26th Annual Earth Month Events ‘Make Waves’

Commemorate Earth Day all month long with Bellevue College’s Earth Month event series happening now through April 30. With a goal to reach carbon neutrality by 2050, the theme for Bellevue College’s 26th annual Earth Month is “Make Waves: Amplify Your Voice.”  

“This year’s theme was chosen to inspire action in the face of climate and environmental issues,” Sara Holzknecht, director of Sustainability at Bellevue College, said. “We can all make a far-reaching impact, and there are so many great ways to plug in.” 

From removing invasive campus plants on April 8 to shopping at the college’s Earth Market on April 30, Earth Month events will feature speakers, workshops, films, giveaways, and educational programming that are open to all members of the community. Snacks and prize drawings will be at every speaker session and workshop.  

New this year will be a Sustainable Grounds tour that showcases various projects on campus. The college’s Office of Sustainability also established a local partnership with women-owned business ReCooped PNW. The business created custom vehicle litter bags made from recycled materials that will be given away throughout the month. Longstanding events include an electric vehicle (EV) car show with the Seattle Electric Vehicle Association, a tree giveaway, and e-waste collection.

Bellevue College’s Climate Action Plan identifies seven major areas that will help get the campus to carbon neutrality by 2050. Several Earth Month events were designed with those key areas of focus in mind, including but not limited to: 

Natural Systems: Join Bellevue College’s Sustainable Grounds tour from 1:30-2:30 PM on April 14 and learn about projects around campus aimed at improving habitat and biodiversity. 

Zero Waste: Stop by the Clothing Swap and Refill Station from 10:30 AM to 1:30 PM on April 15 to browse free clothing items and take home green cleaning and bath products. Don’t forget your reusable containers. 

Transportation: Visit the Bellevue College courtyards from 10:30 AM to 1:30 PM on April 16 to experience the electric vehicle show courtesy of Seattle Electric Vehicle Association. You’ll get a close-up look at many brands of EVs, custom builds, and more, as well as learn about how electric cars work and what makes them better than all-gas cars. 

Resilience: Join Snohomish tribal elder Pamela SeaMonster as she shares traditional stories and Indigenous wisdom about native plants of the Pacific Northwest from 12:30-1:30 PM on April 22. Learn traditional Coast Salish uses of many plants that grow on the Bellevue College campus and beyond.  

Culture and Learning: Professor Camille Dungy, author of the recent book, “Soil: The Story of a Black Mother’s Garden,” will give a presentation at 12:30 PM on April 23. Dungy’s book addresses the intersection of race, climate justice, and community history. No registration is required. 

Buildings and Energy: Stroll through the Earth Market from 10:30 AM to 1:30 PM on April 30. Shop and talk with local organizations working towards green building practices, energy resilience, and more. 

Social Equity: Purchase a Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) box from local, organic farms, supported by the Student Environmental Sustainability Fund from 10:30 AM to 1:30 PM on April 30.  

Bellevue College is located at 3000 Landerholm Circle 
SE in Bellevue, Washington. View a map of campus. Visitor parking is available on campus for $3 per day.