Upcoming Events

Powering a Sustainable Future

Infographic highlighting challenges in energy access, efficiency, and renewable sources in relation to Sustainable Development Goal 7.

Apr 18

Thursday, April 18, 2:30-4:00 pm, Lecture Room of Downtown Bellingham Public Library

Our Spring 2024 forums are being jointly hosted by WWU's Sustainability Engagement Institute and Center for Community Learning, and Bellingham Public Library. The forums build on the "Learning Together Through Climate Upheaval" series we initiated last year to enhance the learning capacity of the planet so that we can make the most of the opportunities and challenges of climate change.

We're continuing our effort to host a forum related to each of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDG's), which help us approach climate change responses in an inter-sectional, holistic way.

Please join us to share your hopes and challenges related to creating a more sustainable region, and meet others doing inspirational work! We’ll leave with new connections and opportunities for action!

LEAD Native Plant Restoration

A group of people posing for a picture with trees and grass in the background.

Apr 22

Time: 9:00am-3:00pm Location: Outside Wade King Rec Center

Description: The LEAD program will be hosting two exciting planting events around Western's campus! These new spaces will showcase our local ecosystem, increase habitat for local fauna, and offer spaces where anyone in the community can pause and enjoy a moment of rest. Come join us to get your hands dirty and make a lasting impact on our WWU community!

Host Group: LEAD

Climate Realism & Energy Optimism: Unpolarizing Current Politics with Bob Inglis

Apr 22

Time: 4:00-5:00pm Location: AW 204 & on Zoom

Former Congressional Representative Bob Inglis discusses how and why those with diverse political views are indispensable partners for action on climate. Lively discussion is encouraged. Gigi Berardi will be moderating the Q&A portion of the event. The invite for the lecture can be found here.

Host Group: College of the Environment & WWU Foundation

Chartwells Sustainability: Food Waste

An image showing a bowl of quinoa and cooked vegetables, garnished with herbs, on a table surrounded by raw zucchini, carrots, brussels sprouts, cherry tomatoes, lime wedges, and a fork beside the bowl.

Apr 22

Time: 5:00-8:00pm Location: Planet Eats @ Fairhaven Commons

Come to Planet Eats at Fairhaven Commons for dinner and learn more about our climate-friendly practices!

Host Group: Chartwells

Earth Day Fair

A bird eye view of Western Washington's Red Square.

Apr 22

Time: 11:00am-2:00pm Location: Red Square

Sustainability starts with community! Come together to learn about the sustainability work being done both on and off campus, celebrate the beautiful place we live, and eat free food at this year’s Earth Day Fair!

Host Group: Sustainability Engagement Institute & AS VP of Sustainability

Film Screening: Kiss the Ground

An image of a tree with roots visible under the ground. The background of the image has animals grazing and farmer working on the field. The text on the top part of the image says "Narrated by Woody Harrelson Kiss The ground" and the bottom parts says "The solution is right under our feet".

Apr 23

Time: 6:00-8:00pm Location: AH 204

Students for Climate Action and the Office of Civic Engagement are partnering to put on a screening of Kiss the Ground during Earth Week! Come learn about (more info) with us on Tuesday, April 23 from 6-8 p.m.

Host Group: Office of Civic Engagement & Students for Climate Action

A word for Mother Earth: Environmental Open Mic Night

The image shows a green background with white text at the top reading "A WORD FOR MOTHER EARTH." In the center, there's a graphic of a clenched fist holding a microphone, which features an image of Earth on the microphone head, set against a circular black background with star-like speckles.

Apr 23

Time: 7:00-9:00pm Location: Underground Coffee House

Self-expression can be a service too! Speak, sing, or act out your feelings about the environment and environmental issues at this special open mic night!

Host Group: Community Service Center

Urbanism Activism: Understanding the Movements to Secure Bellingham's Waterfront

A bird eye view of Western Washington University.

Apr 24

Time: 2:00-5:00pm Location: VU 565

This event will connect WWU Students to the City of Bellingham's comprehensive planning department and Whatcom County planners. Students will be able to learn about the unique planning techniques used in our local community and cutting-edge techniques from around the nation. With this information, students will be able to share their desires about the direction of our community's built environment with a focus on the proposed ABC Metal Shredder.

Host Group: Planning Club, Office of Civic Engagement, & Students for Climate Action

Forest Bath in the Arb

A path through a dense, green forest with autumn-colored leaves.

Apr 24

Time: 5:00-6:00pm Location: Miller Hall Collaborative Space

Join Students for Renewable Energy club to renew and rejuvenate ourselves with a forest bath, an ancient Japanese tradition. We will meet in Miller Hall Collaborative Space at 5pm and walk up to the top of the Arboretum, then we begin our forest bath on a trail before heading back to campus.

Host Group: Students for Renewable Energy

Earth Week Repair Fair

The image shows sewing threads, scissors, measuring tape, and a zipper laid out on a table.

Apr 25

Time: 9:00am-5:00pm Location: VU Multipurpose Room

Reduce waste and save the things you love! Join Zero Waste Western at their Repair Fair, where a variety of community members will be coming together to fix small items, including mending clothes, fixing small appliances, and repairing sports gear.

Host Group: Zero Waste Western

Sustainable Clothing Swap + Go for the Green Celebration

An advertisement with a green background, featuring the text "Combat Fast Fashion - SUSTAINABLE CLOTHING SWAP. Bring unwanted items from your closet and swap them for new to you pieces!" And, a tagline that says "+ GO FOR THE GREEN! CELEBRATION!" in a contrasting white text box.

Apr 25

Time: 4:00-7:00pm Location: Wade King Rec Center MAC Gym

This year's Go for the Green celebration will be the annual Housing Sustainability Clothing Swap! Clothing swaps allow residents to swap unwanted clothes and accessories for new-to-you items, combating resource-demanding clothing production, consumerism, and fast fashion.

At the event, we will be raffling off prizes to Go for the Green pledgers and announcing the winner of the competition!

RSVP Link

Host Group: Housing Sustainability

Earth Week Cook-In

Green vegetables, an egg, tomatoes, and an oil laid out on a table for cooking.

Apr 26

Time: 9:00am-12:00pm Location: AH 219

Are you interested in food or farm policy, or simply food? Join us for an Earth Week cook-in featuring fermentation, simple meal prep demos, and even cheesemaking! We'll also talk about student-driven campus projects that prioritize support services and programs around food at Western.

Host Group: College of the Environment & Gigi Berardi

Tools for Sustainable Eating: Plant Your Own Herb Garden and Decorate Your Own Tote Bag!

A blue background with white text saying "Tools for Sustainable Eating" and showcasing a central circular graphic depicting a tote bag alongside colored pencils and a pot with seeds poured into it. The bottom text says "Plant your own herbs and decorate your own tote bag."

Apr 26

Time: 10:00am-12:00pm Location: VU 5th Floor Lobby (In front of Campus Post Office)

Set yourself up to shop sustainably and grow your own food! At this event, stop by to decorate a free tote bag and plant herbs to start your own indoor or outdoor food garden!

Host Group: Community Service Center