GCSU’s Environmental Science Club, in collaboration with 15 other organizations, hosted EarthFest 2026 on April 24th on Front Campus from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., bringing together numerous organizations that promote sustainability, environmental awareness and education.
This event is hosted each year as a way for GCSU to celebrate Earth Day.
“Environmental Science has been putting on this event for a decade or two,” Allison Jones, a junior mass communication major and the marketing chair for the Environmental Science Club. “We are promoting sustainability and trying to educate people about protecting the environment.”
The event brought together clubs such as the GCSU Gardening Club, the Geography Club, the Philosophy Club and WGUR 95.3 FM, GCSU’s student-run radio station.
Each organization offered various events and activities to celebrate Earth Day and encourage eco-friendly practices in an engaging way.
“We have music that’s drawing people in,” Jones said, “People are walking out of class and stopping by.”
Some clubs, such as Shelter Buddies and the Animal Rescue Foundation & Friends club, were selling used supplies and clothes as a way to promote sustainability.
Other organizations gave away Earth Day stickers and temporary tattoos, and the Rugby Club hosted a “punch pollution” event, giving students the opportunity to beat up a boxing pad labeled “pollution.”
The Geography Club offered candy to anyone who drew a country from a hat and correctly placed it on a map, and the Botany Club had a station where students could make their own plant beads, beaded wires that students can use to decorate their plant pots.
“We are trying to build a nice community of people who care about the environment and stuff like that,” said Isabella Guidera, a senior mass communications major and the event coordinator of the GCSU Botany Club.
The Gardening Club hosted a flower pot and rock painting event at EarthFest and gave away fruit, vegetables and wildflower seeds for students to plant themselves.
“I think [EarthFest] is really cool,” said Brooklyn Colavito, a freshman elementary education major. “It’s an awesome group of people, all supporting the Earth.”
According to the official Earth Day website, earthday.org, Earth Day was founded on April 22, 1970, by U.S. Senator Gaylord Nelson of Wisconsin and activist Denis Hayes as a way to educate college campuses about environmental issues and promote sustainable efforts. They chose April 22 because it fell on a weekday between spring break and finals to maximize student participation.
The event gained national attention and on that April 22, 20 million Americans, about 10% of the population at the time, participated in demonstrations against the impacts of industrialization. Since then, it has become an annual event.
“It’s really easy for people to forget how important the Earth is and how vital it is to our success and survival,” Guidera said. “Having a day where you are reminded of it is really helpful because you see from everyone and everything that the Earth is so beautiful.”
Students can promote sustainable practices in their lives by thrifting, donating, recycling, carpooling or walking when they can.
The Environmental Science Club often hosts events with the other eco-friendly clubs on campus, such as the trip to Salamander Springs and the Greenway Cleanup. To stay informed on future Environmental Science Club events, visit their instagram @gcenviroclub.