Earth Month 2025
Strength in Community: Achieving Sustainability Progress, Together
Earth Month is a powerful reminder that sustainability is not just an individual effort but a collective one. As we come together to tackle key issues across campus—everything from energy consumption to equality— we tap into the strength of our campus community. Through interdisciplinary collaboration, shared knowledge, and joint action, we can accelerate progress toward a more sustainable future. Together, we will create lasting change by leveraging our collective resources, expertise, and commitment to meeting our university's ambitious goals.
Posting about Earth Month? The Office of Sustainability has created an Earth Month toolkit for university units and organizations to use with Earth Month turtles, graphics, and templates for use by university units and organizations.
Use the shortcuts below to explore the ways you can participate in, learn about, and enjoy Earth Month!
Earth Month Events
Embrace the Heritage Fashion Show
Thursday April 3rd, 6:00 - 9:00 pm at Heritage Plaza
Experience a vibrant fusion of fashion, music, and performance at the Heritage Fashion Show as we celebrate diversity through clothing, music, food, and more.
Bike Week 2025
Sunday April 6th - Saturday April 12th at various locations
Join DOTS and RecWell for the annual Bike Week celebration with fun events every day, from Blossoms & Bikeshare to Coffee & Cleanup.
Webinar: NourishNet Educational Tools for Pantries and Universities
Monday April 7th, 1:00 - 1:50 pm over Zoom
Join NourishNet's webinar to learn how implementing consumer education initiatives can empower people with skills and knowledge that will reduce and prevent food waste. Register here.
Arbor Day Tree Planting
Wednesday April 9th, 12:00 - 12:45 pm at NW corner of the Clarence Mitchell Building
Celebrate UMD's 17th year of recognition as a Tree Campus Higher Education by joining friends and colleagues for the annual Arbor Day Ceremonial Tree Planting. View all of the Arboretum's Volunteer Events & Programs in April.
Earth Day Flea Market
Thursday April 10th, 12:00 - 4:00 pm at McKeldin Mall
The Re-Love Thrift Club will be hosting a flea market to celebrate earth day and promote circular sustainable fashion through second items for purchase. The event will feature several external and student vendors.
Observer Film Screening
Wednesday April 16th at 5:00 PM in Edward St. John Room 0202
Observer was created in response to growing concerns about the public's eroding trust in science and scientists’ own disconnection from the curiosity and wonder that first drew them to the field. The film celebrates observation as a shared human instinct and invites dialogue, that will continue beyond the screen after the film through a guided group activity. Register here.
Seeds of Change: A Film Series on Sustainability and Alternatives
Join UMD International Education Policy group for a 3-part screening series in the McKeldin Library Room 2105 from 2:00 - 4:30 pm the following days: Wednesday April 16th: Purpose: A Wellbeing Economies Film; Wednesday April 23rd: Water is Love: Ripples of Regeneration; Wednesday April 30th: The Seeds of Vandana Shiva.
ENSP Symposium: Powering AI: Is Nuclear the Answer?
Thursday April 17th at 9:30 AM in Prince George's Room of Stamp
Join ENSP for an in-depth discussion on artificial intelligence and nuclear power with an emphasis on clean energy solutions, data center demands, and the future of energy in Maryland and beyond. Register here.
EarthFest
Thursday April 17th, 11:00 am - 3:00 pm at McKeldin Mall
The theme of this year's EarthFest is, Our Power, Our Planet. Connect with the sustainability community, learn from one of the several groups tabling, and let your creativity shine with fun activities!
ENST Earth Day
Tuesday April 22nd, 4:30 - 6:30 pm at Animal Sciences 0408 & Atrium
Celebrate Earth Day with ENST through the theme of Intersecting the Environment & Art. There will be keynote speakers from the Baltimore Museum of Art, an exhibit, & tacos! Register here.
Post-It Origami & Brainstorm
Wednesday April 23rd, 12:00 - 1:00 pm at McKeldin Mall in front of ESJ
Join the Academy for Innovation & Entrepreneurship to upcycle used post-it notes into origami creations and brainstorm other sustainable uses for old post-its.
Global FEWture Alliance Second Annual Symposium
Wednesday April 23rd - Thursday April 24th at Stamp
The symposium will showcase the Global FEWture Alliance’s interdisciplinary research-to-action approach through keynotes, lightning sessions, and research posters on Food-Energy-Water (FEW) solutions in Maryland, Israel, Tanzania, and Nepal. Register here.
Fifty Years of Giant Panda Conservation with Smithsonian’s National Zoo: Scientific Progress, Policies Development, and the Path Forward
Friday April 25th, 3:00 - 5:00 pm at Room 325, 4600 River Rd, Riverdale Park, MD 20737
Join the Science Policy Group @UMD in person or over Zoom to hear from the Head of the Smithsonian National Zoo and a wildlife biologist speak about conservation efforts for the giant panda. Register here.
Multicultural Earth Day Panel
Sunday April 27th 1:00 - 3:00 pm in Stamp Pyon Su Room
Explore how different religions and cultures connect with environmental values. Hear from professional across diverse faiths working in environmental fields. Register here.
Colors of Change: Sustainability in the Arts
Tuesday April 29th, 6:00 - 8:00 pm in Prince George's Room of Stamp
Join the Office of Sustainability and Arts for All to explore the intersection between science, art, and sustainability. Enjoy a free dinner, watch an award winning short film, Toxic Art, and paint using natural pigment-based watercolors! Register here.
Get Involved during Earth Month
Enjoy the Spring Landscape on Campus
Discover the beauty of UMD's cherry trees with the Arboretum & Botanical Garden's interactive map, which highlights the locations of the cherry blossoms across campus. Ground yourself in garden and outdoor spaces through the Mindful Moments tour.
The Farmers Market is Back
The weekly Farmers Market in Tawes Plaza will be returning on April 2nd for the spring semester. The market will be hosted from 11:00am - 3:00pm each Wednesday for the remainder of the semester. The Office of Sustainability will be at the farmers market on April 2nd, 9th, and 23rd from 11 am - 1 pm with fun sustainability-themed activities.
Volunteer with the Arboretum & Botanical Garden
Weed Warriors on Campus is a volunteer event for UMD students, faculty, staff, and community members that hosts educational invasive species removal events. Participating in Weed Warriors on Campus is a great way to get outdoors on campus and meet other people that care about the environment! Follow the link to register for April 4th, 5th, 11th, 12th, or 19th!
Learn More during Earth Month
Read the Climate Action Plan 3.0
UMD's Climate Action Plan 3.0 outlines ambitious targets for all scopes of emissions, details sustainability goals and accomplishments, and strategies for driving down greenhouse gas emissions through campus-wide collaboration and engagement. Check out resources on climate resilience, justice, emotions and research to engage in the work we are doing to respond to climate change.
Explore New Carbon Offsets Resources
The Office of Sustainability has created new web-based resources: Carbon Offset Program and Carbon Offset Projects, to serve as a learning opportunity for the UMD community, improve transparency about UMD’s carbon offset processes, and share relevant data.
Attend a Sustainable Tuesdays Lecture
Explore campus sustainability through lectures that are open to all as part of ARCH 272, Sustainability at the University of Maryland, College Park. This lecture series covers topics ranging from nuclear power to environmental law and sea level rise. View the lecture series schedule.
Stay Connected
Follow SustainableUMD on Instagram, X/Twitter, and subscribe to our newsletter to stay in the loop for events, opportunities and initiatives throughout April and beyond!