Students at UNK will have multiple opportunities to get involved in sustainability efforts as Earth Day approaches, with a full week of events designed to promote environmental awareness, education and hands-on action.
Earth Week begins April 21 at UNK with a Utility Plant Tour, giving students a behind-the-scenes look at how campus utilities operate. Participants will meet at the Nebraskan Student Union at 1:15 p.m. before walking to the UNK Utility Plant, where a guided tour will take place from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. The tour will highlight how energy and resources are managed on campus, offering insight into sustainability initiatives and encouraging students to think more critically about everyday resource use.
Later that evening, students can take part in Games on the Green, hosted by Residence Life and Campus Recreation.
Jon Oberg, a junior at UNK and Residence Life RA, said the event is meant to bring students together in a fun and engaging way.
“There’s going to be a bunch of games in the green space behind the Antelope statue with an inflatable and free tropical snow,” Oberg said. “The games will include volleyball, bubble soccer and a variety of yard games. Students are encouraged to attend not only for Earth Day, but as a celebration of the end of the year.”
On April 22, Earth Day, students are invited to take a more active role in protecting their campus through a Volunteer Campus Cleanup from 4 to 5 p.m. Trash bags and cleaning materials will be provided, along with drinks and snacks. Participants will be assigned a specific zone across campus and will focus their efforts on that area for the duration of the event. The cleanup encourages students to take pride in their surroundings and contribute to a cleaner, more sustainable campus.
The week continues April 23 with a Tree Scavenger Hunt beginning at 2 p.m. Students will meet in front of the Union and use the GooseChase app to explore campus while identifying and photographing different types of trees. Each tree found will earn points, and the top three participants with the highest scores will receive gift baskets. The event combines education and competition, helping students learn more about the environment in an interactive way.
Earth Week wraps up on April 24 with a Tree Planting event, where students will have the opportunity to help choose the location of a new tree on campus. This event focuses on long-term environmental impact, giving students a chance to contribute to campus sustainability efforts in a lasting and meaningful way.
Payton Schrotberger, a sophomore at UNK, said she plans to participate in the week’s activities.
“Not only is it fun to celebrate Earth Week, but it is a great send-off for the end of the year and a time to be with friends and support the community,” Schrotberger said.
