Happy Earth Week!
Students from several organizations across campus have collaborated with community groups to plan a suite of activities for April 21 - April 26, 2025 to help us celebrate the Earth and learn about ways to leave a lighter footprint. Please click here to see the full schedule.
Anderton’s Earth Week honors the memory of Dr. John B. Anderton, an NMU alumnus, professor, and former head of the Department of Earth, Environmental & Geographical Sciences who passed away unexpectedly in March 2014. Students of NMU’s Eta Chi Chapter of GTU International Geographical Honor Society started the first Anderton’s Earth Day to remember Dr. A and the lessons that he had taught students about Planet Earth.
We hope that you will attend at least one Earth Week session as a welcome study break.
Schedule of Events
Monday, April 21
Stay Pressed
1:00-4:00 PM, Jamrich Atrium
Hosted by: Ecoreps
Make some buttons surrounding environmental and social justice issues, a student organization you are in, or create your own design!
Indigenous Voices
5:30 PM, NMU Yurt (behind the PEIF)
Presented by: Andie Balenger
Hosted by: Organization for Outdoor Professionals (OORP)
We will be discussing Native American voices in outdoor recreation, land management, and more. All students are welcome to join us!
Anderton's Earth Week Tap Takeover
6:30 PM, Ore Dock Brewing Company
Hosted by: SHINE, GTU, NMU Music Department, and Upper Peninsula Land Conservancy
Learn more about different environmental events happening during the 11th Annual Anderton’s Earth Week at Ore Dock Brewery! Join us to hear about stories of climate resilience in the Marquette community. We will learn more about the history of Anderton’s Earth Week, watch the Climate SISU documentary, and learn what the rest of the week has in store.
Tuesday, April 22
Bird Watching HIke
8:00 AM, Presque Isle Bog Walk
Hosted by: Northern Parulas
Toolkit Tuesday
11:00 AM - 2:30 PM, Jamrich Atrium
Hosted by: WellBeing Center and Lincoln Community Garden
Join WellBeing and Lincoln Community Garden to celebrate Earth Day! Learn about Environmental WellBeing, support Lincoln Community Garden by purchasing vegetable seedlings, and access gardening resources & garden plot-sign up info!
Geography Trivia
6:00-7:00 PM, Jamrich 1317
Hosted by: GTU
Learn and test your knowledge about all things geography and Earth-related through trivia questions. We will also be having free maps for everyone to take home. Come with friends or on your own and celebrate Earth Day with us.
Seed Starting Seminar
5:00-7:00 PM, TSB 3704
Hosted by: Hoop House
The Hoop House is partnering with the Earth, Environmental, and Geographical Sciences Department (EEGS) to host a hands-on seed starting seminar, join us and Dr. Libby Ives, to get a better understanding of good seed starting practices AND take home your own potted seed to watch it grow!
Wednesday, April 23
Denim Swap
11:00 AM-5:00 PM, Jamirch Atrium
Hosted by: EcoReps and NMU Rotaract
In honor of Denim Day, Sexual Assault Awareness Month, and Earth Week NMU Rotaract and EcoReps are hosting a "Denim Swap" where students can bring clothes to swap - denim preferred! Stop by to learn about Denim Day, drop off some clothes, or just take some!
Piano Studio Pop-Up Concert
3:00 PM, Woods Lobby
Hosted by: Piano Studio
Join students from the NMU piano studio as they perform songs that celebrate our planet.
Soil Science Seminar
5:00-6:00 PM, TSB 3704
Hosted by: Hoop House
The Hoop House is partnering with the Earth, Environmental, and Geographical Sciences Department (EEGS) to prepare you for all you need to know about this summer's planting! Come see us and Dr. Angela Lafuente of the EEGs department to learn more about the science of soil in your garden!
Invasive Species Removal in the Triangle Tract
5:00-6:30 PM, Triangle Tract (Park in the gravel lot by the dome or on Pine St.)
Hosted by: NMU Conservation Crew
Help us with removing invasive species from the Triangle Tract area! Bring gloves if you have any. All supplies will be provided.
Solar Panel Panel
6:30 PM, SHINE Building
Hosted by: Renewable Energy Coalition
Our event will be focused on the technical interworking's of solar panels and policy / regulation of solar infrastructure. We will feature a solar panel panel of local decorated professionals within the solar industry in addition to domestic solar owners that have great skills and ability to explain technical and political aspects of solar and renewable energy.
Thursday, April 24
906 Recycling Tour
3:30-5:00 PM, Carpool from SHINE Building to the recycling facility
Hosted by: 906 Recycling
From paper and glass to a range of plastics, Recycle 906 handles it all! Join us for a tour of Marquette County Solid Waste Management Authority's Recycle906 facility. We'll follow the flow of the conveyor belt and see the A.I. arm in action. Beyond the sorting system, we'll learn where these materials go next; getting a second chance in the circular economy. We'll see the bailed goods before they are shipped off to a variety of businesses and locations to be used as raw materials for new products. The carpool leaves (at 3:30) and returns (after 5 PM) to the SHINE building (1400 Presque Isle Avenue - next to Temaki & Tea). Come full circle with us!
Impacts of Gardening on Mental Health
5:00-6:00 PM, TSB 3710
Hosted by: Hoop House & LIVE
Are you feeling down from the late spring snow? Stressing out about finals? The end of the semester? Moving away from college friends for the summer? Just know that you're not alone, come join fellow Hoop House members as Dr. Amy Poirier, the staff advisor for LIVE and psychiatric-mental health nurse practitioner, tells us more about the impacts of gardening on our mental health and how it can help us build community, compassion, and self-care in our tough times.
True False, Hot Cold documentary
6:00-7:30 PM, Shiras Room of Peter White Public Library
Hosted by: Citizens Climate Lobby Marquette Chapter
The award-winning documentary series, True False, Hot Cold was filmed over three months in a county of Utah that has some of the least belief in climate change in the United States. Each short episode features conversations with farmers, ranchers, cowboys, coal miners, and other county residents about climate change. But instead of focusing on divisions, the series weaves these interviews and vignettes of everyday life to offer ideas about how to build bridges between people who have very different identities and beliefs. Episode screenings will be punctuated with open conversation about incorporating the film’s values and approaches – and how groups like CCL are doing this in their work today.
Friday, April 25
Water is Life Festival
Hedgcock Atrium
Hosted by: Center for Native American Studies
Mni Wiconi in Lakhotiyapi. Nibi Biimaadezewin in Anishinaabemowin. “Water is Life.” This simple biological fact has become a powerful organizing framework for Indigenous-led cultural celebrations and activism around our connections with water. On Friday, April 25, Northern Michigan University’s Center for Native American Studies will bring together Indigenous teachers, regional and national musicians, performance artists, visual and material artists, and grassroots environmental advocates from around the Upper Peninsula for a Water is Life Festival. The festival culminates with evening performances in NMU’s Hedgcock Atrium by the Sister Tour, Marquette Fringe, and Supaman. For more information and details about the event, please see: https://nmu.edu/nativeamericanstudies/events.
City Nature Challenge
Friday, April 25 - Monday, April 28, across Marquette County
Hosted by: Northern Michigan University
The City Nature Challenge (CNC) is a global initiative for observing and recording biodiversity, led by the California Academy of Sciences and the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles. Every April, hundreds of cities across the world come together to record as many wild organisms as possible in and around their respective communities, all during the same 4-day period. During these four days, observations are recorded via the citizen science platform iNaturalist, through which anyone can upload images and other media of any plants, animals, fungi, or other organisms they find, and results are tallied from these observations. To encourage collaboration and learning, as well as maximize observed biodiversity, the Northern Michigan University Biology Department, along with local collaborators, will be hosting a number of guided nature walks, workshops, and other events around Marquette.
Learn more here.
Earth Fest Tabling
1:00-4:00 PM, Jamrich Atrium
Hosted by: SHINE, GTU
Learn about different environmental organizations in the Marquette community and at Northern Michigan University!
Saturday, April 26
Stuff Swap
Saturday, April 26 and Sunday, April 27, Hunt/VA lobby, Magers/Meyland Lobby, The Maple Classroom, Woodland Park MPR
Hosted by: NMU Ripple Effect
Bring your gently used and working items to a participating location to donate and/or browse donated items and take what you need for free!
Marquette Food Co-op Clean-Up
11:00 AM-2:00 PM, Marquette Food Co-op
Hosted by: Marquette Food Co-op Board of Directors
During this trash pickup event we will have raffles, kids activities, and local organizations with information on how to help better our Earth through composting, recycling, and more. The event begins at 11 for a hello and area assignment, but folks are welcome to join anytime during 11-2. We can't wait to beautify the community with you!