By JW McNay/campus editor
Students can learn about and celebrate the Earth during Earth Day Fest, a three-day event April 19-21 on NW Campus.
“Earth Day Fest is an interdisciplinary event that involves hands-on, Earth Day-inspired activities, as well as an enjoyable, relaxed atmosphere to send students into the final push for the semester and celebrate the successes they’ve had thus far,” said Zachary Frohlich, chair of the student success committee.
The festivities will start with Spring Fling from 10 a.m.-1 p.m. April 19 in WSTU 1303/1305.
Attendees can get free food, free T-shirts and free airbrush tattoos, Frohlich said. They can also participate in faculty- and staff-led activities such as making seed bombs.
The event will have music and booths with other hands-on activities, said Earth Day committee chair Greta Bowling.
The booths will include off-campus organizations such as Texas Parks and Wildlife and the Fort Worth Water Department. There will also be faculty and club booths including chemistry, art and horticulture.
“It’s really just a day to come out, learn about and celebrate the Earth,” Bowling said. “This is a social event for our TCC community that supports environmental awareness. What could be more fun than that?”
The celebration will continue with a disc golf tournament at 10 a.m. April 20 outside on the WSTU lawn.
NW Campus has a great disc golf course, said NW math instructor Alan Cazares, who is leading the tournament.
“It’s an opportunity to get TCC faculty, staff and students to interact and connect outside of the classroom,” Cazares said. “I’m sure we will have players of all levels, and it’s set up in a scramble format.”
Earth Day Fest will wrap up with a 5K/10K run at 8 a.m. April 21 at the trail around Marine Creek Reservoir.
“The Earth Day 5K/10K is an event that encourages students, faculty and staff to get active in an outdoor setting with a goal of reminding participants that our Earth is a beautiful gift that we all need to take an active role in protecting and nurturing,” said NW learning lab manager Sarah Matlock who is leading the run.
All activities during Earth Day Fest are free and open to all TCC students, faculty and staff. The 5K/10K run is also open to the public with a registration fee of $20, Matlock said.
“Students should participate for many reasons,” Matlock said, noting the day provides an opportunity to be physically active, network with others, support local organizations and have fun.
