Celebrate Salve Regina’s Earth Month with variety of events and activities
Earth Day is celebrating its 53rd anniversary in 2023 on Saturday, April 22. As earth is a critical concern of the Sisters of Mercy, the celebration of Earth Day is a central tradition to Salve Regina’s mercy, Catholic mission.
This year, Earth Week has now been expanded to Earth Month, with events that kicked off at the end of March with the COP27 delegate roundtable luncheon.
Earth Month events are happening throughout the month of April and even into May. The schedule will be full, as community members from across campus will be providing programming with lectures, service opportunities, art projects and other activities.
There are also community service events that focus on the earth, as well as dining experiences in Miley Café that will reflect Earth Month values. Some events require registration, while some do not.
To find a full listing of offerings for Earth Month and registration information, go to the Earth Month 2023 website.
Earth Month Events
Wednesday, March 29
COP27 Delegate Roundtable for Worldwide Teach-In on Climate and Justice
Noon, Ochre Court
This event has concluded. Interested in being considered to serve as a delegate from Salve Regina for COP28? Click here to complete an interest form.
Monday, April 10
The Watershed Protectors Meeting
5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.
Bazarsky Lecture Hall in O’Hare Academic Building
Join Dr. Jameson Chace, chair of the Department of Cultural, Environmental and Global Studies; the Aquidneck Land Trust; the Preservation Society of Newport County; and Save the Bay for a free community outreach event to discuss the current findings on pollution levels in Almy Pond. The meeting will explore what the city and volunteers have done to better understand the sources of the pollution, and offer tips for what the city can all do to help stop it.
This event is asking for registration. Please go here.
Salve Regina delegates from the COP 27 held in Sharm El-Sheik Egypt in 2022 have a roundtable discussion with staff and students about their experiences on March 29 as part of Earth Month.
Thursday, April 13
Pop-Up Consignment Shop
3 p.m. to 7 p.m., Gerety Hall
Starting that Spring cleaning? Looking to donate to a good cause? Join the students from PHL-260: Applied Ethics, taught by Dr. Craig Condella and Dr. Jameson Chace, as they host a sustainable consignment shop for Earth Month. All proceeds and unsold items will be donated to the Housing Hotline.
Down to Earth: What is Our Hope? Stories of Earth and Spirit
5 p.m., Mercy Center for Spiritual Life
Join in the celebration of Earth Month as interfaith community leaders and Salve Regina students share stories about their spiritual experiences in nature. Those listening will be invited to share their own stories of the awe and wonder of the world and the call to care for it. Together, participants will seek to be responsive to the critical concern of earth in these challenging times. Snacks will be provided.
This event is asking for registration. Please go here.
Sunday, April 16
Native Species Planting on Sakonnet Greenway Trail
9 a.m., Sakonnet Greenway Trail
Join Aquidneck Land Trust and Salve Regina’s Environmental Club in planting native shrub species along the Sakonnet Greenway Trail in Portsmouth, Rhode Island. Native species planting helps support and allows natural ecosystems to thrive. In addition to the work, participants will have the opportunity to learn about the history and ecology of Aquidneck Island’s open spaces. Volunteers are asked to wear sturdy footwear, long socks, sleeves and pants. Please dress appropriately for the weather conditions. Gloves, shovels and other tools will be provided, and lunch will be provided on site. Volunteers should bring their own filled reusable water bottle.
To register for this event, click here. For more information, email sophie.beauchesne@salve.edu.
Taize Multi-Faith Prayer Service
2:30 p.m., Our Lady of Mercy Chapel
Experience the sacred mystery of prayer through song and silence in the spirit of Taize with a special reflect on the earth offered by Linda Forsberg.
Mass for the Earth
5 p.m., Our Lady of Mercy Chapel
Participants in the Earth Champion Awards in 2022.
Monday, April 17
Celebrate Earth Day: Plant a Seed
2:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m., McKillop Library
Stop by McKillop Library to plant flower or vegetable seeds in a biodegradable container to take back to a dorm room or apartment. There are multiple seed options available.
Tuesday, April 18
Minding the Climate with Ann-Christine Duhaime, M.D.
4 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.
Bazarsky Lecture Hall in O’Hare Academic Building
Join Ann-Christine Duhaime, M.D., author of “Minding the Climate: How Neuroscience Can Help Solve Our Environmental Crisis” for a keynote lecture as she explores the evolution of the human brain and the neuroscience of decision making in relation to climate activism. Duhaime will explore urgency around climate change and why it is so difficult to change behaviors and consumer tendencies.
This event is asking for registration in advance.
Wednesday, April 19
Earth Week Arboretum Tour
1 p.m., tour begins on front lawn of Misto Gatehouse
Join Michael Chester, Superintendent of Grounds; Dr. Jameson Chace, Chair of Cultural, Environmental and Global Studies; and Chris Fletcher, Certified Arborist in Rhode Island, for a spring tour of Salve Regina’s Arboretum. This educational and inspiring tour will begin at the Misto Gatehouse and will tour trees in the downtown campus area. Attendees will receive an Earth Month reusable travel cup upon arrival and can fill up on lemonade to enjoy on tour.
This event is asking for registration in advance.
“Beyond Zero” Film Screening and Panel Discussion
Social 5 p.m. to 6 p.m.
Screening 6 p.m.
Discussion 7:30 p.m.
Bazarsky Lecture Hall in O’Hare Academic Building
In celebration of Earth Month and in support of the Critical Concern of Earth, a collaboration of departments across campus invites viewers to attend this film screening and panel discussion. This film offers an inspirational roadmap for how businesses can reverse climate change as it tells the story of how, after a life-changing epiphany, the CEO of a global public company embarks on a high-stakes quest to eliminate all negative environmental impacts by 2020.
This event is asking for registration in advance.
Tree planting in 2022.
Wednesday, April 26
Arbor Day Tree Planting: Chestnut Tree at O’Hare
1:30 p.m., front lawn of O’Hare Academic Building
Join Salve Regina’s Tree Committee and the Grounds Department for the annual Arbor Day tree planting of a Briotti Red Horse Chestnut to replace the chestnut that had to be removed for the O’Hare renovations years ago.
Earth Champion Awards
Following Tree Planting, on O’Hare front lawn
Following the Arbor Day Tree Planting will be the announcement of the 2023 Earth Champion Award recipients, which includes faculty, staff and students. Celebratory refreshments will be available.
This event is asking for registration in advance.
Friday, April 28
Discover the Roots of Trees: What Can We Learn from Salve’s Arboretum?
1:40 p.m. and 2:40 p.m.
Mercy Summit on Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
In celebration of the Mercy Summit on Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, join presenters as they engage community members with Salve Regina’s Level II Arboretum. The presentation will discuss planting techniques, maintenance, and the symbolism behind some of Salve Regina’s trees. This lesson will be followed by a reflective discussion on the metaphors for inclusion, equity, justice, implicit bias, power, privilege and mercy found in the trees.
Click here to register for the Mercy Summit on Diversity, Equity and Inclusion.
Click here to register for the 1:40 p.m. educational session and click here to register for the 2:40 p.m. educational session.
Salve Regina boasts exquisite trees.
Wednesday, May 3
A Dust of Snow, Time, Place, Perspective: A Lecture and Dialogue on Trees Through the Eyes of Arborists
4:00 p.m., Young Building
Join Chris Fletcher, certified arborist and arborist representative at Bartlett Tree Experts, and Dr. Beth Brantley, plant pathologist at Bartlett Tree Experts, as they share dialogue on the local history of Newport trees and present challenges they face, as well as environmental opportunities on Newport’s landscape.
This event is asking for registration in advance.
Find a full listing of offerings for Earth Month and registration information on the Earth Month 2023 website.
Earth Month is sponsored by the Sustainability Committee; the Student Government Association; the Campus Activities Board; the Environmental Club; the Center for Community Engagement and Service; the McAuley Institute for Mercy Education; the McKillop Library; the Mercy Center for Spiritual Life; the Department of Cultural, Environmental and Global studies; the Department of Religious and Theological Studies; the Department of English, Communications and Media; the Department of Music, Theatre and Dance; the Office of Mission Integration; Grounds and Facilities; the Arboretum and more.
