When and where can you enjoy the outdoors, get some exercise, learn something new, meet up with like-minded people who care about their surroundings, and do your part to help the local environment?
A variety of activities and events are taking place that provide just those opportunities. From Saturday, April 17 through Sunday, April 25, more than 20 community groups and volunteer organizations will be celebrating Earth Week with activities designed to create awareness of and appreciation for the natural attractions of the community and educate about the riches of the local environment.
Cazenovia College student classes and organizations are involved in several of the scheduled events, among them:
The 220 Tree Project
Stone Quarry Hill Art Park, Route 20 - at the lower field near the exit
The Cazenovia College Environmental Club and the Global Environmental Issues Class will be taking part in this experiential installation that merges art and nature to help understand carbon sequestration and climate change. For Earth Week, the groups will be replacing trees that were damaged during the winter. More information is here.
Annual Chittenango Creek Clean-Up
Saturday, April 17, 10 a.m. to noon
In celebration of the 51st anniversary of Earth Day, the annual Chittenango Creek Cleanup will be starting at the Buyea's Hardware parking lot in the Village of Cazenovia and taking routes both north toward Chittenango Falls and south toward New Woodstock to clean up the creek and creek banks.
Participants should plan to wear older clothes and booths. They are asked to arrive wearing face masks and maintain appropriate distancing. Small groups will be dispersed to conduct the work. Trash bags will be provided, and gloves will be available to borrow. All ages are welcome, but minors must be accompanied by an adult. The clean-up, conducted since the early 2000s, usually results in about two pick-up truck loads of trash being removed.
The College Environmental Club, Fishing Club, Alpha Lamba Delta First Year Honor Society, Alpha Phi Omega National Community Service fraternity and several community groups are participating. Among event coordinators is Thad Yorks, professor and program director of the College’s biology and environmental biology programs.
Yorks said the clean-up usually draws a minimum of 20 volunteers and as many as 50 or 60 people have participated in past years. “We’d love to have as many volunteers from all over as possible. It’s something everyone can contribute to, it’s not very age-specific, and it’s a great way for our students to get to see something that community members and organizations take a real interest in doing to improve their community and help preserve the environment.”
Cazenovia Forum
“Climate Change; Global Challenge and Local Responses,” is being presented on Zoom, and students from several classes are among those attending. The forum takes place on Friday, April 23, at 7 p.m. Registration is required. Presenter Andy Pattison, of Environmental Studies at Colgate University, will discuss sustainability and climate action planning, politics and policy, the role of science and technical information in the policy process, and issues of urban environment justice and social equality.
A full schedule for the week’s activities, links for more information, and pre-registration forms are available for Earth Week activities at UnitedClimateAction.org.
(Banner Image: This large group was among the participants in the 2019 Chittenango Creek Clean-up project.)