April 14-27: CLC celebrates Earth Week with free presentations and events
From conserving soil to reducing waste generated by plastic drinking straws, learn what you can do at home to help make our world more sustainable during the College of Lake County's Earth Week events April 14-27. The activities are free and open to the public and are organized by the CLC Facilities department and presented by CLC instructors and other experts.
Activities will take place on the Grayslake Campus and last about one hour, unless otherwise noted. For more information, contact David Husemoller, sustainability manager, at (847) 543-2643 or dhusemoller@clcillinois.edu. Or visit www.clcillinois.edu/gogreen and click the Sustainability Events Calendar link.
Campus Cleanup: Saturday, April 14, 10 a.m. to noon. Meet outside the new Science and Engineering Building. Wear work clothes and shoes, and bring work gloves.
Factory Farming Awareness presentation and discussion: Monday, April 16, 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., Room A011 Auditorium. Representatives from the Factory Farming Awareness Coalition, CLC Humans for Animals Club and other groups will offer tips on eco-friendly eating.
The Last Straw: Tuesday, April 17, 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., Student Street. Americans use an estimated 500 million plastic, non-recyclable drinking straws every day, according to the National Park Service. CLC's student Environmental Club members will explain the waste problem and alternatives, including a planned trial run of using paper straws in Café Willow.
The Dirt on Good Soil: Tuesday, April 17, 6:30-8 p.m., Room A011 Auditorium.
Mike Sands of Liberty Prairie Foundation and Bean Hollow Grassfed Farm, along with Vytas Pabedinskas of Save our Soil and Matt DeRose, CLC Campus Farm manager, will discuss ways you can revitalize your soil.
Lunch and Learn: Reduce, Reuse and Compost: Wednesday, April 18, noon to 1 p.m., Room B015e. Learn easy tips to recycle and compost waste at CLC and at home. Find out the ecological value of a worm farm and what it takes to start one.
Common Break: Reduce, Reuse and Compost: Thursday, April 19, 10:30-11:30 a.m., Lakeshore Campus Atrium, 33. N. Genesee St., Waukegan. See above description.
Earth Week Indoor Farm Market: Thursday, April 19, 3-5 p.m., Student Street and Commons. Buy some of the season's first greens from more than a dozen local food producers, including CLC's Campus Farm. Find out where to find locally grown produce and other foods.
Restoration Workday: Friday, April 20, 1-3:30 p.m., Horticulture Building.Horticulture instructor Jeff Weiss and staff will lead efforts to cut and remove buckthorn on campus. Wear sturdy shoes and durable clothing; gloves and tools will be provided.
Smart Grid and Smart Meters: Monday, April 23, 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., Student Commons. Learn how smart grid/smart meter technologies can benefit businesses and residents.
Green Roofs: Form and Function: Tuesday, April 24, 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., Room V336, Southlake Campus, 1120 S. Milwaukee Ave., Vernon Hills. Jason Cashmore, biology instructor, will explain the benefits of green roofs for buildings and the environment. Join a raffle for three $50 gift cards to Uncommon Ground, a Chicago restaurant with the nation's first certified organic, rooftop farm.
Water is our Lifeblood: Tuesday, April 24. 6-8 p.m., Room A011 Auditorium. Local members of the Menomonee and Ojibwa tribes will share their experiences fighting corporations to protect waterways from mining and fracking. A representative from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency will review federal water quality protections.
Honeybee Buzz: Wednesday, April 25, 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., Room A011 Auditorium. CLC is now a Bee Campus USA. Ed Popelka, CLC maintenance engineer and beekeeper, will explain CLC's apiary (managed beehives) and honey extraction. Sample locally produced honey and find out where to buy it at CLC.
Grab a Green Giveaway: Thursday, April 26, noon to 1 p.m. and 5:30-6:30 p.m., Southlake Campus Atrium. Receive an eco-friendly giveaway and "green" tips. First come, first served while supplies last.
Bumblebees and Butterflies: Thursday, April 26, 3:30-5 p.m., Room A011 Auditorium. Find out how threatened native bee populations can affect food supplies. Learn about the new Monarch Migration Network and what you can do to support native bee and butterfly populations.
Arbor Day Tree Planting: Friday, April 27, 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., Horticulture Building. Help plant trees in CLC's arboretum and learn about the college's participation in the Tree Campus USA program.
Lunch and Learn: Top Picks for Tree and Shrubs: April 27, 12:30-1:30 p.m., Room H110, Horticulture Building. Bring a brown bag lunch as Rory Klick, chair of CLC's horticulture department, discusses the best trees and shrubs for local conditions.