Earth Month 2026
UNC Charlotte celebrates Earth Month throughout April, leading up to Earth Day on April 22. In 2020, an entire semester, “Earth Semester,” was celebrated to honor the 50th anniversary of Earth Day. In 2026, the Office of Sustainability is excited to host more on-campus Earth Month events than ever, including the Earth Day Festival, a Film Series, a Tour Series, and Campus Beautification Day!
For more information about Earth Month, or to suggest an event, email sustainability@charlotte.edu.
For past event examples, see the following announcements: 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, and 2025.
EARTH MONTH 2026:
Student Sustainability Summit
Date and location TBD
Join the Office of Sustainability and the Student Government Association for the biannual Student Sustainability Summit. This semester’s theme will be food circularity, and we will welcome guests from on and off campus to share their expertise and insights into food reuse on campus and in the Charlotte region.
Earth Month Tour Series
Join the Office of Sustainability and campus partners for a series of campus tours highlighting services that support sustainability efforts. These tours are open to all UNC Charlotte students, staff, and faculty. All tours 12pm – 1pm. Registration is required; please sign up using the forms linked below.
- Botanical Gardens: A walking tour of the outdoor gardens and greenhouses given by expert garden staff! Thursday, March 26th. Click here to register.
- Campus Recycling and Waste Management: This walking tour will showcase the recycling and waste management facilities we have at UNC Charlotte. Thursday, April 2nd. Click here to register.
- Land and Water: This walking tour will go from the student gardens down to Heck Lake, covering various topics like the importance of trees and outdoor space, the challenges of managing our land and water, and more. Thursday, April 9th. Click here to register.
- More tour details coming soon!
Earth Day Festival
Wednesday, April 1, 10am – 2pm. Belk Plaza (rain date April 8th)
A celebration of Earth Month featuring on and off-campus organizations focused on environmental stewardship in the Charlotte region.
Swap Til Ya Drop Clothing Swap Shop
Event date: Wednesday, April 1st (during Earth Day Festival), 10am – 2pm.
Clothing donation drop off times/dates: February 23rd – March 30th; Mondays: 12pm – 4pm Student Union lobby near elevators, Tuesdays and Thursdays: 1pm – 3pm Prospector
Freshen your wardrobe with new-to-you clothes! Join the Office of Sustainability for Swap Til Ya Drop Clothing Swap, an opportunity to promote sustainable fashion practices by swapping gently used clothing with fellow students. Bring your gently used clothes to donation areas located near tabling sites and Earth Month events around campus throughout April!
View donation instructions and details here.
Earth Month Film Series:
Join the Office of Sustainability and campus partners for film screenings and panel discussions throughout April. The films will focus on various topics, including women’s roles in sustainable infrastructure, environmental ethics, fast fashion, and the future of transportation. All films will be 5pm – 7pm, some locations and dates to be determined.
- Women of Carbon: Meet the 21st-century trailblazers leading the charge in decarbonization. This film delves into the minds of women driving economic opportunity and protecting human health through sustainable infrastructure,Thursday, April 2nd, EPIC G256
- The Rights of Nature: A Global Movement: Does a river deserve rights? Explore the global movement to grant legal rights to ecosystems. This documentary challenges our traditional views on conservation philosophy and environmental law.
- Buy Now: The Shopping Conspiracy: This documentary pulls back the curtain on the world’s most powerful brands. This exposé reveals the hidden psychological tactics used to keep us locked in a cycle of endless buying and the true cost of our “fast fashion” habit.
- Life on Wheels: Transportation for a New Urban Century: This documentary tells the story of a culture on the verge of a revolution that will transform our economy, our environment, and the rhythms of our everyday lives.
Symposium: Interior Ecologies
Monday, April 6th, 1pm, Storrs Salon
Interior Ecologies brings together a diverse group of designers, engineers, scientists, and professionals to discuss the potential of regenerative living systems and approaches for transitioning experimental installations into practical, real-world applications.
Graduate Research Symposium
Monday, April 6th, Popp Martin Student Union
The Graduate Research Symposium (GRS) is UNC Charlotte’s premier interdisciplinary graduate student-run conference, proudly showcasing the bold, brilliant, and boundary-pushing research of graduate and professional students across all programs.
Campus Beautification Day
Tuesday, April 7th, 9am – 2pm (rain date Tuesday, April 14th), location TBD
Join the Office of Sustainability for a day beautifying a part of campus! We will be picking up litter and assisting with planting projects. Come ready to get your hands dirty and spend some time making our campus more beautiful!
Registration coming soon. Registration will close at 12pm on Monday, April 6th.
Wellbeing Block Party
Wednesday, April 8, 12pm – 3pm, Cauble Quad
The Wellbeing Block Party and Wellness Fair will allow over 1,200 students to engage with various facets of wellbeing through music, games, activities, and giveaways. This event will also raise awareness of the importance of prioritizing wellness (mental, physical, emotional, and social) as the semester and academic year come to a close.
Gingko Residential Speaker Series: “Climate Change: Media Stories vs. Scientific Evidence. What to Believe?”
Tuesday, April 14, 6pm – 7:30pm, Independent Picture House, 4237 Raleigh St
In this talk, Jack Scheff, Ph.D. will try to cut through the media narratives and give a working atmospheric scientist’s practical perspective on big questions about the changing climate.
Wear, Care, Repair Workshop
Thursday, April 16th, 1pm – 3pm, Area 49 Makerspace in Atkins Library
Hosted in partnership with Area 49 Makerspace and the Office of Sustainability, drop by to repair and repurpose your old clothes. Sewing machines, hand sewing materials, buttons, patches, and basic instructions will be provided to help you give new life to your old clothes.
Student Garden Day
Friday, April 17th, 9am – 3pm, Student Gardens, Staff Gardens, Pollinator Gardens, Niner Pantry gardens (rain date April 24th).
Volunteers will repair, rejuvenate, and plant the volunteer garden areas on campus. Food and refreshments will be provided to volunteers. Volunteers do not have to attend the entire event, but we do encourage you to sign up for a time slot. Registration is required.
Registration coming soon!
Party for the Planet
Wednesday, April 22nd, 4pm – 7pm, Belk Plaza
A celebration for the planet! Join student organizations for an evening of fun and various activities centered around environmental sustainability, social and cultural diversity, and health and wellness.
2026 CoAAPalooza
Thursday, April 23, 11am – 2pm, Arts Quad between Robinson, Rowe, and Storrs
Don’t miss the fith annual CoAAPalooza spring arts festival run by students for students! CoAAPalooza gives students within the College of Arts + Architecture the chance to meet peers outside of their departments and see all that CoA+A has to offer. The event will feature food trucks, COAA student organizations, and lawn games.
Undergraduate Research Conference
Friday, April 24, 8:30am – 3pm, Popp Martin Student Union
The Charlotte Undergraduate Research Conference (URC) is a university-wide showcase of research projects completed by undergraduate students of all levels from all colleges and departments in the university.
STEAM Innovation Expo
Sunday, April 26, 12pm – 4pm, UNC Charlotte Main Campus Plaza-Cauble Quad
The UNC Charlotte Center for STEM Education, UNC Charlotte STEM departments, and community stakeholders will facilitate events focused on engaging and interactive STEM learning opportunities. Through hands-on activities, STEM talks, lab tours, nature experiences, exhibits, and performances, the UNC Charlotte STEAM Expo engages a wide range of public audiences while inspiring future generations.
OFF CAMPUS 2026 EARTH MONTH Events:
Treetops & Tombstones: Charlotte’s Supernatural Arboretum
Saturday, April 25, 2026, 9-11 a.m. (rain date April 26), Historic Elmwood Cemetery (enter at 264 North Cedar Street)
Elmwood Cemetery is a center-city gem. But did you know it’s also a certified arboretum? City of Charlotte arborists and the cemeteries manager will lead a walking tour, where you’ll get tips on how to identify trees and discuss the City of Charlotte’s meticulous stewardship of its iconic tree canopy. You’ll also learn about the historical figures buried at this historic cemetery.
TreesCharlotte 4th Annual TreeFest
Saturday, April 25, 2pm – 5pm, NoDa Brewing (150 W 32nd Street Charlotte, NC)
TreeFest is back for its fourth year! TreesCharlotte invites you to this FREE, family-friendly celebration packed with trees, art, music, and hands-on fun. Celebrate Earth Month and National Arbor Day with tree-themed crafts, live music, free tree seedlings, arboriculture activities, and an eco-market featuring local, environmentally focused nonprofits and businesses.