Earth Week
Promoting environmental protection during the week of April 22
Did you know that the celebration of the first Earth Day in 1970 occurred on American college campuses and was inspired by students’ energy to take action on important issues? Today, Earth Day is celebrated by millions worldwide, including at the University of Rochester.
Each year, several groups and organizations at the University take action for the Earth during the week of Earth Day, April 22.
Earth Week 2026: Schedule of Events
Several environmentally friendly events are taking place around the University of Rochester between April 16 and April 25 in celebration of Earth Day. Explore the events below, including those hosted by the University’s Sustainability Office and several student organizations.
April 16
Join Grassroots for a sustainable clothing exchange in Hirst Lounge. Swap out your old clothes for some new-to-you ones!
April 18
Join the University of Rochester Outing Club and the Sustainable Labs Initiative on a trail cleanup along the Genesee River near Brooks and Riverview Apartments. Sign up here.
Join UR Rotaract in a cleanup along the Erie Canalway Trail. Meet in the parking lot adjacent to the Genesee Waterways Center. Check out the Rotary event page for more details.
April 19
Throughout Earth Week, participate in the Sustainability Office’s Sustainability Scavenger Hunt!
This scavenger hunt aims to connect student participants to various areas of campus that promote sustainability
Visit these areas around campus and take pictures at five of the listed locations! The top eight student photos will win a crochet bee keychain, and the student with the best photos will also win a special prize!
April 20
Join Simon Business School next week for the Earth Week Thrift Shop, taking place in the Rotunda at the Simon School from 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM each day. Browse a curated selection of gently used items, including business attire, winter wear, and everyday essentials. Prices range from $1–$15, making it an affordable and sustainable way to shop.
All proceeds will be donated to a local nonprofit, and any remaining items will be given to a local shelter, ensuring everything continues to make an impact.
April 21
Learn about the importance of local pollinators (and about Brighton Honey!) as well as an overview of beekeeping from a representative from Color Brighton Green!
Participation will count towards Level 1 of the Medallion Program, but all members of the University community are welcome and encouraged to attend! The event will take place in Genesee 325.
April 22
All members of the University community are welcomed to plant a native garden in partnership with Horticulture & Grounds, the Green Reps, Grassroots, and Bee Campus USA.
The planting will take place near the swing set in front of Susan B. Anthony Hall and is expected to last approximately 45 minutes.
Materials will be provided, but participants are encouraged to bring their own gardening gloves, dress accordingly, and wear closed toe shoes.
Please register your attendance by filling out this form.
Join the Green Reps in a two-part clean-up event to keep our riverside litter-free and contribute to the 2026 Clean Earth Challenge, a movement led by the National Wildlife Federation and Johnson Outdoors to collect millions of pieces of trash littering our beautiful land, oceans, and waterways.
12:00-1:00 p.m.: Meet near the information booth on Wilson Blvd.
4:00-5:00 p.m.: Meet at the intersection of Wilson Blvd. and Library Rd.
All students, staff, and faculty are welcome to attend either or both clean-up periods. Trash pickers, gloves, and bags will be available. Please dress for the weather and wear closed toe shoes. You may also bring reusable your own gardening gloves.
Please register your attendance by filling out this form.
From elevation data to interactive maps, learn how to model sea level rise with QGIS.
Explore how open-source tools can be used to model and visualize sea level rise. In this hands-on workshop, participants will download coastal elevation data from NOAA and use QGIS mapping software to simulate and visualize changing sea levels. The session concludes by exporting the results as an interactive web map and publishing it online using open-source web mapping libraries. No prior GIS or web development experience is required.
This workshop is taught by Digital Scholarship and is part of the Data Skills series, hosted by University of Rochester Libraries Data Services. Please register to receive the zoom link and workshop materials.
Listen to local educator/storyteller Trish Corcoran, Tonawanda Onondowaga (Seneca), Bear Clan about Indigenous perspectives towards reciprocity for Earth. Seats are limited, so reserve your spot today!
Trish Corcoran teaches Indigenous and Environmental studies at the Harley School to all grade levels. She serves on the Board of the Genesee Land Trust and Friends of Ganondagan. Trish is co-chair of Rochester Indigenous Peoples’ Day and runs educational events throughout the year. She also serves on the Indigenous Advisory Council for the Climate Solutions Accelerator, the Seventh Generation Land Defenders, Indigenous Peoples’ Health Coalition and is a reader for Witness to Injustice blanket exercise. Most of all she is a proud Mother of two, who prefer to be outdoors day or night.
The event will be held in iZone’s Kessler Forum, 755 Library Rd.
Sponsored by the Green Reps and River Campus Libraries.