By Sophia Herndon

University of Maryland students celebrated Earth Month at McKeldin Mall on Thursday with EarthFest, a festival featuring crafts and activities for students to enjoy between classes.

“EarthFest aims to bring the campus community together to celebrate Earth Day with dozens of student organizations, campus departments, labs and others,” the sustainability website noted.

Many organizations at UMD contribute to sustainability, focusing on meeting environmental needs and responsibilities and protecting the environment.

EarthFest was hosted by the SGA Sustainability Committee, the Office of Sustainability, the Department of Resident Life and the Residence Hall Association. Various clubs and organizations tabled at the event, offering free activities and teaching students about sustainability.

“It really raises awareness of the variety of resources we have on campus regarding sustainability,” said Claire Bushar, a sophomore bioengineering major.

As the sustainability coordinator for the RHA, Bushar helped organize the event. She explained how EarthFest aims to get students involved with these organizations and sustainability development.

“If you’re interested in animals, the natural environment or promoting composting in our dorms, there’s a whole lot of different corners you can get involved in,” Bushar said. “It’s really important to show people that you can engage with it in a lot of ways.”

“I think it’s good overall to recognize Earth Day and also appreciate the nature around us,” said Kathy Chen, a junior computer science major.

Chen joined EarthFest after noticing the large crowd of students on McKeldin Mall. The large number of students sparked her interest and urged her to join the festival.

“Students always enjoy a good tabling event with a lot of opportunities to do activities,” Bushar said. “We have a lot of fun activities.”

The event included plant pot decorating, plant giveaways, customizable tote bags, an insect zoo, a bouncy house and an inflatable Earth display. Testudo and Teddy the Terp, the University of Maryland Police Department’s comfort dog, made an appearance as well.

Junior computer science major Grace Chen heard about the event through her roommate, who enjoys plants and was interested in the free succulents the event offered. Many of the tables offered free items related to Earth Day for students to take.

She said that EarthFest stimulates interaction at UMD and raises awareness for Earth Day.

Bushar further explained that the main hope of the event is that students will be motivated through interaction with these organizations to learn about their efforts.

“The idea is that the activities people do here, and the things they get, lead them into a genuine interest in these organizations,” Bushar said.

Featured Image: University of Maryland Students and Testudo participating in EarthFest on McKeldin Mall on Thursday, April 16, 2026. Photo by Sophia Herndon.