Skidmore announces Earth Week activities

The weather is finally showing signs of spring, just in time for Skidmore’s Earth Week festivities.  

This year’s Earth Week celebration will kick off on Saturday, April 18, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., on Case Green.  Organized by the Environmental Action Club, the event will highlight various clubs and organizations on campus and their activities.

As part of the event, Benef-Action will host a seed-planting table to increase awareness of Seeds of Peace, an organization that fosters friendship between children from regions of conflict; the Outing Club will set up a climbing wall; Skidmore’s Eco-Reps will give away tree seedlings; and the United Students Against Sweatshops will host a clothing swap.  In addition, the Environmental Action Club will present information on the Cool Cities campaign, which advocates climate-change action in local communities. The day will include free music and food.  

The Earth Day celebration will coincide with SGA’s “Spring Fling,” which will incorporate some environmental elements, such as a boat race on Haupt pond with watercraft made of “eco-friendly” or reused material.
 
North Woods guided tour and trail work
On Sunday, April 19, Skidmore will host its second North Woods Stewardship Day from 1- to 4 p.m.  The day will include a guided tour of the woods led by Robert Jones, associate professor of economics.  The tour, open to the public, will focus on the cultural history of the North Woods and will follow some of the historic carriage trails that remain in the area

The present Skidmore campus is located on land that prior to 1960 was known as Woodlawn.  Its grounds contained largely forested land with several estate homes, a large lawn, and more than 20 miles of carriage trails dating back more than a century.  Those on tour will receive a current North Woods map along with a map from the 1880s and some historical photographs.

Also scheduled for April 19 is a program of trail maintenance and repair in the North Woods, designed to improve conditions for hiking and to prevent erosion. The work will be done by community volunteers rallied by local resident Ken Ivins, the commissioner of finance for Saratoga Springs, in collaboration with Skidmore volunteers. Participants will repair boardwalks over marshy areas, dig trenches for water-erosion control, and do general clean-up.

Allerdice Building Supply of Saratoga Springs is supporting the project by providing materials and supplies.

Trail-work volunteers will meet at 1 p.m. in the main lobby of Palamountain Hall lobby; tour participants will meet in the Palamountain lobby at 2 p.m.

The Official Earth Day
To wrap up the Earth Day festivities, the Environmental Action Club will host a “Potluck Challenge” on the “official” Earth Day, April 22, in Falstaffs at 7 p.m.  Members of the Skidmore community are urged to show off their culinary expertise by entering their favorite dish in a food competition.  Dishes will be judged on taste, presentation, and ingredients.  Judges will award extra points to dishes that include local ingredients.

For more information on Skidmore’s Earth Week activities, contact Erica Fuller, campus sustainability coordinator, 518-580-5865.