Kent State University will host a number of events in honor of Earth Month, a celebration spanning the month of April.

Earth Month is celebrated nationally to bring awareness to the care of Earth and includes activities that benefit Earth. Kent State’s festivities intend to be no exception.

“The Earth Month celebration gives us the opportunity to understand our important relationship with the environment,” says Melanie Knowles, Kent State’s sustainability manager.

“GreenTown at Kent”

The Kent State Earth Month celebration will begin with “GreenTown at Kent” on Monday, April 13, and Tuesday, April 14. GreenTown is a conference that brings the private and public sectors together in an effort to create a conversation about sustainable solutions for the community. Sessions will feature topics such as walkable/bikeable communities, clean water, local food, outdoor space and creating socially responsible businesses.

Attendees may register for the entire “GreenTown at Kent” conference or for individual events. The cost of attending varies by choice of events.

Net Impact Sustainability Summit

The monthlong celebration continues with the Net Impact Sustainability Summit on Thursday, April 16, in the College of Business Administration building at 6:30 p.m. Students are encouraged to come and network and discuss opportunities to incorporate environmental sustainability into their careers.

Rain Barrel Art Contest

Have your artwork on exhibit at the Kent State Herrick Conservatory Greenhouse. Contribute your artwork skills by helping to paint one of nine rain barrels that support water conservation efforts in Portage County. Please send a scanned PDF sample copy of your proposed work to Gail Kovach-Spalsbury at gkovach@kent.edu no later than midnight on Friday, April 17. Artwork will be judged at the Earth Day 2015 event outside Cunningham Hall in the tent on April 22 from 1- 4 p.m. Winning contestants will be notified via email of the upcoming rain barrel painting workshop dates. The event is hosted by Kent State's Department of Biological Sciences and the Herrick Conservatory Greenhouse.

Clothing Swap

On Friday, April 17, Earth Month participants are invited to a clothing swap in the Kent Student Center between 2 and 5 p.m.

Arbor Day/RecycleMania Tree Planting

On April 21, there will be a tree planted for the residence hall with the best performance during RecycleMania 2015. Check www.kent.edu/sustainability/earth-day for updates about the location and time.

Earth Day

Earth Day, Wednesday, April 22, will feature various events across campus. Students, faculty, staff and Kent community members are invited to join the fun with events such as children’s book readings and tree plantings throughout the day.

The Department of Biological Sciences and the College of Arts and Sciences welcome Earth Month participants to join them on Earth Day in the gardens behind Cunningham Hall between 1 and 4 p.m. The Department of Biological Sciences will host demos and tours with student organizations, Biology Club, Environmental Conservation Group and the Kent State Environmental Society.

“The Earth Day celebration with the Department of Biological Sciences is going to be very interactive,” says Knowles. “It’s a great opportunity for students to come have some fun and learn something about their environment.”

Earth Day Tree Planting

On April 24 from 1 to 2 p.m., Kent State’s Biology Club will plant a tree on Manchester Field to commemorate Earth Day.

Arbor Day – “Who’s Your Mama?” Film Festival

The celebration continues on Friday, April 24, with Arbor Day events, including tree plantings and the ninth annual “Who’s Your Mama?” Environmental Film Festival. The festival, hosted by the Standing Rock Cultural Arts, will feature short films from 6:30 to 9 p.m. in the Kent Student Center Kiva. General Admission is $5 and the cost for seniors and students is $3.

“We are excited to raise awareness,” says Knowles. “All of our students, no matter what career they’re going into, need to understand our relationship with the environment.”

For more information about Earth Day celebration at Kent State, visit www.kent.edu/sustainability/earth-day.