This litter cleanup event fosters the growing relationship between students at UConn and the local community while conserving the environment
From goat yoga to zero-waste barbecue, spreading the message that sustainability is creative and rewarding
‘It’s very validating to all of the hard work I put into this project to have it recognized at a professional level by my peers’
A new study in the Farmington River watershed shows that groundwater seeps can release 20% of dissolved emissions into the atmosphere before the water joins streams
UConn Gives, the annual 36-hour fundraising event at UConn, will be taking place on April 21 and 22. Every year, the UConn community rallies to support many different causes on campus, including our own Campus Sustainability Fund and the UConn@COP Fund!
The Campus Sustainability Fund (CSF) finances programs and initiatives that support students and advance UConn’s position as a global leader in university sustainability. Contributions to the CSF provide critical funding of transformative learning experiences for students including hands-on professional development through internships and research projects that nurture our natural environments, improve health and wellbeing, and enhance environmental justice in the communities which we serve. The CSF also funds our experiential learning events such as the Haunted HEEP, the UConn-famous annual haunted trail walk at the Hillside Environmental Education Park.
The UConn@COP Fund supports the UConn@COP Fellowship program, helping the OS send a cohort of students each year to the annual United Nations Conference of the Parties. Through UConn@COP, students have participated in panels at international press conferences, networked with global environmental leaders, and heard from and interacted with international delegates and core members of international environmental justice movements. UConn@COP is an incredible, transformative experience for fellows, and it would not be possible without the support of generous donors!
Every donation, big or small, means so much! You can donate at https://s.uconn.edu/uconngives25. Thank you to everyone for supporting sustainability achievements and the environmental leaders of tomorrow!
Earth Day Spring Fling – 2025
Wednesday, April 16
11:00 AM-2:00 PM on Fairfield Way
Rain date: April 21
Earth Day Spring Fling is an annual celebration of sustainability co-sponsored by UConn’s Office of Sustainability and the Department of Dining Services. Established in 2008, the festival features vendors of sustainable and hand-crafted goods, organic and local foods, environmental organizations, and student groups that join together to produce the greatest day of environmental awareness all year! Coinciding with the event is UConn’s annual Arbor Day celebration and ceremonial “class tree” planting.
Event Highlights:
- Zero Waste BBQ: Dining Services is catering an outdoor, zero-waste BBQ featuring vegan, vegetarian and sustainable food options sourced locally. Note – the BBQ requires a flex pass, community meal plan swipe or $12 credit/debit card.
- Eco Theme Cupcakes
- Dairy Bar Truck
- 12-1p Goat Yoga: Outdoor yoga with the goats of Bradley Mountain Farm. Bring your own mat. Sign Ups will be announced on the OS instagram.
- Party Peddler Bike: Hop on the 10 person bike for a tour of sustainability along Fairfield Way.
- 2028 Class Tree Planting: As a certified Tree Campus, we celebrate each class with their own tree. This year’s tree, selected by the Freshman class, is the Green Gable Tupelo. The ceremony will be held at 1pm outside of the Budds Building on Fairfield Way.
- UConn Thrift Den: The Thrift Den will highlight some of their free clothes!
- Eco-Vendors: Meet with student and community organizations dedicated to sustainability, as well as eco-minded businesses along Fairfield Way.
For more information, please email sustainability@uconn.edu.
Thank you to Casella and UConn Student Government for support!
Are you a UConn student with an idea that can push environmental and social sustainability forward at UConn and in Connecticut? Then apply for our Environmental and Social Sustainability Small Grants!
Projects must advance strategic sustainability goal areas AND related social challenges.
Deadline is April 7, 2025 at 11:59pm.
Winners will be selected by May 1, 2025.
Grant amounts may be up to $10k.
All projects must have a faculty or staff member acting as a mentor, and must have the ability to accept funds on behalf of your project.
Projects must be completed by the end of December 2025.
For all the details, deadlines and materials visit the grant info page.
The Town of Mansfield and UConn are pleased to team up against litter in our town. Join in to meet others in the Mansfield community and do good for our people and planet.
| UConn & Vicinity | Town Wide | |
| Date & Time: | Sunday, April 27
Cleanup Check In Stations will be open Noon to 4pm |
Saturday, April 26
Supplies can be picked up from 9am to noon at the Mansfield Community Center during the Earth Day Celebration. |
| Where: | Volunteer to clean up in the core of campus, Hunting Lodge Rd, Separatist Rd, North Eagleville Rd, or Eastwood/Westwood Rds.
Litter pickup supplies will be provided at check in stations. |
Anywhere you feel safe collecting roadside litter in your neighborhood. Roads that are especially littered include Pleasant Valley, Mansfield City, White Oak and Gurleyville. Consider making a commitment to pick up litter on a section of road throughout the year by joining Adopt A Road. |
| What To Do With Full Trash/Recycling Bags: | Bring your litter bag to your Check In station once you are finished. UConn Facilities trucks will be making rounds to pick up bags from the stations. | Bags of litter may be placed out with household trash for those with collection service or taken to the Mansfield Transfer Station for no charge. The Transfer Station is located on Rte 89, one mile from the intersection of Routes 195 and 89 in Mansfield Center at 221 Warrenville Rd. The Transfer Station is open Tuesdays, 8:30 am to 4:00 pm, Thursdays, 12:00 pm to 4:00 pm and Saturdays, 8:30 am to 4:00 pm. |
Litter is an unsightly blight on our roadways, and hurts the environment. It can be especially dangerous for wildlife. Small animals may crawl into bottles and get stuck, and litter can blow into storm drains and streams and may eventually make its way to the ocean. When litter gets eaten by animals and sea life, they can starve to death or suffocate. Litter also attracts pests. Be part of the solution, not the pollution!
