Image courtesy of The Crow’s Nest
By Sol Casanas
Every year on April 22, our nation celebrates its support for environmental protection. It’s a way to show gratitude for Mother Earth as well as educate and inform about the importance of taking care of it.
There are many different ways to show appreciation and celebrate Earth Day this year at the University of South Florida.
- Recycle. Although we should be doing this every day, try to recycle a little extra this year. Make sure to get informed on what you can and can’t recycle. How Life Unfolds is a great website that can guide you.
- Pick up litter. Next time you are walking on campus (or out in public), pay attention to the floors, see if there’s any trash and help out Mother Earth by picking it up and throwing it away or recycling it.
- Use less water. This one might be a little hard, but start by timing yourself and try to take shorter showers. Turn off the tap water when cleaning your dishes. If you have a dishwasher, even better. They are known for using a lot less water than physically washing the dishes. Check out Tips for Conserving Water for more tricks.
- Reduce your energy consumption. Another tough one. Try to keep your lights off as long as possible. Don’t keep your chargers plugged in if you’re not charging your electronic devices. And the most difficult one, keep your air conditioning off when you’re not home. I know it’s hard because it’s Florida and super hot outside, but it will get hotter every year if we don’t start taking care of Earth. Here is a great website for more tips on keeping your energy use down.
In addition to festivities you can do alone, USF is hosting its own celebrations as well.
There will be a climate climb on April 22. It’s a fun and challenging way to do something for the environment. Students can climb above Tampa on in in-air rope course, while learning about climate change. If you are adventurous and want to save the planet, this might be the perfect event for you.
Price: $15.
Location: USF Riverfront Park 6550 E. Fletcher Ave., Tampa
Transportation from USF Campus Recreation to the Riverfront will be provided.
Climbers must be under 275 pounds and be wearing close-toed shoes.
To purchase tickets and learn more information, visit here.
The Botanical Garden club at USF Tampa is hosting a free Earth Day Celebration on April 21, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. There will be community and student organizations and guest speakers. It’s a great way to enjoy USF’s beautiful botanical gardens while celebrating Earth Day and getting to know the club and its other upcoming events.
Price: Free
Location: 12210 USF Pine Drive, Tampa
Go out and do a little extra for our environment this Earth Day.
