Northern Michigan University's 11th annual Anderton's Earth Week April 20-27 will be the biggest yet, with a variety of activities scheduled for the campus and Marquette-area communities and free parking during Earth Week events.
A shoe drive to collect gently-worn, used and new sneakers/running shoes with laces will be held the entire week. Donation locations are the PEIF, Superior Dome or Queen City Running Co on Baraga Ave. The remaining schedule of events follows. Visit nmu.edu/shine/andertons-earth-week for full details.
Monday, April 21: “Stay Pressed,” 1-4 p.m. in the Jamrich Hall atrium. Make some buttons surrounding environmental and social justice issues, a student organization, or create your own design. Native American voices in outdoor recreation presentation, 5:30 p.m. in the NMU yurt behind the PEIF; and Anderton's Earth Week Tap Takeover, 6:30 p.m. at Ore Dock Brewing Company.
Tuesday, April 22: Bird-watching hike, 8 a.m. at the Presque Isle Bog Walk; and geography trivia from 6-7 p.m. in Jamrich 1317.
Wednesday, April 23: Denim Swap for sexual assault awareness, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. in the Jamrich atrium; piano studio pop-up concert, 3 p.m. in The Woods lobby; and a Solar Panel Panel at 6:30 p.m. in the SHINE building next to Temaki on Presque Isle Ave.
Thursday, April 24: 906 Recycling Tour, 3:30-5 p.m. Meet at the SHINE building next to Temaki and carpool to the Marquette County Solid Waste Management Authority's Recycle 906 facility. The award-winning documentary “True False, Hot Cold” will be shown from 6-7:30 p.m. in the Shiras Room of Peter White Public Library.
Friday, April 25: A “Water Is Life Festival” will be held in the Hedgcock Atrium; and an Earth Fest Tabling event with information on campus and community environmental organizations is scheduled from 1-4 p.m. in the Jamrich atrium.
April 25-28: City Nature Challenge across Marquette County as part of a global initiative for observing and recording biodiversity. 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 NMU Biology Department, along with local collaborators, will be hosting a number of guided nature walks, workshops, and other events around Marquette. Learn more here.
Saturday, April 26: Marquette Food Co-op Cleanup, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. This trash pickup event will include raffles, kids' activities, and local organizations with information on how to help better our Earth through composting, recycling and more. Also, the third annual Birds and Brews will be held at 5 p.m. at Ore Dock Brewing Co.
April 26 and 27: Stuff Swap for gently used and functional items in the lobbies of Hunt/VA and Magers/Meyland Halls, the Maple Clasroom and Woodland Park MPR.
NMU's Earth Week celebration is named after the late John Anderton, a former department head of Earth, Environmental, and Geographical Sciences (EEGS) and a beloved professor. Students loved his teaching style and effective communication that helped them understand the natural world around them. Anderton was an advocate of active outdoor learning, a practice that NMU faculty members have carried on. He was passionate about his home in the Upper Peninsula, and especially places like Presque Isle and Little Presque along the shores of Lake Superior.