So the Environmental Center-sponsored Earth Day Festival that was held at Western yesterday was moved indoors due to weather predictions of rain, but just because we were inside, does not mean we did not have fun. Fabulous live music and a lot of creative energy definitely filled up the VU Multipurpose Room.
Members of the Libraries' GEF grant sponsored project for this quarter joined in the festivities by hosting a table, and students had the opportunity to draw something on single-sided used paper to submit as an entry for our BYOM campaign sticker contest (which, by the way, has the deadline of tomorrow! So submit your entry soon if you have not already!). We had pens, pastels, colored pencils, markers, even crayons, and people were very creative with their designs.
Regan, our very own GEF grant program coordinator, was pretty much busy the entire day talking about the program and teaching people how to make their own pinwheels out of paper, beads, and pipe cleaner. She was an excellent and patient instructor, even with those of us (I am talking about myself here) who are not gifted in this area. (I once ducked out of a paper-crane making community event because my efforts were so embarrassing, I could not handle the stress and fled in shame.) My pinwheel may have been a little crooked, but with Regan's help, I did manage to make one!
Jacob and the zero-waste crew constructed a wonderful mini-golf set-up out of cardboard and other scraps they gathered from around campus. Again, I have may have some strengths, but mini-golf is not one of them. However, this did not stop me from partaking in the fun!
Lidiya, Ella, and I enjoyed chatting with people and wandering around the festival to visit all of the other tables. It was very apparent that WWU has no shortage of awesome clubs for students to become involved with, as there was also no shortage of enthusiastic and welcoming people having a wonderful time and celebrating all of the good things that are happening.
I think sometimes it is only natural to feel a little discouraged when you stop and think about all of the challenges facing us in the world, but I tell you nothing makes you feel more happy and hopeful than being around so many youthful, energetic, positive and passionate people, demonstrating in real-time that just because the work we are doing is important and meaningful, does not mean it isn't also fun!
These students know how to work hard, but they also know how to have fun and create community, and most importantly they understand that these very important aspects of life are not mutually exclusive. Good food, good conversations, good music, and good dancing--what more could you ask for?
It was a really great day, and everyone who worked so hard to make this event happen did an amazing job. I will leave you now with some more photos, and a reminder to join us tomorrow night in Wilson Library Room 164 for the first film event in our series! Hope to see you there!
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