Experiential learning is a pillar of an Elon education, and understanding campus as a “living lab” allows students, faculty and staff to support sustainability on campus through hands-on work. The Elon community can participate in integrated lab lectures, inquiry-based introductory courses or sustainable research to better understand just how campus functions as a living lab.

First introduced in 1749 but popularized in 1990, the concept of a “living lab” incorporates real-world experiences and scientific experiments to generate new knowledge to advance sustainable initiatives. This model is typically seen in research, where projects take place in everyday environments as opposed to isolated scientific spaces such as a lab. Adopting the idea of a living lab integrates community participation, multidisciplinary work and real-world sustainable solutions that can later be scaled beyond the community level.

How can we interact with a “living lab?”

University campuses provide ideal sustainable living labs as they intrinsically function as a small town: combining centralized housing, dining, energy systems and transportation under one management system. On Elon’s campus in particular, waste management systems, energy regulation, green architecture, and behavioral change initiatives grounded in experiential learning provide an ideal environment to conduct sustainable research outside of a controlled environment.

�þ���, faculty and staff can support campus as a living lab by participating in workshops, taking interdisciplinary classes that emphasize sustainable behavior, providing feedback to campus partners on initiatives or participating in campus research or class projects related to sustainability.

Sustainable research: What is already being done? 

Elon’s Sustainability Project Database highlights existing classes and �þ��� research projects that connect to sustainability. This database explores existing campus initiatives while also identifying gaps in sustainable research and curriculum on campus. Alongside this database, the Sustainable Faculty Scholars program supports faculty on campus who are interested in incorporating sustainable principles into their courses. Courses that incorporate sustainability-based curriculum while also supporting student and staff project interests have created a space within Elon’s living lab for constant campus development that follows community interest and priorities. Courses that cover sustainability-related topics can be seen throughout departments across campus, such as history, engineering, theatre and Elon’s core curriculum.

Sustainable research: What can be done? 

The Sustainability Project Database is ever expanding, and students, faculty, and staff are encouraged to collaborate to continue developing this resource. Collaboration is primarily encouraged through proposing a project idea or research question. These proposals highlight what the Elon community would like to see as class projects or on-campus �þ��� research and provide space for these ideas to be explored in a formal academic setting. Existing proposals alongside new ideas can help inform curriculum development and proposal ideas while simultaneously highlighting contacts across campus who are interested in supporting specific sustainability initiatives.

Elon further supports sustainable research through a Sustainability Research Grant that applies to any and all majors. With an emphasis on sustainable development goals, research grants are awarded to students who contribute meaningfully to the knowledge base of sustainability as a broad discipline.

The �þ��� as a Living Lab program provides space for students, faculty and staff to advance sustainability initiatives on campus. All Elon community members are encouraged to contribute to potential project or research questions and collaborate across disciplines, schools, and departments to foster sustainable development. By modeling a living lab, Elon is advancing on-campus sustainability while developing a more comprehensive understanding of sustainable research and community engagement.

At Elon, sustainability is an institution-wide effort that is part of the Boldly Elon strategic plan. As campus begins the 2026-27 academic year and welcomes the class of 2030, �þ���’s Office of Sustainability is excited to continue building campus’ culture of sustainability and environmental stewardship. Understanding the role each of us plays in campus sustainability first requires understanding what campus sustainability looks like. Elon has a variety of campus initiatives dedicated to sustainability, and launched an updated Sustainability Master Plan in 2025, both of which support Elon’s operational efforts.

When it comes to individual actions, the Office of Sustainability relies on student employees to foster community and build campus stewardship. Among these employees is a team of peer educators known as Eco-Reps. When asked about Elon sustainability, these students provided tips and tricks to better understand the campus culture of environmental stewardship.

Come to Office of Sustainability events (Talya Schube ’29, Eco-Rep for Colonnades Neighborhood) 

The Office of Sustainability hosts a variety of events each month to engage students, faculty and staff in many forms of sustainability. With the help of student feedback, this looks like pop-ups in Irazú to explore alternative uses for old coffee grounds, or collaborations with the Astronomy Club to understand how spending time in nature stargazing can positively impact mental health. Specifically, at the start of the semester, the Office of Sustainability promotes events throughout campus to explore concepts of Earth Day Every Day: how daily actions of stewardship support campus sustainability initiatives. In addition to these events, student organizations such as Sierra Student Coalition offer opportunities to engage in local sustainability initiatives through hands-on volunteer work across North Carolina.

Walking is one of the most sustainable ways to get around campus (Gillian Prichard ’28, Eco-Rep for Historic Neighborhood) 

While it seems simple, and likely something many are already doing, walking or biking around campus are measurable steps towards sustainability.  During FY 2025, 14% of Elon’s gross greenhouse gas emissions were from student, faculty and staff commuting. Elon’s well-maintained paths make walking or biking accessible for community members to take small daily actions towards building campus’ culture of stewardship. The choice between walking or driving to class or a meeting may seem minute, but small individual actions can create large differences when communities commit to these actions together.

Take advantage of the dining halls (Sophia Barnes ’29, Eco-Rep for Loy Center Neighborhood)

Elon’s dining team, Harvest Table Culinary Group, is also hard at work to bring plant-forward meals and promote sustainable food consumption to students, faculty and staff alike. Whether through local produce, plant-based meals, or sustainable animal products, students are unconsciously supporting a greener campus. Swiping into a dining hall to enjoy a wide array of options, and possibly bringing some home in a , is a simple yet effective institutional measure in making campus more sustainable.

Utilize recycling bins in Moseley (Talya Schube ’29, Eco-Rep for Colonnades Neighborhood) 

While traditional recycling bins can be found throughout campus, specialized recycling bins are located in Moseley Student Center, Belk Library and throughout campus to help dispose of non-traditional items. Whether that be thin plastic (think grocery store bags), electronics, or writing utensils, these specialized bins help Elon’s campus divert more materials away from the landfill. While these items cannot be recycled via single-stream bins, separating them allows Elon and external organizations to re-use these existing materials. Next time you find yourself in possession of something you wish you could recycle, be sure to check to see if Elon has a recycling bin for it first.

These are all small actions that many are already taking to help build a culture of care and environmental stewardship. Appreciating Elon’s beautiful campus by walking, properly disposing of our waste, or eating at one of our many dining locations on campus are simple ways to continue to build a strong culture of sustainability on campus. Sustainability relates to all majors, careers, passions and hobbies and can at times feel overwhelming. It is an important reminder to know that the simple things on campus add up, and that small actions at a community level result in a culture of care that continues to strengthen Elon’s commitment to sustainability.

The Academics Implementation Team is focused on strategies to advance sustainability in the areas of curriculum, engaged & experiential learning, and research & creative inquiry. One specific project is developing a sustainability course designation. The team is also exploring additional ways to track sustainability research and creative inquiry. Based on current data, 66% of academic departments have at least one faculty member engaged in sustainability research.

The Facilities Implementation Team is working on a variety of reduction efforts focused on energy, water and waste across campus. Compared to the FY 2024 baseline, energy consumption per square foot decreased 3% in FY 2025, and the reduction target for 2035 is 20%. Water consumption per square foot decreased 5.5% in FY 2025, from the FY 2024 baseline, and the reduction target for 2035 is 15%. In FY 2026, Elon generated approximately 6.4% less waste per person than the 2024 baseline, and the target is to reduce waste per person by 25% by 2035.  These efforts demonstrate continued progress toward sustainable campus operations.

The Engagement Implementation Team is advancing sustainability programming on campus and communications regarding sustainability initiatives.  During the 2025-26 academic year, 22.2% of students and 8.2% of faculty and staff participated in sustainability activities, and the target is 40% of students and 15% of faculty and staff by 2035.  Efforts include adding a “sustainability” tag in 25Live, so that any department or office planning an event related to sustainability can designate it as such.

These are just a few examples of the work underway across campus. Learn more about the Sustainability Master Plan 2025 Year 1 progress.

“Earth Day Every Day programming provides an exciting opportunity for the Elon Community to learn about sustainability, take action and connect with others looking for change,” said Sophia Remisio ’27. “Planting for the Planet has a special place in my heart, as it was one of the first Office of Sustainability events I ever attended and it introduced me to a community of people on campus with a passion for sustainability!

Planting for the Planet | Friday, Sept. 4 from 3-5 p.m. at Elon Community Garden
Are you interested in getting involved with sustainability at Elon? Join us at the Elon Community Garden to connect with like-minded individuals and enjoy potting your own houseplant to take home.  We’ll provide plants, soil, and pots. , but drop-ins are always welcome!

Steeped in Sustainability | Monday, Sept. 7 from 1:30-2:30 pm on Medallion Plaza
Come to Medallion Plaza and leave with your very own sustainable iced drink kit! Sample refreshing sparkling “Scrappy Sodas” made with upcycled fruit syrups and sparkling water, then take home your own mason jar, reusable straw, recipe card and sustainably made syrup to recreate the drinks yourself. Decorate a reusable tote bag to carry it all home, and enjoy fresh flower bouquets from Loy Farm to celebrate the season. Join us for a fun and tasty time!

Sustainability Stewards Meeting |Wednesday, Sept. 9 from 7-8 p.m. in Moseley 215
Interested in getting involved in sustainability at Elon?  Join the Sustainability Stewards program to connect with like-minded individuals and promote sustainability throughout campus. , but drop-ins are always welcome.

Coffeehouse Coffee Scrub with SUB | Thursday, Sept. 10 from 10-11 p.m. in Irazu
Enjoy SUB’s Coffeehouse, then give those coffee grounds a second life! Join the Eco-Reps to create your own all-natural body scrub using spent coffee grounds and discover an easy way to turn waste into something useful.

Elon Farmer’s Market | Thursday, Sept. 17 from 3-6 p.m. at Elon Community Church
Join us to support local farmers, enjoy fresh seasonal produce and find unique handmade goods! Stop by the Office of Sustainability’s table to taste delicious “ugly” produce and learn how embracing imperfect fruits and veggies helps fight food waste.  The Elon Farmer’s Market runs every April- October 3-6 p.m. at the Elon Community Church.

Autumn Swap Shop | Friday, September 25 from 4-6 p.m. in downstairs Moseley
Fall into sustainable fashion!  Bring gently used clothing to swap for cozy sweaters, scarves, and more at our autumn-themed Pop-Up Swap Shop. Find something new-to-you and learn how swapping can save money and reduce waste.

Star Gazing for Mental Health | Thursday, Oct. 1 from 7:30-9:30 p.m. on the Daniel Commons Patio
Take a break, look up and reconnect with the night sky! Enjoy stargazing, cosmic-inspired snacks, and learn how time spent outdoors can help reduce stress and improve well-being. Attend for a chance to win a telescope to continue exploring the night sky!

Sponsored by the Astronomy Club, Counseling Services, the Dr. Jo Watts Williams School of Education and the Office of Sustainability.

Coffeehouse Coffee Scrub with SUB | Thursday, October 8 from 10-11 p.m. in Irazu
Enjoy SUB’s Coffeehouse, then give those coffee grounds a second life! Join the Eco-Reps to create your own all-natural body scrub using spent coffee grounds and discover an easy way to turn waste into something useful.

Tree Walk | Friday, October 9 from 12-1 p.m. at Fonville Fountain (in front of Alamance)
Join Elon’s Arborist Wendy Williams on a walk around Elon’s beautiful campus to learn about Elon’s trees, including the Tree Trail on campus, Wendy’s favorite trees, and insider information on the maintenance and sustainability of the Elon urban forest. .

Earth Day Every Day directly supports the Engagement Goal in �þ���’s Sustainability Master Plan 2025.  Learn more about the Sustainability Master Plan 2025.   

“CommuteNC is a wonderful addition to Elon’s sustainability efforts because it gives our community a practical way to make a difference in their daily lives. By connecting people who share similar commutes, we can help reduce transportation costs, lower emissions and build a stronger sense of community across campus,” said Kelly Harer, associate director of sustainability for education and outreach.

Create your Elon CommuteNC account by September 11 for a chance to win prizes, including a hammock or a $50 local restaurant gift card! Be sure to use your Elon email address when creating your account because Elon’s CommuteNC program is an Elon-specific network.

Want an extra chance to win? Refer another Elon employee or student! If they create a CommuteNC account by Sept. 11 and complete , you’ll receive an additional raffle entry.

CommuteNC directly supports the Transportation Goal in �þ���’s Sustainability Master Plan 2025.  Learn more about the Sustainability Master Plan 2025.   

The course asked scholars three of the biggest questions they’ll face heading into college and beyond.

• Who are you?
• How does the world around you work?
• Where do you belong in it?

Answering those questions meant building a team that could bring three different lenses to the room, not one guest lecturer parachuted in for an afternoon, but three weeks, three educators and one shared arc.

The design work started long before anyone boarded a flight. Jess Savage and Yanyan Li, both from Warwick, along with Aoife Prendergast from TUS Ireland, worked with Ritchie from early on to shape the course’s structure and pedagogy. Amanda Lang and Jo Kukuczka from Warwick also helped shape the wider exchange from the start, thinking through how a course like this could work across institutions with genuinely different academic cultures. Elon Assistant Teaching Professor of Wellness Evan Small, Elon Academy Director Emily Wiersma, and the Elon Academy team helped the team turn their planning into a course that actually happened, on the ground, with real scholars.

In June 2026, that design became three weeks of �þ���. Savage led the first week, taking scholars outside to investigate the natural world of Elon’s campus, observing and mapping the environment and asking who shapes it and how they could begin to understand sustainability differently. Li led the second week, turning to the digital world, unpacking what AI is, whose values it carries, and how to use it with honesty and critical thought. Prendergast led the third week, joining the class from Ireland as the s first Transatlantic Teaching Fellow. She turned the lens on the scholars themselves: their story, their strengths, their future, and what belonging looked and felt like for them.

Belonging wasn’t confined to Prendergast’s week; it ran through all three, as the thread underneath the environment, the AI and the identity work alike. Scholars kept a reflective journal throughout, used photography in the first week to document their experience, and carried a logo and motto project across all three weeks: hand-drawn in Week 1, recreated with AI in Week 2 under a co-created and scholar-drafted honor code, then made personal in Week 3 as their final project, representing their own identity, values and vision for the future.

“That arc worked because an international team built it together, then taught it together, each trusting the ones before and after them to carry it forward,” said Ritchie. “So much of Fulbright’s work is about building bridges between UK and US institutions. But a bridge only matters once people walk across it, and once the people crossing it have had a hand in building it too. That’s what this collaboration set out to do: curriculum design, planning, and �þ���, shared genuinely across three institutions, not handed from one to another.”

In 2024, commuter travel accounted for 16% of Elon’s carbon emissions. Elon’s Office of Sustainability is working towards achieving carbon neutrality by 2037. As such, Elon uses, encourages and supports sustainable transportation options that help reduce carbon emissions.

Link Transit’s Blue Line runs from the Town of Elon to both Gibsonville and Burlington, Monday through Friday 5:30 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. and Saturday from 9:25 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.

Link Transit’s  can be used to locate the exact location of buses that are currently running. Additionally,  may be viewed for each of the bus lines.

For more information on the Link Transit bus system, visit  For more information on sustainable transportation initiatives at Elon, please visit the Office of Sustainability’s website.

The shop runs twice a week, Mondays from 4 – 6 p.m. and Fridays 3:30 – 6 p.m. If students would like to get free clothing but do not have any clothing on hand to swap they may commit to a sustainable habit or donate any fabric scraps on hand.

Lauren Nesbit ‘27 is the current outreach intern for the Office of Sustainability, and part of her role is managing the Pop-Up Swap Shop.

“I really love working on it because I get to meet so many people on campus passionate about personal style and sustainable fashion,” said Nesbit.

Additionally, Nesbit emphasized the importance of student donations in helping maintain the Swap Shop’s inventory and ability to reach more members of the Elon community.

“The wider variety of donations we get, the wider variety of customers we can serve, so never be afraid to donate what you have/ Every donation helps someone else achieve their dream closet in a sustainable way,” she added.

For more information on sustainable events and initiatives across campus, visit the Office of Sustainability’s website. To view dates and times of specific events, view the 

The recognizes mid-career individuals who are significantly contributing to the advancement of sustainability in higher education. Durr is one of ten individuals chosen to receive this award in its second year. Selection was based on the impact recipients are making in the field of higher education sustainability through one or more of the following: programs and projects; products, presentations and publications; service and mentorship.

“I am truly honored to receive the AASHE Fellows Award,” said Durr. “Impactful sustainability work is not done in isolation. I am grateful for the collaboration, support and involvement of many Elon staff, students and faculty, as well as colleagues at other institutions, and for the support and opportunities provided by AASHE.”

Durr has been at Elon since 2008, when she was hired as the university’s first full-time sustainability professional. Since her arrival, Elon’s sustainability program has advanced significantly and received local and national recognition.

“Since joining Elon, Elaine has approached this work with passion, creativity and a deep commitment to cultivating sustainability within all aspects of the Elon community,” said Brad Moore, Associate Vice President for Facilities and Chief Facilities Officer. “This is a tremendous honor for her to be recognized as one of the top 10 leaders doing this work. We are incredibly proud of her and grateful for the lasting difference she continues to make at Elon.”

The AASHE Fellows Award is one of four annual awards given by AASHE.

“The 2026 AASHE Sustainability Award recipients reflect the momentum and innovation driving change across higher education. Among their community, these individuals are true changemakers—turning bold ideas into action and setting a powerful example of leadership and impact for the field,” said AASHE Executive Director Meghan Fay Zahniser.

To learn more about AASHE’s Sustainability Awards programs, please visit .

�þ���, faculty and staff are encouraged to attend as many events as you can for your chance to win various prizes! First, second and third place winners will be determined by those who attend the most events throughout the week. There will be one set of student winners and another set of faculty/staff winners. More competition details may be viewed on the 

Huria Tahiry ‘26, environmental justice intern for Elon’s Office of Sustainability, has attended several Earth Week events over the past three years, and says that Earth Week is “a wonderful opportunity to learn, make new friends, have fun, and take a moment to appreciate the Earth.” Tahiry is particularly excited for this year’s Earth Week, since there will be more events than any previous year.

SCHEDULE OF EVENTS 

Saturday, April 18

SUSTAINABLE DAY OF SERVICE | VARIOUS TIMES & LOCATIONS (TRANSPORTATION PROVIDED)
9 – 12 p.m. | PARK REVITALIZATION WITH ALAMANCE COUNTY PARKS & RECREATION

Help restore one of the local Alamance parks that serves the whole community! The event will be at Swepsonville River Park (2472 Boywood Rd. Swepsonville N.C.) The activities will include repainting the entrance gate, and staining two Kiosks, and a couple of park benches.

Transportation will be provided from the Elon Express Bus Stop between Inman Admissions and the Library

9:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. | MORROWTOWN COMMUNITY GARDEN WORK DAY | MORROWTOWN COMMUNITY GARDEN

Spend time outdoors, connect with others, and support a space that provides fresh food and connection opportunities in Burlington! Come get your hands dirty, learn something new, and be part of growing something meaningful together. The Morrowtown Community Garden was founded and is managed by the Morrowtown Community Group, which was formed to inspire positive social and environmental change for a diverse community in Burlington that deserves to thrive. Participants should wear clothing and shoes they don’t mind getting dirty. Please bring a reusable water bottle and sunscreen. Transportation to the event will be from the Elon Express spot outside of the library.

1:30 – 4:30 p.m. | KAYAK CLEAN UP | LAKE MACKINTOSH

Take care of local Lake Mackintosh while enjoying the beauty of nature. Kayaks, gloves and trash bags provided. New and experienced kayakers are welcome!  Please wear clothing you don’t mind getting dirty and bring a reusable water bottle and sunscreen. Transportation to the event will be from the Elon Express stop outside of the library.

Monday, April 20

9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. | CAREER CLOSET | UPSTAIRS LAKESIDE

Join us for the Career Closet “grand opening” for a special one-day pop-up shopping event!

The Career Closet empowers Elon students by increasing access to professional and formal attire while fostering leadership, service, and community impact. In partnership with the Student Professional Development Center, the Center for Leadership, the Office of Sustainability and Student Involvement, this on-campus resource encourages students to think ahead, support one another and give back to the Elon community.

This event is open to all members of the Elon community.

Have extra professional or formal wear? Donate gently used items from April 7th–April 17th in the Center for Leadership to give back, support fellow students and promote sustainability on campus.

Stop by, shop sustainably and find the perfect look for your next interview, internship, or formal event!

11 a.m. – 1 p.m. | ORGANIC MOCKTAILS | CLOHAN DINING HALL

Come try a delicious mocktail featuring Certified Organic Tractor Beverage and learn about organic produce with Elon Dining’s Sustainability Manager Leslie Bosse!

11:30 a.m. – 1 p.m. | SOOTHING SOUNDS OF SUCCULENTS | NUMEN LUMEN SACRED SPACE

Step into a space designed to help you slow down, breathe deeply and reconnect. Soothing Sounds & Sprouts is a mental-health-centered gathering where calming music and hands-on planting come together to nurture you.

Enjoy a curated soundscape of gentle, restorative music; learn how different sounds can impact mood; and plant your own small herb to take home—a living reminder of growth, care and resilience. We will share simple grounding practices you can use anytime stress feels overwhelming and use our senses to be more present.

Whether you stay for five minutes or the full experience, this event invites you to pause, reset, and tend to yourself—because just like plants, we thrive when we receive light, care, and space to grow.

4 – 6 p.m.  | POP UP SWAP SHOP | DOWNSTAIRS MOSELEY
Looking to refresh your closet? Have any perfectly good clothing you no longer wear? Bring it to the Pop-Up Swap Shop to trade for new-to-you shirts, pants, dresses, and more! No clothing to swap? No problem! Commit to a sustainable habit OR donate any fabric scraps on hand to earn free clothing!

The Pop Up Swap Shop runs in downstairs Moseley every Monday (4 – 6 p.m.) and Friday (3:30-6 pm) during the Spring 2026 semester.

4:15 – 5:30 p.m. | BOOK DISCUSSION – SAVING US: A CLIMATE SCIENTIST’S CASE FOR HOPE AND HEALING IN A DIVIDED WORLD | LOY FARM

In preparation for Katharine Hayhoe’s keynote address on Wednesday, April 22, join Faculty Fellow for Sustainability Scott Morrison for a discussion about Hayhoe’s most recent book. Light snacks will be provided for those who register.

5:30 – 6:30 p.m. | HONORING INDIGENOUS VOICES | CREDE

Join us for a conversation with Corey Roberts, assistant professor of Native American and Indigenous studies, exploring indigenous history, culture and perspectives connected to this region. This event aims to create space for learning, reflection and dialogue within the Elon community. Traditional food will be shared as part of the gathering.

Tuesday, April 21

9:40-10:20 a.m. | COLLEGE COFFEE 

Stop by the Office of Sustainability’s table at College Coffee to learn about sustainability efforts on campus. Don’t forget your reusable mug to enter to win $100 Phoenix Cash!

11 a.m. – 12:15 p.m. | COASTAL CRAFTS: SHELL JEWELRY DISHES | YOUNG COMMONS

Create or take home oyster and wampum shell jewelry dishes while learning about their ecological significance and Indigenous cultural importance in the Northeastern United States.

11 a.m. – 2 p.m. | GARDEN PARTY | MCEWEN DINING HALL

McEwen Dining Hall will feature garden party themed foods, including small plates and plant-forward options. Come join us for this super fun and sustainable lunch!

4 – 5 p.m. | STARS CELEBRATION | LAKESIDE MEETING ROOMS

Celebrate �þ���’s most recent Sustainability, Tracking, Assessment & Rating System (STARS) Report with food, interactive activities and exciting prizes! Learn about Elon’s sustainability efforts, connect with others and discover opportunities to support sustainability at Elon. This event is open to all students, faculty and staff.

Wednesday, April 22

11:30 a.m. – 2 p.m. | PICKLE POP UP | LAKESIDE DINING HALL
Join Elon Dining to taste how delicious and sustainable pickling can be!

12 – 2  p.m. | TOTE-ALLY SUSTAINABLE | MEDALLION PLAZA
Join us to paint your own reusable tote bag while learning about how to reduce waste!

5 – 6:30 p.m. | BELTANE CELEBRATION | ELON COMMUNITY GARDEN
Beltane is a time of renewal, protection and community where people can come together to share stories, offerings for deities, and have fun by dancing and making crafts. Beltane is historically a practical agricultural and seasonal holiday signifying the start of the growing seasons and time of abundance. Come celebrate together by making flower crowns, mini maypoles, and enjoying good food!

7 – 8 p.m. | EARTH WEEK KEYNOTE: KATHARINE HAYHOE, “SOLVING CLIMATE CHANGE STARTS WITH US (BUT NOT THE WAY YOU THINK!)” | MCKINNON HALL, MOSELEY CENTER

“What can I do?” is most people’s top climate question. The truth is, while our personal choices matter, the most important action any of us can take isn’t changing a lightbulb, eating a plant-based burger or buying an electric vehicle (EV). Drawing on lessons from science, history, and social movements, Katherine Hayhoe shows how using our voices to call for systemic change is the first step towards catalyzing the tipping points that will help us build a better future. Solving climate change does start with us—but in ways far more powerful than we might imagine.

Katharine Hayhoe is the chief scientist for The Nature Conservancy and a Horn Distinguished Professor and endowed professor of public policy and public law at Texas Tech University. She has served as a lead author for the second, third and fourth U.S. National Climate Assessments. She is the author of the best-selling book “Saving Us: A Climate Scientist’s Case for Hope and Healing in a Divided World.” Hayhoe has been named to lists including the TIME 100 Most Influential People and Fortune’s 50 World’s Greatest Leaders.

Sponsored by the Office of Sustainability, the Environmental Studies Department, Facilities Management, the School of Communications, the Sustainable Enterprises program and the Truitt Center for Religious and Spiritual Life.

9 – 10 p.m. | S’MORES WITH OUTDOORS | BECK POOL PATIO

Join Elon Outdoors and the Eco-Reps for a special Earth Week S’mores with Outdoors! Make your own sustainable bug spray so that you can enjoy more time outdoors.

Thursday, April 23

9:50 – 10:30 a.m. | NUMEN LUMEN | NUMEN LUMEN PAVILION 110

The challenges we face expand our perspectives. The moments that leave us speechless have the power to change lives. The stories we tell help us to make sense of these challenges, moments, and everything in between.

Grounding ourselves in this moment is how we show up in an unexpected and ever-changing world.

This week’s speaker is Becca Bishopric Patterson, associate director of the  Gender and LGBTQIA Center at �þ��� where her work focuses on gender equity, LGBTQ+ inclusion, survivor support and violence prevention. For the last 15 years, Becca’s life and work has been dedicated to facilitating healing, justice, sustainability, and connection within communities in professional and personal roles. Becca has served on leadership and organizing teams across Alamance County, currently leading initiatives within the Alamance Racial Equity Alliance and Transcend Alamance. Bischipric Patterson lives in Elon with her spouse, toddlers, and (many) pets, and loves spending time with friends envisioning a world where all life can thrive.

5 – 7 p.m. PM | PARTY FOR THE PLANET | MOSELEY WEST LAWN

Celebrate sustainability with fun activities and live entertainment! This event will also feature a swap shop where students can trade their gently used clothes for new (gently used) clothes.

5 – 7:30 PM | EARTH FEST | LAKE MARY NELL

Try over a dozen dishes featuring local foods and meet the local partners themselves at Elon Dining’s Earth Fest! You’ll even get to meet our most famous local partner, Pearl the dairy cow, from Ran-Lew Dairy.

Friday, April 24

PIZZA & PRAYERS FOR THE PLANET | VARIOUS TIMES | MCBRIDE GATHERING SPACE (NUMEN LUMEN)

Join the Truitt Center’s Rabbi Maor Greene, Father Peter Tremblay and Imam Shane Atkinson for Earth Week themed sermons and guided discussion on being caretakers of the natural world. All are welcome to attend one or all of the following sessions:

12:15 -12:45 p.m.  – Catholic Mass
12:45 – 1:15 p.m.  – Lunch & Learn with Rabbi Maor
1:15 – 1:30 p.m. – Jumuah Prayer

3:30-6 p.m. | POP UP SWAP SHOP | DOWNSTAIRS MOSELEY

Looking to refresh your closet? Have any perfectly good clothing you no longer wear? Bring it to the Pop-Up Swap Shop to trade for new-to-you shirts, pants, dresses, and more! No clothing to swap?  No problem! Commit to a sustainable habit OR donate any fabric scraps on hand to earn free clothing!

The Pop Up Swap Shop runs in downstairs Moseley every Monday (4-6 pm) and Friday (3:30-6 pm) during the Spring 2026 semester.

8:00-9:00 p.m. | SUSTAINABLE FASHION SHOW | GREAT HALL, SATO COMMONS

Join us for a student-led sustainable fashion show celebrating the creativity and potential of upcycled fashion! Featuring three main themes of comfy, casual, and classy, student designers and models are showcasing the endless possibilities of sustainable styles! Come early to enjoy sustainable sweets and a scrap fruit mocktail prior to the show!

Sunday, April 26

1 – 3 p.m. | ZERO WASTE BASEBALL GAME | LATHAM PARK

Join us at Latham Park for a Zero Waste Baseball Game—where cheering for Elon also means cheering for the planet! Enjoy the game while helping us reduce landfill waste through composting and recycling. Come learn how small actions can make a big difference and help us show that game day can be both fun and sustainable.