By Jake Kauderer

EarthFest, the outdoor festival celebrating Earth month, featured various campus clubs and organizations on McKeldin Mall Friday in an effort to raise awareness about the importance of sustainability. 

Activities included plant giveaways, painting tote bags and an eight-foot inflatable globe rolling around the lawn.

 Jeremy McCallum, a senior public health major, headed the Leadership and Community Service-Learning group’s table, where students could spin a wheel to earn a prize, including pens, tote bags and other festive items. 

“We offer volunteer programs for students to get involved on campus relating to environmental issues,” McCallum said. “If we don’t take care of the world, then we’re kind of being selfish for future generations.”

Another group at EarthFest was the Dream of Coffee club, which hosts weekly events teaching attendees about the sustainability of home-grown coffee. Their table featured fresh coffee brewing for people to enjoy.  

“The most sustainable way for you to enjoy coffee is actually to make your own, so we as a club try to teach you how to get started on your coffee journey,” said Reid Xu, a senior economics major and the club’s founder. 

The event served as a way to bring the campus community together to celebrate Earth Day, according to the Office of Sustainability’s website.

Benjamin Messinger, a freshman journalism major, attended the festival and felt passionate about its mission, he said. 

“I think EarthFest is for a great cause. We really have to cherish the Earth and our environment around us,” Messinger said. “The older generations left our world in a bit of a mess, so it is on us to curb that and change things.”

The Environment, Technology and Economy (ETE) College Park Scholars program tries to inspire students to take action through courses and hands-on collaborative projects, according to Director Tim Knight.

ETE takes on complex and urgent issues of global sustainability from an environmental, social and economic perspective, according to their official website.

“The impacts are being felt hardest by the people who have the least responsibility in causing environmental issues,” Knight said. “If I can educate students on ways they can impact the world, then I can make a much greater difference.”

All photos by Theodore Rose, April 19, 2024.