Earth Week at Rowan

First held on April 22, 1970, Earth Day is an annual event to demonstrate support for environmental protection. Since then, the Earth Day Network has been working to mobilize over 1 billion people annually on Earth Day, and every other day, to protect the planet.

At Rowan, a variety of actions are planned to celebrate Earth Day throughout "Earth Week" 2025. Highlights include:

Planetary Crisis Communication: A Roundtable on Response (Wednesday, April 16, 2025): Hosted by Rowan's program in Health and Science Communication, this event features brief presentations and a roundtable discussion focused on responding to recent cuts in scientific research funding, public health programming, and environmental justice initiatives.

Eco-Fest 2025 (Kickoff on Monday, April 21, 2025): Presented in collaboration with the Design & Environments course, led by Assistant Professor Mina Zarfsaz, this week-long celebration of creative climate advocacy, environmental education, and public engagement showcases student-led projects that activate Rowan’s campus through design, storytelling, and sustainability.

BioBlitz (Tuesday, April 22, 2025): The all-day event features a race against the clock to record as much flora and fauna as possible within a set area in order to take a snapshot of its biodiversity at that time. A host of related engagements are planned across, including Arboretum Walking Tours (Trees of Rowan with Dr. Sara Wright; Biodiverse & Sustainable Landscapes with Dr. Sara Wright and Linda Walczak), Wetland Plants of Rowan (with Dr. Charles Schutte), Bug Safari (Discover, Catch, and Release Campus Insects with Dr. Shelly Thomas), tabled activities (Smell Studio with Pineland Forest Fragrances, Share your Water Story, and Rowan Arboretum Table hosted by Rowan Libraries), and the self-guided Walk the Westby Wilds Trail of the Westby Smell Garden. You can also see a live native plant-inspired mural painting, east of Discovery Hall along Cassady Way, by Sammy Kovnat.

Sean Kane-Holland Seminar - Nature: Accessible for All (Wednesday, April 23, 2025): Part of the Department of Biological & Biomedical Sciences' Seminar Series, the discussion will focus on making New Jersey’s natural spaces more inclusive and accessible.” Sean Kane-Holland is an Access Nature Disability Advocate with the Pinelands Preservation Alliance.

Arbor Day Walking Tour: Spring Blooms (Friday, April 25, 2025): An immersive 90-minute walking tour featuring Rowan’s magnificent trees.

Planting Day at Westby Wilds, a Native Plant Smell Garden (Friday, April 25, 2025): Bring your gardening gloves (or use ours), get your hands in the soil, meet fellow native plant enthusiasts, form new smell memories and talk about your smell experience -- or simply come by to see and sniff a trillium, one of our endangered (and fragrant) wildflowers, any time between 10am-2pm. Facilitated by Dr. Jen Kitson, Prof. Donna Sweigart and Smell Studio Students.

Sound Planet Music Festival (Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, April 25-27, 2025): The Sound Planet Music Festival was founded in 2023 to present impactful performances and learning opportunities focused on the climate and biodiversity crises. Events include indoor + outdoor concerts, lectures + education sessions, immersive + interactive activities, and more. 2025 performances include:

• Earth Busking (Friday, April 25): Musicians will perform pop-up “concerts” throughout the campus of Rowan University.
• Composing for the Natural World: A Conversation with Majel Connery and Anthony Plog (Friday, April 25): Two renowned artists, composers Majel Connery and Anthony Plog, will discuss their experiences creating music inspired by the natural world.
• Nature Walk Concert (Saturday, April 26): Attendees will be guided along a nature trail on Rowan University’s campus as musicians perform live from various points on the path. This event features Rowan University Department of Music faculty and student artists.
• Chanticleer: Music of a Silent World (Saturday, April 26): The Marie Rader Series is proud to present Chanticleer’s Music of a Silent World program, in which the ensemble sings the songs of the natural world and gives a voice to the otherwise voiceless rocks and stones and trees and rivers that share our planet with us.

Community Earth Day in Pitman (Saturday, April 26, 2025): Hosted by Rowan's School of Earth & Environment in collaboration with Pitman's Environmental Commission, this year's theme is Waterpalooza, with a focus on the health and recreation of Alcyon Lake. Held at Betty Park, the event will feature hands-on activities and giveaways for the community.