Earth Day Fair

Earth Day was established in 1970 when the public became increasingly concerned about the current state of the environment. 

The Earth Day Fair has been a tradition at W&J since 2019.

In April 2020 and April 2021, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the fair was brought online for a week. It focused on educating the W&J community about sustainability topics, student and faculty environmental work, and encouraged participation in celebrating Earth Day.

Student & Faculty Blogs

Students and faculty have contributed over 50+ blogs dedicated to celebrating Earth Day. Topics range from conservation to environmental justice issues, and they touch upon personal experiences or passion for a subject.

Biophilic Cities: the important role of nature in our cities.

Written by Erin Herock I’ve always loved cities. Growing up near Pittsburgh, I remember how excited I was when my parents took me downtown. When I was old enough to drive, I took any opportunity to hangout in Frick Park with friends or walk along North Shore before...

Greenify Your Coffee

Written by Lily Bonasso Have you ever glanced at your morning coffee and wondered about its origins, about the process that it has undergone from bean to cup, about the environmental implications of the industry? Maybe not, but I’d like to urge you to do so today. My...

Summer 2020 Internship – Penn’s Cave and Wildlife Park

Written by Cameron O'Connor This past summer, I interned at Penn’s Cave and Wildlife Park as a cavern guide. I drove a boat throughout the underground river system and educated the public on the geology and biodiversity of the cave and the wildlife park. Although...

Why Rehabilitate?

Written by Hannah Robart   Wildlife rehabilitation is the caring of individual wild animals until they can be released back into the wild, but it can take a lot of time, work, and energy. So why put in this much effort into providing care for sick or injured...

The Adirondacks

Written by Jared Heller     The Adirondack Mountains in upstate New York have been on my family’s annual adventure list for some much-needed soul searching and good vibes ever since my dad learned about the area through summer camp as a child. Letting some...

Lily’s Gardening Tips

Written by Lily Bonasso The days are finally getting longer, and all of the spring flowers are beginning to bloom! In light of the changing of the seasons, one of the best ways to celebrate what the Earth has to offer is by planting a vegetable garden to care for. Not...

Gen-Z Visionary Collective

On this Earth Day, 2021, I thought it would be appropriate to tell you all about a growing movement in the city of Pittsburgh focused on climate justice. I am a recent graduate of W&J, a member of the class of 2020, and a member of the Gen-Z Visionary Collective. ...

Vegan Myths: Debunked!

Written by Lena DiFulvio Being a vegan for three years now, I’ve heard my fair share of myths, rumors, and rebuttals. I usually find it best to confront these discussions with a sense of humor, but it also helps to have a few solid arguments ready in your back pocket...

How is COVID-19 Related to the Environment and Minority Communities in the United States?

Written by Rachel Karman As of April 2nd, 2021, COVID-19 has taken more than 2.83 million lives world-wide. The pandemic had a reproductive rate (Re) of 2.2-3.0, essentially meaning that if you got the virus, you would likely spread it to 2-3 other people. A...

How to Recycle Plastic Bags into Yarn

Written by Carly Croft Do you feel as though you’re drowning in a sea of single-use plastic bags? Ever wonder what you could be doing to reuse them other than carrying things in them or using them for your trash can? If so, this DIY is for you. Plastic shopping bags...

Student Creative Pieces

Students wrote poems, short stories, and created art centered around celebrating the earth.

Title: “Tenacity”

Artist: Lena DiFulvio

Medium: Pencil on paper

“Tenacity,” at first glance, seems simply to be a human hand holding a tree, its roots spread about, reaching for the unseen earth below. A butterfly perches on the hand, its size taking hold of our gaze. Is this a work depicting beautiful human interaction with the Earth, providing fertile ground for its life to flourish upon, or is the tree in the image is being mercilessly uprooted, a symbol of human destruction and carelessness? Just as we must decide how we treat our planet, it is up to us to assign meaning to this piece. (April 2021)

Environmental Ceramics

Environmental Ceramics

Written by Savannah Keough  | As a child I loved being outside with my siblings, being in nature, and using art as an outlet to let my creativity run wild and that has stuck until this day. Throughout high school, I discovered that my love for art expanded when I took...

We Need Them

Written by Bri Hoffman  | What would we do without the bees? They are the reason behind flowers  And fruits on trees  It is not just the bees we desperately need  There are other creatures too that without we could not succeed  Beetles are around under leaves on the...

Plastic Bag in Blossoming Tree

Written by Sofya Maxnide  | It stands out A huge white blob amongst the red little things At the end of each tingly feeler of the strong tree Clinging to the outstretched arms of the living tree Not even a parasite can I call it for its not alive In any sense but yet...

The Cactus & The Eagle

Written by Gracie Gregick | It was through the immense pain in my heart that I, myself, came face to face with the Gods. Once before, they descended to our people as messengers; promising land if we left the security of our home in the North. We wandered dispossessed...

Thoughts & Prayers

Written by Nickolas Bartel | The world  yells  in  another  uproar    Another  environmental  tragedy  has occurred  once more.   As it has  swallowed  one more  toxic pill,    we learn of  yet  another  oil spill.   While  the people ask for aid to repair the lives...

Lion Reserve in Kaolack, Senegal

Lion Reserve in Kaolack, Senegal

Photo by Marcy Saldivar Written by Marcy Saldivar | 2 feet in front of me— No cage or glass between— Stood Abeke, an epic lion. And there I stood,  Paralyzed. Her coarse fur was stained matte gold.  And I saw deep amber eyes undisturbed by my presence. She looked...