Coastal celebrates the Earth this month
by Sellers
Earth Day is April 22, but Coastal Carolina University will be celebrating all during the month of April. During this month of focused sustainability, you can go barefoot, buy fresh produce on Prince Lawn, recycle your old tennis shoes, go boating and enjoy a nice bike ride.
As a part of this month-long celebration, Sustain Coastal and Campus Recreation will collect used tennis shoes for donation and recycling. Shoes that still have life in them will be donated to the local charity, Fostering Hope, and other shoes will be recycled through the NIKE Reuse-A-Shoe program to be made into playing turf and sports courts. The three drop-off locations will be located at the HTC Center, the Williams-Brice Gym and Adkins Field House from April 1 to 30.
Every Wednesday this month, Campus Recreation student staff will host a free nature hike through the Waccamaw National Wildlife Refuge at 3:30 p.m. Meet at the refuge, located at the end of Jackson Bluff Road. Every Friday, Campus Recreation will host a free bike ride at 3:30 p.m. Meet at the HTC Center to get a bicycle. For details about either activity, call 843-349-5076.
On Saturday, April 12, the first annual Cardboard Boat Regatta will take place at the Williams-Brice Pool starting at 10 a.m. Teams of four will build boats using only cardboard and duct tape. Teams will be judged on most creativity and most spirit. Call 843-349-6453 or visit coastal.edu/recreation for event details.
The 22nd annual CCU Triathlon is scheduled for Sunday, April 13, at the Williams-Brice Recreation Center starting at 7 a.m. The event is open to students, staff, faculty and the general public. The race will include the opportunity to do a 5K run, an 11-mile bike ride and a 300-yard swim for victory. Register at active.com by April 10. Registration on-site on the day of the event is not guaranteed. More information is available online coastal.edu/recreation/fitness. There will also be a collection bin for shoe recycling at this event.
April 16 will be Outdoor Day, a collaboration between Campus Recreation, Sustainability and the Swain Scholars. From noon to 3 p.m. on Prince Lawn, find out more about what outdoor activities are available from Campus Rec, learn about the harmful effects of bottled water and register to win a free bicycle from the Swain Scholars as you learn about bicycle safety. A collection bin for shoe recycling will also be available at this event.
On Saturday, April 19, there’ll be an Earth Day celebration starting with a cleanup of the Waccamaw River with the Waccamaw Riverkeeper. Anyone is welcome to help. Meet at the Conway Marina starting at 9 a.m. for instructions. At 11 a.m., the 7th annual Earth Day Music Fest and Expo, hosted by the Wellness Council for South Carolina and the City of Conway, will kick off at Riverfront Park in Conway. For details about attending or becoming a vendor or sponsor of the event, please visit wellnesscouncilcsc.org
On actual Earth Day, which is Tuesday, April 22, the CCU Farmers Market will take place from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Prince Lawn. Browse local vendors for fruits, vegetables, local food and handcrafted items. The Sustainability Fair will also take place to showcase organizations promoting going green, being health and supporting sustainability. Parking for the general public is available in Parking Lot KK off University Boulevard. A map is available online at coastal.edu/sustain.
Take your shoes off during One Day Without Shoes, hosted by the TOMS Campus Club, Tuesday, April 29, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Prince Lawn. There will be activities and giveaways. For more, visit facebook.com/ccutomsclub
For details about any of the above events, call Sustainability at 843-349-5041 or email sustain@coastal.edu.
