Members of the Northern Climate Network will lead a climate change awareness walk and festival beginning at noon Saturday Sept. 26. The event will be held rain or shine. A five-mile march will start at the South Beach parking lot on Lake Street (near the Shiras Steam Plant) and end at the Moosewood Nature Center parking lot at Presque Isle Park. The festival will begin at 1:30 p.m. and includes informational booths hosted by the National Park Service, US Forest Service, Superior Watershed Partnership and several NMU student organizations. There will also be music and invited speakers at the Presque Isle band shell. T

A sign-making event is scheduled in advance of the walk at 5 p.m. Friday, Sept. 25 outside Starbucks in Jamrich Hall at NMU. Some supplies will be provided, but individuals are encouraged to bring additional materials  

"The goal is to walk as a community demonstrating local support for more ambitious global climate change policy and to celebrate what is being done," said Melissa Orzechowski of the Northern Climate Network. "Last year in Marquette, and across the nation, people marched raising awareness about climate change. Again this year we are marching as a community and will end the walk with a festival to celebrate sustainable living and improved climate literacy in our community."

The tentative schedule for the festival stage is as follows:

1:30 – Music

2:00 - Opening remarks, welcome & reflection on the walk, Jes Thompson

2:10 – Guest speakers Sarah Middlefeldt and her father, addressing multi-generational climate activism

2:30 - Music

2:40 – Guest speaker Steve Waller, addressing local energy policy and options for sustainability

3:00 - Music and open mic

3:30 - Farewell 

The Northern Climate Network is an NMU student-led consortium providing opportunities for the campus and broader community to discuss and learn about climate change in the region.

For more information, contact Orzechowski at morzecho@nmu.edu or 616-719-9531.