On Friday, April 22, the University of Notre Dame will celebrate the 46th anniversary of Earth Day with events and activities to engage the campus community in celebrating the natural world and being good stewards of our common home.
Seed Packet Giveaway
The celebration starts early with seed packet giveaways on all campus shuttle routes. Each shuttle will have flower seed packets that riders are invited to take home and plant. The flowers that bloom will help support natural pollinators across Michiana.
Campus Dining food specials
Throughout the day Campus Dining will be offering Earth Day food and drink specials in campus eateries and dining halls. Specials will feature local and veg-centric options, including roasted squash strudel, vegan carrot cake, and bison burgers.
- Dining Halls (both) will offer Vegan Carrot Cake, Roasted Squash Strudel on the Carving Stations for lunch, "Earth Day" special salad at the action station.
- Reckers will offer a Bison Burger as an option
- Cafe de Grasta and Decio will offer their daily hot vegetarian option
- Jordan, Kitz, Poche, Reckers, Cafe De Grasta, and Decio will offer double cup reuse discount (that's $0.50 off your drink if you BYOB!)
- Corby Hall will offer a Fruit Breakfast Smoothie for Breakfast utilizing frozen ripe bananas that were saved from the trash, a Vegan Black Bean Burger for lunch, and a Veg Centric Black and Bleu salad for dinner featuring a local Amish Bleu Cheese and local meat.
Yoga on the dock
A free yoga class will be offered at the St. Joseph Beach dock from 12-1pm. Led by Megan Smedley from the McDonald Center for Student Wellness, the class is an opportunity for employees to enjoy the beauty of Notre Dame’s campus while also firmly planting themselves both mentally and spiritually. Yoga mats will be provided.
Tree Tour
A guided walking tour of some of campus' best known, award winning, and interesting trees is also offered from 12-1pm and will meet in front of Main Building's steps. The tour will be led by Barbara Hellenthal, curator of the Museum of Biodiversity and Greene-Nieuland Herbarium, and author of Trees, Shrubs, and Vines on Notre Dame’s Campus.
The tree tour is limited to 15 people so that all have the opportunity to hear. If there is enough demand, a second tree tour will be added. To sign up for the tree tour, please fill out this form.
Announcement of winners of the Children's Sustainability Art Contest
Earth Day will also include the announcement of the winners of the Children’s Sustainability Artwork Contest. Open to all young family members of Notre Dame’s faculty, staff, and students, the contest invites children to portray what sustainability means to them by submitting original artwork that focuses on the theme of “planting it for the planet”.
VOTE for your favorite artwork here
Click here to learn more from the Office of Sustainabiity.