As we reach the mid-year point, the Office of Sustainability (OS) is excited to reflect on another impactful semester of engagement and outreach. Over the past few months, OS has tabled at more than 20 campus events and connected with over 1,800 students.
In October, we launched the Green Terp Bucket List, a 20-item challenge designed to inspire students to adopt everyday sustainable habits. The University of Maryland also joined the Green Sports Alliance, solidifying our commitment to advancing sustainability in athletics.
One major event highlight was the Campus Sustainability Month Celebration on October 23rd, where we celebrated the launch of the Green Terp Bucket List and handed out free cotton candy to students who stopped by our table.
We also hosted a wide range of interactive activities at six farmers markets, including a waste-sorting game where students could sort commonly found items into trash, recycle, or compost; seed planting where students potted their own plant using native wildflower seeds; a crafting activity where students made magnets out of upcycled jar lids; terracotta pot painting, a data center demonstrations, pumpkin painting, and sustainability-themed trivia.
This semester featured several notable partnerships. We collaborated with Women in Engineering on a Halloween Costume Drive and a mending workshop; tabled at the Economy, Environment, and Technology (ETE) Scholars Program’s waste audit; and worked with composer and pianist Clarice Assad on an interactive musical exploration of nature sounds.
The Office of Sustainability also tabled at many major welcome events, including FreeFest, First Look Fair, the South Campus Block Party, Quelcome, the HeritageLand Block Party, and more. These events provided us with the opportunity to connect with new students and promote campus sustainability initiatives.
As we wrap up the semester, we are grateful to all the students who visited our tables, participated in our activities, and helped build a more sustainable campus community. We look forward to seeing you again next semester!
