BGSU to host Eco-Fair on Earth Day

BOWLING GREEN, O.—An Earth Day Eco-Fair on Wednesday (April 22) will be the highlight of Earth Week on the Bowling Green State University campus. The University will partner with a number of city and county agencies and organizations to present more than two-dozen displays on environmental issues, green products and more from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. in front of the Bowen-Thompson Student Union.

The Eco-Fair will also be the debut of the BGSU “Orange Bike” program, a bike-share program in which bicycles donated by local community members will be made available to students, faculty and staff to use on campus. A portion of the orange bike fleet will be featured at the fair, and “test rides” will be available.

Later in the day, as well as at other times during the week, the opportunity to participate in tree planting on the BGSU campus will also be available.

The Eco-Fair and all other Earth Week events are free and open to the public. The rain location for most Eco-Fair events will be 228 Union.

Sponsored by BGSU’s Center for Environmental Programs and the student organization Environmental Action Group, the fair includes the departments of Environment and Sustainability and Biology, the GeoJourney program, the BGSU Recycling Program, University Dining Services and the Outdoor Program, as well as outside organizations and businesses such as Bowling Green Parks and Recreation; the city of Bowling Green; the Wood County Health Department, Park District, Solid Waste District and Soil and Water Conservation District; the Environmental Protection Agency; the Black Swamp Conservancy; Progress BG; Green by Design, and others. 

Other Earth Week events on the BGSU campus include:

• A “Recycled Fashion” show at 8:30 p.m. Monday (April 20) in the Lenhart Grand Ballroom of the Union, where students will model “eco-friendly” and “green” clothing choices on the runway. Before the show, from 7-8:30 p.m., a “swap-a-palooza” will be held. Bring an article of clothing to swap with another;
  
• A free showing of the film “Burning the Future: Coal in America,” at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday (April 21) in 228 Union;
  
• An outdoor service project from noon-4 p.m. on April 25 in Wintergarden Park/St. John’s Preserve featuring the removal of invasive species;
  
• The start of the “When You Move Out, Don’t Throw It Out” end-of-semester collection program on Wednesday (April 22) in the residence hall lobbies, Union lobby, campus convenience stores and Greek houses. Nonperishable food, clothing, personal items, toys/games, toiletries, cleaning supplies (even opened/partially used detergents, etc.), books and furniture can all be donated at these sites and will be distributed to over 25 organizations, food pantries, shelters and other needy causes in the Bowling Green area. The collection will also include worn athletic shoes, which will be distributed to the Nike Re-Use a Shoe program, which will use the shoes to make athletic playing surfaces such as tennis and basketball courts, tracks and playgrounds in communities that need them.

Community members are invited to donate items as well, simply by dropping them off in any residence hall lobby or the Union lobby. The project continues through May 10.

For more information on any of these events, contact the BGSU Sustainability Programs Office at nickjh@bgsu.edu, or 419-372-9949.

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(Posted March 27, 2009 )