Earth Day is a week-long celebration at Campbellsville University

CAMPBELLSVILLE, KY (04/16/2015)(readMedia)-- Campbellsville University's Earth Day tradition has grown in interest and volunteerism to a full week of special activities.

The kickoff Earth Day ceremony with tree and flower plantings will be held Tuesday, April 21 at 1 p.m. at the Turner Log Cabin, 505 N. Columbia Ave., Campbellsville.

The brief student-led program will include proclamations by both Campbellsville Mayor Tony Young and Taylor County Judge/Executive Eddie Rogers and will culminate in CU students assisting local elementary students planting flowers provided by CU's Green Minds environmental group.

In case of inclement weather, the rain date for this event is Thursday, April 23 at the same time and place. Highlights of the five days of special activities follow.

Also on Tuesday at Clay Hill Memorial Forest the first ever field trip for sight-impaired children will take place at 9:30 a.m. with a group of students from Washington County. Following a short hike, they will visit the new Ken Weddle Center for Sight-Impaired Children where they will learn about nature through the use of non-visual senses.

On Wednesday, April 22 at 1:30 p.m., the setting for special events moves to the new feature between CU's administration building and Stapp Hall where a dedication service is scheduled for the Praying Hands, carved from a 100-year-old oak tree, and the Pergola. Dr. John Hurtgen, dean of the School of Theology, will lead the program of prayers and music by students and special guests.

Another Clay Hill Memorial Forest event happens on Thursday, April 23 with students from middle and high schools from Taylor and Adair counties attending a "Day with a Scientist" Field Day event at 9:30 a.m.

The presenter for that day is Dr. Darrin Rubino, associate professor of biology at Hanover College, who is a dendroarchaeologist. Scientists in this field use tree-ring data to estimate ages of construction for historic buildings and to learn about climate long in the past.

The week-long focus on earth stewardship at Campbellsville University will come to a close with a hike of Little Angel Trail Saturday, April 25 at Clay Hill Memorial Forest starting at 2 p.m. The Little Angel Trail is an approximate one-mile, easy to moderate walking trail. Hikers may go at their own pace. Transportation will be provided to Clay Hill starting at 1:30 p.m. in front of the CU Student Activities Center.

For more information, call (270) 789-5000 or visit campbellsville.edu or clayhillforest.org.

Campbellsville University is a widely acclaimed Kentucky-based Christian university with more than 3,500 students offering 63 undergraduate options, 17 master's degrees, five postgraduate areas and eight pre-professional programs.

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Campbellsville University is dedicated to earth stewardship as evidenced by the continuous improvement of the campus grounds. CU's Earth Day tradition has expanded to a full week of activities. Red and white tulips line the entry to the Maple Trail with Stapp Hall in the background. (Campbellsville University Photo by Linda Waggener)

Posted Thursday April 16, 2015 at 02:32 pm by Campbellsville University
Last Updated Friday April 17, 2015 at 08:47 am