the fair.

•Friday, April 21: Ninth annual Day of Thunder Big Wheel Race, 12:00 p.m. to 12:30 p.m. Meet at Maplewood parking lot.

•Friday, April 21: Annual Cardboard Kayak Races. 2:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m., Meet outside TerraHaus. Grab three friends to make your team of four and test your design and building skills. Create a functional cardboard kayak out of the provided materials and race for prizes. Sign up by emailing Adam Williams at awilliams@unity.edu.

•Friday, April 21: Palaver Strings and Gawler Sisters, 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m, Unity College Center for the Performing Arts.

•Saturday, April 22: Unity College 35th Annual 5K, 8:00 a.m. to 8:30 p.m., To register email Ray Phinney at rphinney@unity.edu.

•Saturday, April 22: New Student Experience, 8:00 a.m. to 2:30 p.m, Campus

•Saturday, April 22: Movie at the UCCPA – “Star Wars: Rogue One” 8:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m, UCCPA