Earth Week went beyond flowery speech at Niagara College, as staff and students dug into environmental action.

Volunteers from the College community rolled up their sleeves to participate in a roster of initiatives, from an Earth Day tree planting and a virtual BioBlitz to cleanup events on campus and in the community – all in an effort to help protect and conserve the natural environment.

On April 22, 43 Pawpaw trees were planted in the wetlands area at the Daniel J. Patterson Campus in Niagara-on-the-Lake, thanks to support from the Sustainability Action Fund Micro-grant program. Windbreaks were also constructed by staff and students.

Volunteers joined students from Environmental and Horticulture programs led by faculty member Mary Jane Clark. Dean Al Unwin and College President Sean Kennedy also joined in.

“I’m very proud of the work the students did to pull this successful tree planting together,” said Sustainability Advisor Taryn Wilkinson. “Being able to share the opportunity to increase native species on campus and learn more about the significance of native species and the role we play as stewards of our campuses and our community, are what makes events like these so special, and motivates us to make sure it’s not the last.”

In addition to tree planting, the Office of Sustainability hosted a virtual BioBlitz and an on-campus cleanup on April 23 (DJP Campus).

The College community was also encouraged to volunteer at various community cleanup events on April 23, including those organized by Niagara on the Green (NOTL), the Clean City Advisory Committee (St. Catharines), and the St. Catharines Downtown Association.

This year, a team of the College’s Student Sustainability Ambassadors took the lead in organizing Earth Day initiatives. Twenty-five students are involved with the ambassador program, which launched in September.

Environmental and Horticulture students and Earth Day volunteers plant 43 Pawpaw trees and install windbreaks on campus .