Earth Week Events

Earth Day is Earth Week at Naropa University. Please join Naropa students and faculty in these contemplative and experiential activities to celebrate the Earth. The intentions for Earth Week are to foster awareness and education, motivate action and change, and celebrate diversity and connection. All events are free and open to the community.

Tuesday, April 22, 2008: Arapahoe Parking Lot

Take back the parking lot day.  
The main Arapahoe Campus parking lot will be roped off and Naropa students will be hosting events throughout the afternoon. Students and faculty will be encouraged to find alternative transportation other than driving. 

Organic Dining:
The Naropa Café will be serving an all organic lunch in the parking lot at the Arapahoe Campus.

Eco-Fashion Show:  
An eco-costume contest and fashion show modeling clothing and costumes that are sustainable. Costumes will be rated on categories such as: the materials the clothes are made from, if the materials are re-used, bought second hand, locally, home made and so forth. A second category will be a costume contest for people who dress up as their favorite element or aspect of the natural world.  This event will be hosted by Student Life Programming

Global Response Letter Writing Campaign: Beginning at 11 a.m.
Global Response is an environmental action and education network. Environmental Justice students will have a table set up in the Arapahoe parking lot for writing letters for wetlands protection in India.

"Connecting to the Earth Through Our Bodies”: 1:30–2 p.m. Lincoln 4140
Lyndsey Duebber, a graduating senior in the Environmental Studies program, will present her senior project in Lincoln 4140.  “Connecting to the Earth Through Our Bodies," is an interactive workshop on the philosophy that our body is the earth, which will include two earth centering practices.

Recycling Olympics: throughout the afternoon
Come on out and try your luck at one of three recycling competitions throughout the afternoon in the parking lot.

“Dumpster Diving” involves a recycling bin full of recyclables with compostable cups mixed in.  Each person will have 60 seconds to dive in and retrieve as many compostable cups as they can.

“Phone Book Shot Put”
Each person will throw a phone book and the farthest distance wins.

“Recycling Ski-ball”
Each person will have recyclable cans and bottles to roll in to recycling cans. Each can will be placed at different distances and the farther ones will earn more points.

Wednesday, April 23, 2008

“Earth Speaks. We Answer." : A Ceremonial Dialogue with the Earth led by Michael Browlee of Boulder Valley Relocalization: 12–1:30 p.m. in PAC

On the brink of an evolutionary threshold, what message does the Earth have for us now? Can we listen deeply enough to hear? Can we answer her call?

On Earth Day, we will gather in stillness, bringing into the circle treasured objects from the living planet: rocks, flowers, branches, crystals, bones, shells, feathers, fossils, seeds, whatever speaks to you. One by one we will give these objects voice, speaking for the voiceless, and we will listen together to the Earth.

Then, one by one, we will answer with our deepest, most heartfelt response. What will we say to the Earth now? Do we have a gift we can offer, or a promise we can commit? Can we stand together and answer Earth's calling? Can we speak together for humanity?

The ceremony will open with music played by Naropa’s very own Rosh.  Jennifer Bohn and Paul Montgomery will present the “Zero Waste Hero Awards.” 

Michael Brownlee, co-founder of Boulder Valley Relocalization, will lead the ceremony. Everyone is invited to bring an object from the earth, or have one in mind, with the intention of listening to the earth’s voice and giving our own gifts to the earth.  Please join us in this sacred encounter.

Click here for map and directions.

“Sacred Landscaping”: 2–4:30 p.m., meet at Snow Lion Housing parking lot
Join Costen Aytes and the Naropa landscaping crew for contemplative landscaping at the Snow Lion Naropa housing dorm.  This will be an opportunity to listen to, prepare and nourish the earth following the “Earth Speaks, We Answer,” ceremony in PAC. *Bring garden gloves if you have some.

Thursday, April 24, 2008

“Beekeeping: Apiculture at Naropa”: 3 p.m., Sycamore 8120 (art room)
In her senior project presentation, Brien Darby examines the basics and history of beekeeping and the usefulness of bees to humans. She also examines the differences between organic and conventional beekeeping and makes her recommendations for using organic beekeeping on the Naropa campus.

Community Supported Agriculture: A Survey of Current Practices in Local CSA’s
4:00–4:30 p.m., Sycamore 8120
In this senior project presentation, Leigh Rovegno discusses her research interviewing CSA farmers in the Front Range region to learn about their organizations and find out what’s working in this exciting new model of Community Supported Agriculture.

Saturday, April 26, 2008

Idaho Creek Wetlands Restoration Project: 7:30 a.m.–3:30 p.m.
Join Environmental Service Learning students and Wildland Restoration Volunteers in this project to plant more than 8,000 native plants and willows. This project requires registration by going to www.wlrv.org or contact brien.darby@gmail.com. Meet in the parking lot at Arapahoe Campus and car pool to St. Vrain State Park (just east of Longmont). Lunch will be provided.

What a great way to finish Earth Week and celebrate Arbor Day!