Adreonna RaineyThis Earth Month, consider attending one of the many events UK and the local community are putting on to celebrate sustainability and the natural world. UK Sustainability will be hosting the Spring Sustainability Symposium on Earth Day, April 22 from 5:30-7:30 pm in the lobby of Gray Design Building, where interns from the Sustainability Internship Program will show off their independent projects and hear from invited speaker Justin Mog, Assistant to the Provost for Sustainability Initiatives at University of Louisville, and host of community radio show Sustainability Now!
Thrift Pop-up Shop
Apr 1, 2026, 11:00 AM – 1:30 PM
Gatton Student Center, Ballroom A
Come on out to UK Recycling’s 8th annual Thrift Shop Pop-Up in partnership with Student Organizations and Activities and Wildcat Wardrobe. UK students will be able to replenish their wardrobes for free while also reusing clothing items that might’ve otherwise ended up in the landfill. Clothing, ties, purses, hats, and belts will all be available.
“River Cowboys” Film screening and discussion
Apr 7, 2026, 4:30 – 5:30 PM
Lewis Scholar’s Louge
Join us for a screening of the short film “River Cowboys”, a film documenting the cleanup of a local stream by an eastern Kentucky community member. Followed by a discussion and Q&A with Laura Gregory of the Kentucky Waterways Alliance. Refreshments provided
Contact Kenton Sena for additional questions: kenton.sena@uky.edu.
Sustainability Summit
April 14 | 8 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Gatton Student Center Ballroom
Join us on April 14th for our 6th annual Sustainability Summit at the University of Kentucky Gatton Student Center. The Summit brings together community and business leaders seeking to move the sustainability needle and enact change in their own communities.
Reforest the Bluegrass
April 18 | 9 a.m. – 1 p.m.
Coldstream Park | 1850 Pisacano Dr.
Reforest the Bluegrass is an urban tree planting festival (some say the biggest in the country!) We plant trees near streams and water bodies to improve “riparian buffers,” which benefits our water quality. These efforts also improve our tree canopy, air quality, quality of life, and more!
2026 John P. Wyatt, MD Environment and Health Symposium
Wednesday, April 22, 2026 | 10 a.m. – 3 p.m.
Gatton Student Center
The symposium brings together experts from across Kentucky and the nation, along with government officials, universities, local experts, community members, and students – all united in their commitment to advancing research and collaboration at the intersection of environmental exposures and public health. This year’s symposium, “Air Pollution and Health Science: A Double-Edged Sword,” features two air experts as the keynote: Drs Arden Pope and Douglas Dockery, and authors of Particles of Truth: A Story of Discovery, Controversy, and the Fight for Healthy Air. The keynote will be followed by a panel of experts with a facilitated discussion and audience Q&A. The day also includes students presenting their environment and health research in lightning talks, an awards ceremony, a book signing, and an interactive technology fair.
Plant Forward Picnic
Wednesday, April 22, 2026 | 11 am-2 pm
In honor of Earth Day, soak up the sunshine with UK Dining at our annual Plant Forward Picnic on April 22nd at Fresh Food Co! Enjoy a delicious plant-forward bento box lunch, a build-your-own bouquet bar, and an outdoor picnic on The 90 Lawn (weather permitting). Highlights include:
- Plant Forward Bento Box Lunch
- Build Your Own Bouquet Bar
- Enjoy your lunch at our recycled picnic tables on the 90 Lawn
This event is open to all and costs just one meal swipe into the dining hall. Don’t have a meal plan? The door-rate is $13.55!
WRFL Earth Day Celebration
Wednesday, April 22, 2026 | 4:30-6:30 pm
Barker Plaza
Come on out to Barker Plaza outside of the Student Center to join WRFL in our Earth Day celebration with live music, succulent giveaways, and a free WRFL Earth Day T-shirt, among many other festivities. The event will begin at 4:30 with the band coming on at 4:45, but feel free to drop in at any time during the event to celebrate with us!
Sustainability Symposium
Wednesday, April 22, 2026 | 5:30-7:30 pm
Gray Design Building Lobby and Rm 109
This annual spring sustainability symposium recognizes the work of the students in the Sustainability Internship Program. Programming will be as follows:
- Comments from Justin Mog, Assistant to the Provost for Sustainability Initiatives at University of Louisville, and host of community radio show Sustainability Now!
- Opening comments
- Student poster session, food, and mingling
- Student Excellence in Sustainability Awards (campus-wide, nominations due Sun, Apr 5)
Canopy Con 2026
April 23 | 9 a.m. – 1 p.m.
Fayette County Extension Office
1140 Harry Sykes Way, Lexington, KY 40504
Kentucky’s premier conference on urban and community forestry. This year’s theme, “Healthy Trees – Healthy People,” invites us to explore the ecological and economic benefits trees provide, focusing on the connections between urban tree canopy, equity, and human mental and physical health
Lecture: Dr. Geoffrey Donovan on the Surprising Links Between Trees and Human Health
April 24th | 3:30 p.m.
Gatton College of Business and Economics, Kincaid Auditorium Reception: 2:30 (1st floor atrium)
Urban Forest Initiative, along with the Department of Economics in the Gatton College of Business and Economics, presents a lecture by Dr. Geoffrey Donovan (U.S. Forest Service, ret.) titled “Using Natural Experiments to Investigate the Relationship Between Urban Trees and Health.”
Are we missing anything? If you know of other events that should be added to this list, please contact our Sustainability Program Coordinator, Carlie Laughlin, at carlie.laughlin@uky.edu,
