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.
Why Rehabilitate? – Hannah Robart
Eco-Backyard: Composting & Planting Trees – Robert Dunn
Why We All Play a Role in Conserving Our Oceans – Kathryn Campbell
The Role of Nature & Mental Health – Cathy Petchel
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)
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
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...
Mother Nature
Written by Hannah Robart To know what Mother Nature knows To see the beauty that she holds. Everything we have We owe to her. So why do we choose not to love A mother that has given us so much? One day, I think we’ll see That our mother will not take this disrespect...
La Selva
Written by Marcy Saldivar | A summer-morning cicada choir sings, The green iguanas jump between treetops, A scarlet macaw opens rainbow wings, Dim light contrasts the glowing eyes of crocs. At dawn, a herd of peccaries run home, Capuchins play a game of tag...
What’s the word?
Written by Chibuike Ugwu | Johnny is a special boy, He can talk to animals, which brings him joy, Johnny went to south china to see Mr. Tiger, But he was sad to see his Ambush was getting lighter. Johnny decided to go to Kenya to greet Mrs. Rhino, But he noticed the...
Ode to the Mojave
Written by Ostin Woodfin | Wind burns the edges of the ear, in return for its words. The secrets of the desert are held in the words of the wind, the screams, the tears, the laughter, the silence. The Mojave is a home to many, including myself, the blood in my veins...