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Campus

  • Two girls students painting pots
  • Plating Plants
  • A guy and a girl planting plants
  • three students with plants and pots on their hands
  • faculty and staff with happy earth day shirts

 

▼   Earth Day 2026

Earth Month Activities

Energy Competition
April 1-30 | 24/7 | Greek Housing
Greek Life goes green! Residents of the five sorority and four fraternity houses are invited to compete for the lowest per-capita energy consumption. The winning houses will earn bragging rights, a commemorative plaque, and a celebratory coffee and doughnut breakfast.
Contact: Callie Conkle - cc2433@jagmail.southalabama.edu

Campus Tree Census
April 10, 11, 13, 17, 18 | 9:00 am - 5:00 pm | Behind USA  Administration Building
Help us catalog our campus canopy! Volunteers will assist in conducting a tree census to better understand and manage the health of the many species growing behind the Administration Building.
Contact: Annabeth Cruz - aec2425@jagmail.southalabama.edu

Earth Week Activities

April 20-26

Bioblitz
April 20–26 | 24/7 | Entire Campus
Become a citizen scientist and help document the rich biodiversity across South’s 1200-acre campus! Using the iNaturalist app, students, faculty, and staff can record sightings of local plants and wildlife. The top contributor will win a sustainable prize gift basket!
Contact: Gracie Chouinard - gmc2321@jagmail.southalabama.edu

April 20

Archery Club Event w/ ADCNR
April 20 | 10:00 am – 4:00 pm | Student Rec Center Indoor Soccer Court
Aim for sustainability!  Students are welcome to drop in and try out archery, as well as get more info from DCNR! Equipment, practice, and safety training are included. 
Contact: Sarah Schrenk - sarahschrenk@southalabama.edu

Sustainable Labs Roll Out
Online Launch
Research meets responsibility. Laboratories across campus are invited to join the "Sustainability at South" initiative by committing to ten eco-friendly action items. These labs will lead the way in energy-saving techniques and sustainable research practices. Reach out if interested!
Contact: Abigail Collins - sustainability@southalabama.edu

Ink Recycling Roll Out
Online Launch
Make your mark without leaving a footprint. All departments can email sustainability@southalabama.edu for name brand ink and toner recycling Instruction. These items will be shipped to https://tonerbuyer.com/ based out of Birmingham, AL,  and will raise funds for sustainable efforts on campus (if applicable).
Contact: Abigail Collins - sustainability@southalabama.edu

April 21

Passage Garden Flower Pot Planting
April 21 | 10:00 am – 12:00 pm | Passage Garden behind EOB
Get your hands dirty with Sustainability @ South! We’re hosting a creative morning of flower pot painting followed by a planting session. Take home your own personalized pot and a native wildflower to brighten your space and support local pollinators.
Contact: Macy Cassidy - mmc2133@jagmail.southalabama.edu

Earth Day, April 22, Join us for a full day of activities to celebrate Earth Day.

Earth Day Campus Celebration
April 22 |10:00 am – 2:00 pm | Student Center Amphitheater & Atrium
Our flagship Earth Day festival! Head to the Student Center to connect with local and campus organizations dedicated to environmental advocacy. Enjoy a festival atmosphere at the amphitheater with food trucks, live music, games, a clothing swap and crafts, and don't forget to head upstairs to the atrium for a stunning environmental photography exposé.
Contact: Abigail Collins - sustainability@southalabama.edu

Clothing Drive & Swap
April 22 |10:00 am – 2:00 pm | Student Center (Near 101)
Refresh your wardrobe sustainably. Bring your pre-loved clothing and participate in our "bring one, take one" exchange. It’s a great way to reduce textile waste and find a new favorite outfit for free.
Everyone is welcome to participate—whether you have items to share or are just looking for something new. Feel free to drop off clothes even if you aren't looking to take anything home, or come browse and pick out a few pieces even if you didn't bring anything to swap!
Contact: Madison West - mlw2125@jagmail.southalabama.edu

Campus for the Climate, Ashleigh Bock Gulf Scholars Project Debut
April 22 |Time: 10:00 am - 12:00 pm | Student Center, 2nd Floor Exhibition Space
Campus for the Climate is a student-led exhibition highlighting creative solutions and innovative ideas for a more sustainable future. Through engaging displays and projects, the showcase explores how campuses can take action on climate change and inspire environmental responsibility within their communities. 
Contact: Ashleigh Bock - akb2123@jagmail.southalabama.edu

Nature Trail Scavenger Hunt & Bioblitz
April 22 |4:00 pm – 6:00 pm | Glenn Sebastian Nature Trail
Explore the wild side of campus! Join the Green Jags for a guided scavenger hunt and Bioblitz session. It’s a perfect opportunity to learn about our local ecology while enjoying the fresh air of the Glenn Sebastian trails.
Contact: Ella Summers - ens2222@jagmail.southalabama.edu

April 23

Glenn Sebastian Nature Trail Clean Up
April 23 |9:00 am – 11:00 am | Glenn Sebastian Nature Trail
Give back to the trails we love. Join our volunteer crew to help remove litter, protect local wildlife habitats, and ensure our campus recreation spaces remain beautiful and inviting for everyone.
Contact: Ella Summers - ens2222@jagmail.southalabama.edu

April 24

Guided Daytime Kayak Trip
April 24 |2:00 pm – 4:00 pm | Memories Fish Camp (Theodore, AL)
Take to the water with Campus Recreation's Outdoor Adventures! This guided paddle through Fowl River offers a unique perspective on our local waterways. Pre-registration is required; fees are $15 for students, $20 for members, and $30 for non-members.
Contact: Sarah Schrenk - sarahschrenk@southalabama.edu


Campus Recycling Resources

  • Bottles & Cans: Use the blue recycling bins for plastics and aluminum. Please remember to "chug it before you chunk it" to keep our recyclables contamination-free!
  • Paper: Look for designated blue bins near copiers and in high-traffic hallways. Whenever possible, go paperless or print double-sided.
  • Toner & Ink: Don't toss those cartridges—recycle them! Departments can coordinate bulk pickups to fund sustainable efforts.
  • Hydration: Skip the single-use plastic. Utilize the water bottle filling stations located across campus to stay hydrated sustainably.
▼   Earth Day 2025

April 1–30
 Greek Energy Competition 
Residents of the 5 sorority houses and 4 fraternity houses are competing to have the lowest per-capita energy use. First prize for each fraternity and sorority will be a plaque and a coffee/doughnut breakfast. 
Contact: Luke Lansdown - lcl2221@jagmail.southalabama.edu

April 21-27
 BioBlitz 
Help document biodiversity across South’s 1200 acre campus. Faculty, staff, students will use the app iNaturalist to document plants and wildlife across campus. The most observations will receive a certificate and small prize. Once you've downloaded the iNaturalist app, join the USA Earth Day BioBlitz by tapping the Projects icon at the bottom of the screen and click "join." 
Contact: Grace Chouinard - gmc2321@jagmail.southalabama.edu

April 21-27
 PASSAGE USA Earth Week Bingo 
This activity is specifically open for PASSAGE USA students. Students will have the opportunity to participate in Earth Week activities and complete a bingo sheet. Upon completion of the Bingo sheet, students will win a Sustainability @ South reusable water bottle. 
Contact: Grace Stringer - gas2421@jagmail.southalabama.edu

April 21 
 5:30 pm
 Hike the Glen Sebastian Nature Trails 
Come join Campus Recreation on a group hike through campus nature trails. Meet at the trails entrance at 5:30 PM and be sure to wear shoes and clothing for a walk in the woods on unpaved trails. 
Contact: Sarah Schrenk - outdooradventures@southalabama.edu

Earth Day, April 22
Join us for a full day of activities to celebrate Earth Day.

Earth Day Festival at Alumni Plaza
11:00 am – 2:00 pm
Mitchell Center Concourse
Join us on the Mitchell Center concourse to celebrate Earth Day with music, games and exhibits from campus researchers and other environmental groups. 
Contact: sustainability@southalabama.edu

College of Medicine Earth Day Break
 9:00 - 10:30 am and 1:30 - 3:00 pm
 SGLC (Small Group Learning Center) - Grassy Area near Connector Hall  
Keep calm and plant more. Take a break and do some planting. Enjoy the fresh air and recycle your plastic. Students, faculty and staff are welcome.
Contact: Marcina Lang - marcinalang@southalabama.edu

Tree Planting Event
 9:00 am - 12:00 pm 
 Intramural Fields - Near South Fieldhouse 
Join the Facilities Management Team to help kick-start South’s new tree nursery by planting more than 250 trees in recycled buckets. This will include six different species of native trees including live oaks and longleaf pines.   
Contact: sustainability@southalabama.edu

PASSAGE USA Flower Pot Activity
 11:00 am - 2:00 pm
 Alumni Plaza 
Join Sustainability @ South for a flower pot painting and gardening activity. Students will paint flower pots and plant native wildflowers to take home. 
Contact: Grace Stringer - gas2421@jagmail.southalabama.edu

Business for a Better Planet - Green Careers Event
 3:30 - 5:00 
 MCOB Terrace 
Join the Mitchell College of Business this Earth Day for a dynamic networking event where business meets sustainability! Connect with professionals, industry leaders, students and faculty who are passionate about innovative, eco-friendly business practices. Whether you're leading the charge in sustainability or just curious about new opportunities, this is the event to spark ideas and build valuable connections.
Contact: Jessica Franks - jfranks@southalabama.edu

April 23
 Learn to Fish With Fisheries Scientists
11:00 am - 4:00 pm
Library Pond 
Join Stokes School of Marine and Environmental Sciences faculty and graduate students in a learn to fish workshop. Students will have the opportunity to learn the basics of fishing including baiting a hook, casting, and landing a fish. This is first come first serve as we have a limited number of fishing poles. 
Contact: Sarah Gibbs - slg2221@jagmail.southalabama.edu

April 24
 3-Mile Creek Guided Bioblitz
 1:30 pm - 3:30 pm 
 Meet in Front of Education and Outreach Building 
Join Dr. Molly Miller and students from the STOKES School of Marine and Environmental Sciences as part of the Earth Week bioblitz to identify wildlife and plants near 3-mile creek and around South’s campus. 
Contact: Molly Miller - mollymiller@southalabama.edu

Unused Item Drop Off
Need to get rid of items before you move out for the summer? We have a bin for that. Look for the roll-off dumpsters for end-of-life items and the American's Thrift Store donation bins for any items that are still usable. Refer to this map for bin locations around campus.

April 25
 Campus Tree Tour
 10:00 am 
South Entrance of the Earth and Life Sciences Bldg.
Join the Department of Biology’s Dr. Laura Frost to learn about the ecology and biology of the many trees across campus. This will include many iconic southern species such as longleaf pines, live oaks, southern magnolias, cypresses, loblolly pines, sawtooth oaks, red maples, and more!
Contact: Laura Frost - lafrost@southalabama.edu

April 26
 Love Your Community Earth Day Celebration
 10:00 am - 2:00 pm
 Chickasabogue Park, 760 Aldock Rd. Eight Mile, AL 
Come out to the newly reopened Chickasabogue Park on Saturday, April 26, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. for Mobile County's Earth Day Celebration. This will be a fun-filled day featuring music by Ryan Balthrop and The New Cahoots, a native plant giveaway, vendors, lawn games, rock climbing wall, nature walks, children's activities and storytime, caricature drawings, food trucks, and so much more.  This event is sponsored by the Mobile County Commission, Keep Mobile Beautiful, Earth Day Mobile Bay, and the Sierra Club.

BSA Garden BBQ & Picnic
3:00 - 6:00 pm
Community Gardens next to the intramural fields
Join the Biology Student Association in the garden from 3-4:30 pm. Following this gardening event, participants can join BSA for a BBQ picnic from 4:30-6 pm.
Student Organizations
Biology Student Association
Green Jags
Society for Sustainable Engineers
Sustainable Food
USA Dining Sustainability

Campus Recycling
Plastic bottles and aluminum cans: Look for the blue recycle bins when disposing of plastic bottles and aluminum cans. If there is food waste in your recyclable trash, it will be rejected, so be sure to “chug it before you chunk it!”
Paper: Look for the blue bins specific to paper usually located near a copier or in the hallways of many classroom buildings. Be proactive when considering paper usage by copying on both sides of the page or living a paper-less lifestyle.
Ink: Ink jet printer cartridges and laser toner cartridges can be recycled. Some manufacturers provided packaging to return individual empty cartridges, but you can take that good deed one step further. Look for blue bins marked for collection of used cartridges, and we will send them back in bulk rather than sending them one at a time.
Reusable water bottles: Recycling a plastic water bottle is great, but drinking from a reusable water bottle is even better! Look for water bottle fillers around campus, and reduce waste by bringing your own (reusable) bottle.