The 10th annual Anderton's Earth Week at Northern Michigan University will be held Sunday, April 21 through Saturday, April 27. Student organizations from across have planned a myriad of activities to help campus and community celebrate the Earth and learn about steps they can take to lighten their ecological footprint.
Events will kick off with a community spring-cleaning of Northern's Outdoor Learning Area, from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Sunday, April 21, at the OLA pavilion outside The Woods housing complex, co-hosted by the NMU Conservation Crew and the university's Eta Chi chapter of Gamma Theta Upsilon International Geographical Honor Society.
Earth Day itself on April 22 will feature a forest bathing presentation and walk from 2-3:30 p.m. in the academic mall area, led by NMU professor Jacquie Medina and Northern's People, Culture and Wellbeing administrative pillar. Forest bathing is a form of ecotherapy which emerged as the Japanese shinrin-yoku, and provides practitioners with a refuge from technological burnout and inspires a reconnection with one's relationship with nature.
The evening will close with the Center for Native American Studies' screening of Mary Mazzio's film BAD RIVER from 7-9 p.m. in Jamrich 1100. This documentary follows the Wisconsin-based Bad River Band's ongoing fight for sovereignty and protection of America's largest freshwater source, Lake Superior. The documentary is narrated by indigenous activist Quannah ChasingHorse and actor Edward Norton, and produced by Reservation Dogs' Mato Wayuhi. The screening will be followed by speaker Liz Arbuckle, an educational outreach specialist from the Wisconsin Historical Society and senior councilwoman on the Bad River Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Tribal Council.
An apartment-friendly composting workshop will be held from 4-6 p.m. Tuesday, April 23, in Jamrich 1320, hosted by the Marquette County Conservation District. Participants who would like to take home a composting system should RSVP in advance via the HubNMU and bring $5. A food systems forum will follow from 6:30-7:30 p.m. in Jamrich 3102, hosted by the Lincoln Community Garden.
Wednesday, April 24 will feature a “Stay Pressed” button-making for social and environmental justice event from noon to 4 p.m. in the Jamrich atrium, hosted by the EcoReps organization, and a documentary screening of former white house climate adviser Molly Kawahata's The Scale of Hope from 6:30-8:00 p.m. in Jamrich 1315, hosted by Gamma Theta Upsilon. The documentary follows Kawahata as she reflects on her participation in the Obama administration, her struggles with mental health and her passion for alpine climbing, ultimately asserting a positive vision for humanity's response to the climate crisis.
The “Stay Pressed” button-making event will be available again from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Thursday, April 25, in the Jamrich Atrium. Gamma Theta Upsilon is hosting an Environment and Sustainability Trivia Night and map giveaway from 6:30-7:30 p.m. in Jamrich 1315.
Friday, April 26 is Arbor Day, and Earth Fest will bring together various student organizations who promote sustainability across campus from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the Jamrich Hall lounge area outside JXJ 1100, hosted by Gamma Theta Upsilon and Northern's Sustainability Hub for Innovation and Environment.
Earth week will end Saturday, April 27, with a pollinator garden work party from noon to 2 p.m. at the NMU Hoop House off Hawley Street, next to the Jacobetti Complex.
Anderton's Earth week honors the memory of John B. Anderton, a Northern alumnus, professor and former head of the Department of Earth, Environmental and Geographical Sciences, and the impact he had on students through lessons taught about our planet.
All events are free and open to the public, contact gtu.nmu@gmail.com for more information.