A Few Friends for the Environment of the World (AFFEW) will host free Earth Day events from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Saturday, April 26, at the United Methodist Church, 5810 Bryant Road, Ludington.
The all-day celebration takes place during the 55th anniversary of the original Earth Day and marks the 35th year since the area nonprofit AFFEW was founded.
This year’s Earth Day theme is “Our Power, Our Planet.” As stated on the Earth Day website, the goal is “to unite behind renewable energy, and to triple the global generation of clean electricity by 2030.”
AFFEW’s keynote speaker will be Dr. Erik Nordman, an environmental social scientist and adjunct professor of natural resources management at Grand Valley State University. He will discuss “The Power of Working Together.”
“Resolving our environmental problems can seem overwhelming when viewed from the perspective of one person,” Nordman stated. “However, we have achieved the most when we’ve worked together.
“Whether it’s union workers banding together to advocate for clean and safe working conditions, or states cooperating to sustain our Great Lakes, there is great power in collaboration.”
Dr. Nordman is also an author, a former Fulbright Visiting Professor in Nairobi, Kenya, and a former Visiting Scholar at Indiana University-Bloomington’s Ostrom Workshop. The university’s website states that the workshop is “the world leader in instructional resources, research, and more having to do with the study of the commons and commons governance.”
Jim McGrath, co-founder with his wife Carol of Nature Discovery, will bring reptiles and amphibians for an interactive show meant for all ages. Nature Discovery has the largest collection of Michigan reptiles and amphibians in the state, according to a statement on the center’s website. McGrath earned a degree in wildlife biology from Michigan State University and has been an interpretive naturalist for more than 34 years.
The day’s other activities include a “Thrifted Threads” fashion show of eco-friendly clothing from area resale shops, garden tours, guided hikes, “earthly” food treats and kids’ events.
Representatives of many other groups and organizations will be present at booths to share their information.
The full schedule of the day’s events is below.
Time Location Event
Presentations
11:30-12:30 Sanctuary Thrifted Threads Fashion Show
1-2 pm Sanctuary The Power of Working Together: Dr. Erik Nordman
2-3 pm Children’s Rm. West Reptiles and Amphibians: Jim McGrath
Activities
10:30-11:30 Lobby Singing & Drumming for Joy & for Spirit, Dave Stycos
11-3 Informational Booths
11:30-1:30 Social Hall Reptiles & Amphibians Exhibit
11-2 Social Hall Kids activities
11-2 Social Hall Earthly Treats by Dannee & Kay
11:30-2 Behind church U Dig It Community Garden Tours
3:30-4:30 Meet at entrance Guided Hike with author/botanist Dave Dister
To sign up as a volunteer, visit: Volunteer for Earth Day. For more information about AFFEW or the organization’s Earth Day events, visit: https://affew.org
