The University of Wisconsin Oshkosh is hosting Earth Week events to involve the community in helping to make the environment and communities stronger from Monday, April 18 through Friday, April 22.
According to Associate Professor of Environmental Studies and History Jim Feldman, the theme of the week is “sustaining our communities.”
“We believe that Earth Week isn’t just about ‘nature,’ it’s about people and communities too,” said Feldman.
There are a few changes to the itinerary of Earth Week this year, explained Feldman.
“The rain barrel installation and prairie planting are new, and the Earth Dinner is back after a two-year break,” Feldman said. “We did an interactive art project last year, creating sculptures out of items from the recycling and trash in the campus waste stream, but instead we are introducing the Bike Bash.”
The Bike Bash Kickoff will begin on Tuesday with the film, “Scrapertown,” and follow with Tyrone Stevenson, founder of the Scraper Bikes movement, to speak and then participate with the Bike Bash on Wednesday.
According to Stephanie Spehar, university leadership fellow, Los Angeles-based organization RuckusRoots and UW Oshkosh students will create custom bikes on Wednesday. The event includes free bike tune-ups and workshops, a collaborative and interactive art project to create custom-designed bikes and an art station where students, faculty and staff can decorate their own bike.
“Bike Bash is focused on building a diverse community around biking at UW Oshkosh, and emphasizing the social and environmental benefits of biking,” said Spehar.
Robyn Anderson will teach three sessions of how to install rain barrels on Monday followed by rain barrel installation throughout the Oshkosh community during the week.
“Using rain water from the barrels also reduces use of utility water, which saves the homeowner money on their water bills and reduces energy and resources used in treating the utility water that would otherwise be used,” Anderson said. “Rain barrels also serve as water reservoirs during dry periods without rain.”
“Earth Week is a chance to learn new skills and knowledge, to meet neighbors, students, and community members, and to take action that will help make our environments and our communities stronger,” Feldman said.
For more information about Scraper Bikes, visit www.originalscraperbikes.blogspot.com.
UW Oshkosh Earth Week events include the following:
Monday, April 18
Prairie Planting
Help green the campus while learning about the benefits of native landscaping. Wear grubby clothes—work gloves and tools will be provided.
- Time: 9 a.m.-noon
- Location: Tennis courts next to Kolf Sports Center
Rain Barrel Installation Training Session
Learn how to install rain barrels—an easy way to conserve water and reduce your ecological footprint Contact Robyn Anderson to register.
- Times: 11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m., 12:40-1:40 p.m. and 1:50-2:50 p.m.
- Location: In front of the Campus Services Building, 650 Witzel Ave.
Earth Week Film Series: DIRT! The Movie
DIRT! The Movie takes you inside the wonders of soil, telling the story of Earth’s most valuable and underappreciated source of fertility. A talk-back session with Moe Muldoon, geology, will follow the movie.
- Time: 7:00-9:00 p.m.
- Location: Reeve Memorial Union Theatre
Tuesday, April 19
Community Rain Barrel Installation
Help community members install rain barrels at UW Oshkosh and around town—or buy one to install on your own property. For more information, contact Robyn Anderson.
- Time: 10 a.m.-4 p.m.
- Location: Meet at the tents on the lawn between Polk and Harrington Halls
Tree Plantings
Wear grubby clothes—work gloves and tools will be provided.
- Time: noon-1:30 p.m.
- Location: Along Irving Avenue next to Fletcher Hall
Sustainability Research for Wisconsin
Learn about the sustainability-related research of three UW Oshkosh faculty. Panelists include Paul Van Auken, sociology; Steve Dunn, College of Business; and Moe Muldoon, geology. Moderators include Douglas Haynes, English; and Stephanie Spehar, religious studies and anthropology.
- Time: 5-6p.m.
- Location: Reeve Memorial Union Theatre
Earth Week Film Series and Bike Bash Kickoff: Short Film: Scrapertown
Learn about the Scraper Bike movement, one of the inspirations for this year’s Bike Bash. A talk-back session and panel with Bike Bash artists Robyn Guttman and Christine Spehar as well as UW Oshkosh students, faculty and staff will take place afterwards.
- Time: 7-8:30 p.m.
- Location: Reeve Memorial Union ballroom
Wednesday, April 20
Community Rain Barrel Installation
- Time: 10 a.m.-4:00 p.m.
- Location: Meet at the tents on the lawn between Polk and Harrington
Tree Plantings
- Time: 10:30 a.m.-noon
- Location: Around Lot 4 and 4a near Halsey, Arts and Communications and Swart
Bike Bash
This multidimensional event is designed to plant the seeds of a vibrant bike community. Los Angeles-based organization RuckusRoots and UW Oshkosh students will create the custom bikes. Everyone is welcome and encouraged to participate.
- Time: All day Wednesday and Thursday
- Location: Tents between Polk and Harrington Halls
Earth Week Banquet
Eat a delicious organic meal (with plenty of vegetarian options) while listening to a panel of local farmers talk about the importance of sustainable and locally produced foods. Panel participants include Olden Produce, Cattleana Ranch, Red Barn Dairy, and Organic Valley.
- Time: 6:30-9 p.m.
- Location: Reeve Memorial Union ballrooms 227A and 227B
- Fee: $5 for students; $15 for faculty, staff and the general public
Thursday, April 21
Bike Bash continues all day
Tree Plantings
- Time: 10:30 a.m.-noon
- Location: WIOWASH Trail near the Student Recreation and Wellness Center
Riverfront Cleanup
Come help keep our river beautiful. Wear grubby clothes—work gloves and tools will be provided.
- Time: noon-2 p.m.
- Location: Wiowash Trail near the Aquatic Research Lab
Student Handmade Fair
Come shop for craft items made by UW Oshkosh students. Proceeds will go to the nonprofit organization Compas de Nicaragua.
- Time: 11 a.m.-2 p.m.
- Location: Reeve Memorial Union Concourse
“Human Dimensions of Wildlife Conservation” posters
Students from Stephanie Spehar’s anthropology and environmental studies class will display posters related to wildlife issues in Wisconsin and around the world.
- Time: 11 a.m.-2 p.m.
- Location: Reeve Memorial Union Concourse
“The New Jim Crow: Mass Incarceration in the Age of Colorblindness” presented by Michelle Alexander
Michelle Alexander argues that the U.S. justice system operates as a social and racial control mechanism by targeting undereducated black men for incarceration.
- Time: 7-9 p.m.
- Location: Reeve Memorial Union Theatre
Friday, April 22 – Earth Day
“Clean Water Act, Storm Water, and UW Oshkosh” presented by Steve Arndt
- Time: 11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
- Location: Reeve Memorial Union room 214
Chancellor’s Address and Earth Day Bash
Join us for a culminating display of creativity and community. Chancellor Richard Wells will give his Earth Day address at 1 p.m. Then deck your bike out at the Bike Bash site and join the group ride to the community gardens for a picnic, music by Nicole Rae and the Travelling Suitcase and more. Plot signups and spring preparation at the gardens, bring gloves if you want to get dirty.
- Time: 1-4 p.m.
- Location: Meet at the lawn between Polk and Harrington Halls; picnic and music at the Student Gardens