(Image courtesy of Metro Creative)

MARQUETTE — From April 20-27, Northern Michigan University will be hosting a variety of Earth Week activities, with more events happening throughout the community. All events are open to all local residents, with free parking at Northern being offered during Earth Week events.

“This year is exciting because we have doubled the collaboration and coordination across campus and the community,” said Dr. Jes Thompson, Assistant Vice President of Sustainability at NMU. “The calendar of events for the week has never been so full and so diverse, we have more than a dozen different events hosted by more than a dozen different groups. This year’s event captures the spirit of community and collaboration that Dr. Anderton espoused.”

Anderton’s Earth Week is named after the late Dr. John Anderton, a former department head of the Earth, Environmental, and Geographical Science department at Northern.

According to the NMU Sustainability Hub for Innovation and Environment website, Anderton “was passionate about his home in the Upper Peninsula, and especially places like Presque Isle and Little Presque along the shores of Lake Superior. Anderton’s legacy lives on at NMU through experiential learning in the Marquette area and through the student’s participation in environmental activism. He embodied many of NMU’s values such as inclusion and the environment.”

“It should really be Earth Day every day,” said Thompson. “Designating the week of events and activities helps to broaden the opportunities for people to get involved and learn more. Earth Week at NMU is extra special because it is the last week of the academic semester. It brings hope and joy to campus as we celebrate our environment and community and wrap up a long winter together. These events are not political or partisan; this is a time to count our blessings and celebrate together.”

On-campus events during Anderton’s Earth Week include an Earth Week trivia night, a clothing swap, and the Water is Life Festival, put on by the Center for Native American Studies. Off-campus events include a tour of Marquette’s recycling facility, a screening of the “True False, Hot Cold” documentary at Peter White Public Library, and a trash pickup event hosted by the Marquette Food Co-op.

A full itinerary of events being held during Earth Week can be found on the NMU Sustainability Hub for Innovation and Environment’s website.