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CORVALLIS, Ore. – Oregon State University is celebrating Earth Week beginning Saturday, April 18, with a community-wide EarthFaire on the Corvallis waterfront, the annual Procession of the Species Parade through downtown Corvallis, and a climate policy town hall meeting at the Corvallis-Benton County Public Library.

On Saturday, cities across the nation will be partaking in town hall type forums organized by local Focus the Nation teams to engage people from Congressional representatives, to elected city officials, as well as community members in amplifying a discussion on America’s transition to a green economy. From 3 to 7 p.m. at the Corvallis-Benton County Public Library, key panelists will first talk about what they are working on now with regards to a green economy. Then they will talk about what they need to help create the green economy. An informational session will be provided to what kind of legislation is moving forward in Salem.

The panel discussion will be followed by a round table discussion, which will address how Corvallis citizens, university and city administrators, and government officials can connect their resources and engage each other to work out what the green economy would look like.

The events continue through April 24, with most of the activities taking place on or near campus, including the annual Community Fair April 21, which features information on 50 different campus and community groups focusing on sustainability, the environment and related topics.

“Around the world, people are realizing we have to really take the environment seriously and our impact seriously,” said Michaela Hammer, OSU Student Sustainability Initiative visibility coordinator. “Earth Week is becoming less of a special event and more about showcasing what we can do all year round.”

One popular Earth Week event is the annual Earth Day Hoo Haa, an afternoon celebration on April 22 at a student-run organic farm on the outskirts of Corvallis. Featuring speakers, live music, family-oriented events and the opportunity to get your hands dirty, it draws folks of all ages.

Other highlights of Earth Week include a Living Hat contest April 20, where participants show off their haberdashery skills as well as their green thumbs when they craft a hat out of living materials. The brand new OSU Bike Co-op is playing host to a bike race and open house April 23 to share the organization’s mission, which includes providing a place for students to learn how to work on their bikes and take free classes on bike maintenance.

And the newly formed OSU Permaculture Club will teach participants how to start seeds and make seedballs during an event at the Student Sustainability Center on April 22.

The following is a calendar of events, which also can be accessed at http://recycle.oregonstate.edu/EarthDay/eventCalendar.cfm:

Saturday, April 18
• 10 a.m. - 2 p.m.: EarthFaire, First and Monroe Avenue. Exhibitors, music, crafts and more.
• Noon - 1 p.m.: Procession of the Species, First and Jackson Street. Join the parade dressed as any species.
• 3-7 p.m.: Focus the Nation Town Hall, Corvallis-Benton Public Library. Ask legislators about climate policy.

Sunday, April 19
• 9 a.m.-noon: Naturalist adventure, Avery Park Rose Garden. Explore nature at this local park.

Monday, April 20
• 11 a.m. - 2 p.m.: Sorting it Out: Trash audits in MU quad. Help rescue recylables from the landfill.
• 12:30-1:30 p.m.: Alternative Transportation Panel, MU 211. Options for ridesharing, mass transit, biking and more.
• All day: Living Hat Contest. Make a hat out of living materials to promote Earth Week.

Tuesday, April 21
• 11 a.m. - 3 p.m.: Annual Community Fair, MU Quad. Interactive informational fair with 50 different groups.
• 7-9 p.m.: Climate Crisis 101, Student Sustainability Center, 738 S.W. 15th St. Overview of the climate crisis.
• 7-9 p.m.: Call & Response Movie Showing, Club Escape, OSU. Documentary to end human trafficking.

Wednesday, April 22
• Noon - 3 p.m.: Potting and Seed Balling, Student Sustainability Center. Start seeds and make seed balls to take home.
• 3-7 p.m.: Earth Day Hoo Haa!, Organic Growers Farm, 1 mile east of Corvallis, Hwy. 34. Organic food, music, plantings and more.
• 3:30-4:30 p.m.: GECO Climate Change Speaker Series, Burt 193. Karen Shell speaks about her climate research.
• 7-9 p.m.: Blue Vinyl Movie Showing, 1001 Kelley Engineering. Documentary on PVC’s environmental effects.
• 7-9 p.m.: The Call Lecture, Milam Auditorium. Speakers discuss human trafficking.

Thursday, April 23
• 3-5 p.m.: Simple Sustainability, OSU Women’s Center. Learn how to reduce your environmental impact.
• 5 p.m.: Get to Know Your Local Bicycle Co-op, MU Quad. 5:30-9 p.m., Student Sustainability Center. Bike race and open house to learn about the co-op.

Friday, April 24
• 3-4:30 p.m.: Synthetic Sea, Synthetic Me: Plastics in the Ocean, Strand Ag Hall. Speakers discuss plastic’s effects on the marine environment.
• 7-9:30 p.m.: SSI Earth Week Party, Student Sustainability Center. Food, games and entertainment.
• 7-8 p.m.: Flames for Change Vigil, MU steps. Candlelight vigil and rally against human trafficking.

OSU Earth Week is sponsored by Campus Recycling, Student Sustainability Initiative and ASOSU Environmental Affairs, as well as Corvallis Public Works and First Alternative Co-op.