2020 Earth Month Events
When one day isn't enough, we celebrate Earth Month plus!
Earth Month 2020 Event Listing
In 2020, UC Davis celebrated the 50-year anniversary of Earth Day with Earth Month, a whole month packed with events promoting sustainability. Prior to our campus moving to suspended operations in response to COVID-19, all of these events were planned in support of Earth Month. A number of events still happened virtually, which is indicated below.
| Date(s) | Title | Description | Lead Unit | Status |
| April 1 - May 10 | Scavenger Hunt | UC Davis Sustainability | Postponed to Fall Quarter. | |
| April 1 - May 5 | 50/50/50 | 50 Years Ago, Today, and 50 Years From Now. This project will showcase participants' views of 50 years ago that led to the creation of Earth Day, what they see today and what their vision is for 50 years from now. Contributions may be an essay or a poem; a picture, a piece of music, a short film, or some other expression of our history, our present and our future. | UC Davis Sustainability | Virtual engagement with submissions posted on Earth Day website. |
| April 1 - April 30 | Tempestry Project | Visual display of climate change over the last 50 years using temperature tapestries (daily highs for every day in a year on each tapestry). | UC Davis Sustainability | Virtual display on Earth Day website until it can be displayed in person. |
| April 1 - April 30 | Pop-up Exhibit: Earth Month - Sustainability in Health Care | Curious to learn how sustainability relates to health care? Stop by to view selected books and articles on sustainability in health care; learn about reducing waste in health care; share your ideas for making health care more sustainable; and spend a few minutes designing your own reusable coffee cozy (while supplies last)! | Blaisdell Medical Library | Canceled. |
|
Every Wednesday, April 1 - April 29 |
10 Steps to Personal Resilience in a Chaotic Climate | Eco-grief/anxiety support group. Build personal resilience, strengthen community ties, and take your own unique actions regarding climate change. Ease isolation and fear, cultivate love and support. | Event is shifting online. Details TBD. | |
|
Every Friday, April 3 to May 8 |
Energy Bites Seminar Series | A Spring Seminar Series Featuring Research Happening at the Energy and Efficiency Institute and its Affiliated Research Centers. | Energy and Efficiency Institute | Event shifted to Zoom. |
| April 3 - May 15 | Make Every Bite Count Campaign | Designed to help with portion sizes, mindful eating, increase fruit and veggie intake, education around plant based diets. | Staff and Faculty Health and Well-being | 6 week campaign to increase fruit and veggie consumption. |
| Every Wednesday, April 15 - June 3, except for May 6 | Farmers Market - Davis Campus | Weekly Farmers Market on the Quad. | Staff and Faculty Health and Well-being | Canceled for spring quarter. |
| April 3 | Polar Day | Polar Day is an annual event hosted by the Polar Forum that aims to engage the public in polar research and education to foster awareness of climate change impacts on the unique natural, cultural, and societal features of the polar regions. | Polar Forum, John Muir Institute of the Environment | Canceled; Rescheduling. |
| April 4 | Stebbins Cold Canyon docent-led walk | Join us on April 4th in the lower car parking lot at Stebbins Cold canyon for a docent led walk of the Homestead Trail 8:30-11:30 am. Please wear appropriate clothing and shoes and bring water and sunscreen. | JMIE/NRS | Postponed. |
| April 4, April 26, May 9 | Friends of the UC Davis Arboretum and Public Garden Plant Sales | Shop our campus's one-acre nursery to find the attractive, low-water plants you will need to create an ecologically balanced, beautiful landscape with California natives, Arboretum All-Stars and more! | Arboretum and Public Garden | Canceled. |
| April 6 | Heat Stress Risks and Outcomes Among California Farmworkers | A talk by Marc Schenker, MD, MPH; Public Health Sciences, UC Davis. | UC Davis Western Center for Agricultural Health and Safety | Canceled. |
| April 7 | EarthFest | Celebrate sustainable foods in the Dining Commons! Sustainable foods will be featured at select platforms in the DCs during breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Students with meal plans may swipe in. If you do not have a meal plan, you may pay at the door. Prices at door vary between meal times and student/non-student. | Student Housing and Dining Services | Canceled. |
| Every Tuesday, April 7 - April 28 | Nature Rx | Weekly events featuring terrariums, mini-succulents, watercolors and spring harvest. | Staff and Faculty Health and Well-being, Arboretum and Public Garden, Botanical Conservatory, Student Farm | Canceled. |
| Every Tuesday, April 7 - April 28 and April 30 | Biking With Confidence | A program designed to get faculty, staff, students more comfortable on a bike. Topics cover rules of the road, bike maintenance, fixing flats and a fun ride to bring us into May is Bike Month. | Staff and Faculty Health and Well-being/TAPS/CITY OF DAVIS | Canceled. |
| Every Wednesday, April 8 to May 6 | Energy Tour | The Energy Tour is a guided walking tour of campus, brought to you by Facilities Energy & Engineering. In these 30-40 minute tours, our students interns will talk about energy efficiency projects our engineers are working on around campus. | Facilities Management: Energy and Engineering | Shifted to virtual events. Live discussion with energy engineers at 11 a.m. via Slack (channel: eco_tour). Videos posted to Instagram and YouTube on Wednesdays. |
| April 11 | City of West Sacramento Earth Day Spring Celebration | This free event includes sustainable living information, arts and crafts vendors, a food truck, DJ, egg hunts and interactive activities for kids. | City of West Sacramento Environmental Services & Sustainability Division and Parks Department | Canceled. |
| April 13 | Alt. Protein Project Kickoff Meeting | First official meeting of the Alt. Protein Project (APP) at UC Davis. APP is committed to furthering the research and application of alternative protein foods, animal-free food products or ingredients that are designed to mimic and replace conventional animal-derived protein food. APP provides an inclusive environment for multidisciplinary students and researchers to convene and share ideas and information relating to alternative protein. | Food Science & Technology Department | Postponed. |
| April 13 | Cigarette Butt Cleanup | Annual event to clean up used cigarette butts. | Smoke and Tobacco Free | Canceled. |
| Segundo, April 14 Tercero, April 16 |
Zero Waste Shopping Workshops | Come decorate your own reusable tote bag and mason jar and learn how to be zero waste shopper! All materials provided while they last. Only open to Cuarto, Segundo, and Tercero residents. | Student Housing and Dining Services | Canceled. |
| April 15 | Sketch Crawl | Participants will learn to sketch sustainability with Pete Scully. | UC Davis Sustainability | Shifted to Zoom event. |
| April 17 and 18 | Big Blue Recycling Barn Thrift Store | At the Big Blue Recycling Barn, we divert items from the landfill to extend their useful life and help reduce waste in the community. Come shop for furniture, housewares, toys, electronics, and so much more! | Yolo County Central Landfill | Canceled. |
| April 18 | North Tahoe Earth Day | Earth Day festival. | Tahoe Environmental Research Center | Canceled. |
| April 18 | South Lake Tahoe Earth Day | Earth Day festival. | Tahoe Environmental Research Center | Canceled. |
|
Every Sunday, April 19 - May 31 |
Portrait of a New World: Climate Justice in an Uncertain Time |
A series of virtual workshops on different topics related to climate justice. |
Davis Sunrise and Climate Reality Project at the UC Davis |
Virtual event on Zoom. |
| April 19 | Greek Cleanup | UC Davis Greek organizations help clean up the campus after Picnic Day. | Center for Student Involvement | Canceled. |
|
Week of April 20 |
Earth Week Challenge |
Take actions and challenge others to take actions. Use social media to share. |
Green Initiative Fund and the ASUCD Environmental Policy and Planning Commission |
Virtual event, happening as planned. |
| Week of April 20 | Earth Day Tabling in the Dining Commons | Make a button and sustainable pledge in honor of Earth Day. | Student Housing and Dining Services | Canceled. |
| April 21 | City of Davis Environmental Recognition Awards (26th annual) | Each year the City of Davis recognizes the environmental contributions of an individual or groups/businesses that have gone above and beyond to improve the environmental quality of life in and around Davis. | City of Davis | Likely postponed. |
| April 21 | Plan Green Conference and the Sustainability Resource Fair | How to plan a more sustainable and less-impactful event. Learn more about best practices in planning sustainable events with topics ranging from food and beverage to technology. The conference will be part listed in the Staff Development and Professional Services catalogue in the LMS. UC Davis staff that attend will have the conference listed in their LMS learning transcript. In addition, staff attendees will be listed on the UC Davis Green Event Planners page and will be permitted to use the UC Davis Green Event Planner insignia developed for the program. | Conference and Event Services, FOA-VC and UC Davis Sustainability | Canceled/Postponed. |
| April 21 | Sustainability Resource Fair | A tabling event showcasing the on campus departments and resources related to sustainability, to be held in collaboration with the Plan Green Conference. | Conference and Event Services, FOA-VC and UC Davis Sustainability | Canceled/Postponed. |
| April 21 | Campus Free E-Waste Drop Off Event | Free e-waste drop off event for University owned items-Campus departments only event. | Aggie Surplus | TBD |
| April 22 | Zero Waste Picnic at the Davis Farmers Market | Join the SHDS Zero Waste Team for a zero waste picnic at the Davis Farmers Market. Meet at Segundo Services Center, and walk over as a group. Bring your reusable shopping totes! Only open to Cuarto, Segundo, and Tercero residents. | Student Housing and Dining Services | Canceled. |
| April 22 | Global Climate Strike | Find more information on the Global Climate Strike website. | There is information available on the Global Climate Strike Website on actions that can be taken during the pandemic. | |
| April 22 |
City of Davis/Cool Davis celebration |
Earth Day Celebration |
City of Davis/Cool Davis |
TBD |
| April 22 | UCDH Tree Planting | Tree planting in front of Betty Irene Moore School of Nursing. The UCDH Earth Day Fair will be on Wednesday, April 22nd from 11am-1pm in the Vanderhoef Lawn Commons area. | UCDH Sustainability Committee |
Canceled |
| April 22 | UCDH Earth Day Fair | The fair will consist of UCDH internal departments and external partners tabling and providing information, outdoor yoga classes, sustainable food sampling, and other activities. | UCDH Sustainability Committee |
Canceled. |
| April 22 | UCDH Bike Clinic | Parking and Transportation Services will provide a bike in the Center for Health and Technology building. | UCDH Sustainability Committee |
Canceled. |
| April 22 | UCDH Arbor Day tree planting | In recognition of Arbor Day a tree planting will take place at the Facilities Support Services Building. | UCDH Sustainability Committee |
Canceled. |
|
April 23 |
Friends of the UC Davis Arboretum and Public Garden Plant Sales | UC Davis affiliates are welcome to shop our campus's one-acre nursery to find the attractive, low-water plants you will need to create an ecologically balanced, beautiful landscape with California natives, Arboretum All-Stars and more! | Arboretum and Public Garden | Canceled. |
| April 24 | Roots on Campus | Tree plantings on campus in connection with the Carbon Neutrality Initiative. | UC Davis Sustainability/Carbon Neutrality Initiative | CNI partnering with Arboretum and Public Garden for a vitrual tree planting how to on Facebook Live. |
| April 24 | Late Night Events - Sustainability Movie Night | Celebrate Earth Month and watch a movie. The Student Housing and Dining Services Sustainability Team will introduce Earth Day and top sustainability tips, and UC Davis Food Recovery Network will share information about their work and how to get involved. | Student Housing and Dining Services | Canceled. |
| April 24 - April 25 |
Undergraduate Research Conference |
TBD |
||
| April 24 - April 27 | City Nature Challenge | This is a nature-observing competition between the Sacramento Region (including Yolo County and UC Davis) and over 200 cities worldwide. Participants download the free iNaturalist app and use it to photograph, catalog, identify, and organize observations of wildlife in their area. Any iNaturalist post within the Sacramento Region will count towards our totals! | Sacramento City Nature Challenge | Shifted to virtual event. |
| April 25 | Compost and Mulch Giveaway Event |
This giveaway is for Davis residents only; proof of residency will be required. Compost and mulch will be available on a first-come, first-served basis. Residents must bring their own equipment (shovels, wheelbarrows, bins/buckets, etc.) to scoop and transport the compost and mulch. Vehicles will be asked to back up directly to the compost and mulch piles. No trailers are allowed due to insufficient space.This event will be cancelled if there is rain forecasted—please check this Facebook event page the day before the event for confirmation. The compost for the event is generously donated by Recology Davis and comes from the Recology Jepson Prairie Organics facility in Vacaville. The wood chip mulch will be provided by our City’s Urban Forestry Division. |
City of Davis | Postponed. |
| April 25 | Edible Campus Garden Crawl | Join us for a biking tour of edible gardens on the UC Davis Campus and learn where to forage food on campus and how you can get involved at each garden space! Open to all UC Davis students. Advanced RSVPs required. Limited availability to provide alternate transportation between sites if you are unable to ride a bike. | Student Housing and Dining Services, Arboretum- Edible Landscape Team, Student Farm | Canceled. |
| April 25 | Late Night Events - Sustainability Movie Night | Celebrate Earth Month and watch a movie. The Student Housing and Dining Services Sustainability Team will introduce Earth Day and top sustainability tips, and UC Davis Food Recovery Network will share information about their work and how to get involved. | Student Housing and Dining Services | Canceled. |
| April 26 | Earth Day Sacramento | An Earth Day festival featuring music, food, games, and booths. | JMIE/NRS | Canceled. |
| April 26 | Stride for Aggie Pride | The Stride for Aggie Pride 5K is a run/walk dedicated to bettering student life. All proceeds from the event benefit the ASUCD Awards Endowment. | Campus Recreation | Postponed to October |
| April 27 |
World Climate Simulation |
The World Climate Simulation is a mock-United Nations climate negotiation that enables participates to visualize the dynamics of negotiations between the different parties. |
UC Davis Sustainability/Global Affairs |
Shifted to Zoom. |
| April 28 |
JMIE Panel Conversation |
50 Years of Climate Change |
JMIE |
Postponed to Fall. |
| April 28 |
Honda Smart Home Tour |
See what it is like to live a zero carbon lifestyle. The Honda Smart Home, located on the West Village campus of UC Davis, is capable of producing more energy on-site from renewable sources than it consumes annually, including enough energy to power a Honda Fit EV for daily commuting. A Honda-developed home energy management system and an energy efficient design allow the home’s occupant to use less than half of the energy of a similarly sized home in the Davis area for heating, cooling and lighting. The home is also three times more water-efficient than a typical U.S. home. |
UC Davis Energy and Efficiency Institute |
Event cancelled. Online tour video available. |
| April 30 |
Plant Based Nutrition Talk |
Staff and Faculty Health and Well-being/FNS |
Canceled. | |
|
May 1 - October 30 |
Farmers Market - Sac Campus |
UC Davis Health provides a seasonal weekly Farmers Market for staff, faculty and students, as well as the local community and surrounding neighborhoods. The market brings healthy, seasonal, and convenient food options to the local community. A collaboration of the UC Living Fit Forever program and the UC Davis Health Community Advisory Board, the market features fresh, local fruits and vegetables, artisan cheeses, eggs, breads, freshly prepared meals and more. |
UCLFF |
Postponed. Details TBD. |
| May 2 |
California Honey Festival |
In partnership with the Honey and Pollination Center at the Robert Mondavi Institute for Food and Wine Science, the Honey Festival is a large community event about sharing the importance of bees and pollinators to the world through honey. |
UC Davis Honey and Pollination Center and the UC Davis Arboretum and Public Garden |
Canceled. |
| May 2 |
California Raptor Center Spring Open House |
This is a free family-oriented day for members of the community to visit the CRC for a fun-filled and educational experience. |
California Raptor Center |
Shifted to virtual event. |
| May 2 |
Earth Month Volunteer Weeding Workday |
It's not too late to give back to the earth! Come get your hands dirty at our weeding and mulching party in the Arboretum. Free pizza lunch for participants! |
Arboretum and Public Garden and Herbicide-Free UC Davis |
Canceled. |
| May 3 - May 10 |
UC Walks |
UC Walks promotes wellness and an active lifestyle by encouraging faculty, staff and retirees to take time out of their day to walk, in support of wellness and an active lifestyle. Systemwide day of walking. |
Staff and Faculty Health and Well-being |
Virtual walks (no meet ups). |
|
TBD - Week of May 4 |
Cooking 101: Plant-Forward Cooking |
|
Student Housing and Dining Services |
Canceled. |
| May 4 |
The Declining Farm Labor Supply and Farmworker Welfare |
WCAHS Monthly Seminar Series with special guest, J. Edward Taylor, PhD, from UC Davis Agriculture and Resource Econonomics. |
Western Center for Agricultural Health and Safety |
Canceled. |
|
May 8 - May 10 |
Whole Earth Festival |
The Whole Earth Festival began in 1969 as a small art class project. Students used art to teach about the realms of activism, wellness, and environmental sustainability in an interactive and creative way. Following the UN recognition of Earth Day in 1970, the event was renamed to the Whole Earth Festival, and has since evolved into a free student-run event. |
Whole Earth Festival |
Canceled. |
| May 10 |
2nd Friday ArtAbout at the Arboretum |
Join us for art activities in the Arboretum GATEway Garden during the city’s monthly self-guided artwalk—the ArtAbout. A monthly self guided artwalk, exploring art installations and receptions at galleries, art co-ops, and businesses in Davis. |
Davis Downtown |
Canceled. |
|
March/April |
Green Workplace Launch |
A relaunch of the campus Green Workplace certification program, which recognizes and rewards work environments for taking actions collectively to create a more sustainable campus |
UC Davis Sustainability |
TBD |
| April/May |
Wellness Ambassadors |
Quarterly Trainings scheduled for 4/29 (Sacramento) 5/1 (Campus) |
Staff and Faculty Health and Well-being |
Virtual program. |
| Fall event |
Sustainability Career Fair |
A unique career fair focused on entry level sustainability careers for upcoming graduates |
EPPC |
|
| All of 2020 |
Plastic Reduction Campaign / Drink Tahoe Tap awareness |
An educational campaign in Tahoe to reduce single-use plastics. |
Tahoe Environmental Research Center |
Campaign continues. |
| TBD |
Resident Garden @ Segundo Spring Quarter Open Volunteer Hours |
Get your hands dirty and help in the garden with activities such as weeding, watering, and harvesting. Drop anytime during spring quarter open volunteer hours. Weather permitting. Open to Cuarto, Segundo, and Tercero residents. Garden hours occur each Fall, Winter, and Spring quarters. Special events in the garden will be coordinated during Earth Month. |
Student Housing and Dining Services |
Canceled. |
| TBD |
Sustainability and Nutrition Grocery Shopping Tours |
Partnership between SHDS Sustainability and Nutrition Education and Outreach Program. Only open to Cuarto, Segundo, and Tercero residents. |
Student Housing and Dining Services |
Canceled. |
| TBD |
Water Filtration Station Installs/Celebration |
Healthy Beverage Initiative/Healthy UC Davis |
TBD |
|
| TBD |
CoHo Sustainability Tour |
MU Coffeehouse |
TBD |
|
| TBD |
CoHo Rooftop Garden Workshop |
MU Coffeehouse |
TBD |
|
| TBD |
Earth Month Teaching Kitchen |
Free cooking class for students, tabling (education and outreach) with other student orgs |
Student Health and Counseling Services, Nutrition |
TBD |