EASTON, Pa. — Nurture Nature Center’s Climate Action Week starts Monday, kicking off a week of events focused on engaging residents in sustainability efforts.
“There's really a cool diversity of events that are going on,” said Kate Semmens, NNC’s science director. “Everything from food to clean-ups to films to educational activities to art exhibits — there's so much that someone could find anything that they were interested in to be a part of this.
“And, I think that really showcases how this issue really permeates through all of our activities, and that there's so much that we can actually do to make a difference.”
More than two dozen events, including workshops, demonstrations and clean-ups, are scheduled through Oct. 12 both in Easton and in Bethlehem, all focused on mitigating the impacts of climate change through educating and engaging the community.
“We, and a lot of our partners, we’re looking at ways that we can involve the most number of people in this and make sure that they can participate in these events,” Lauren Fosbenner, NNC’s project specialist, said.
“So a lot of them are after typical work hours and then we also have a ton happening on Saturday, on the weekend, so that should be accessible as well.”
‘Helpful and tangible’
NNC’s events also fall during Commonwealth Sustainability Week, held by Penn State Sustainability and the Pennsylvania GreenGov Council.
In its fifth year, free webinars run from Monday through Friday on topics about the future of sustainability across the commonwealth and innovative initiatives that build toward resiliency.
On its schedule for Climate Action Week, NNC has also included the Commonwealth Sustainability Week webinars. They’re scheduled for noon each day. Registration is required.
Events scheduled for Climate Action Week include a “Fall Garden Clean-Up and Celebration” at the Boys and Girls Club of Easton; a “Mobile Bike Party” leaving from West Ward Market; a guided hike with PA Interfaith Power and Light at Kirkridge Retreat Center; among others.
“I know that people are always looking for opportunities to do something that is helpful and tangible and also with other people,” Fosbenner said.
“So, a great way to do that is some of the cleanups.”
While the vast majority of the events are free, there is one ticketed event.
Butterhead Kitchen is holding a “Fall-Inspired Cooking and Foraging with Guest Chef,” with tickets at $79.50. It’s scheduled for 6 p.m. Wednesday.
And, throughout the week, Nature’s Way Market, 143 Northampton St., is holding a bulk sale.
“The other cool thing is that some of the events that are happening this week are regular, recurring events that happen outside of Climate Action Week as well,” Fosbenner said.
“We're just able to hold them with a special theme this week, or just highlight them as part of Climate Action Week.”
The West Ward Market is open Wednesdays from early May through mid-October. And, clean-ups and EAC events often occur throughout the year.
“There are things that people can get involved with even if they're busy during Climate Action Week — keep an eye out for those things other times in the year as well."Lauren Fosbenner, project specialist at Nurture Nature Center
“There are things that people can get involved with even if they're busy during Climate Action Week — keep an eye out for those things other times in the year as well,” she said.
Art installations in Easton, Bethlehem
Capping off the week is the opening of art installations at Bethlehem Area Public Library, 11 W. Church St., and at Easton Area Public Library, 515 Church St.
Keri Maxfield, NNC’s art director, has been working with six local artists to create interactive art installations.
“They really are highlighting that we can come together as a community and make powerful change."Kate Semmens, Nurture Nature Center’s science director
“We are really excited about them,” Semmens said. “They really are highlighting that we can come together as a community and make powerful change."
Artists include: Lynn Alexander, Jamie Cabreza, William Christine, Lauren Kindle, Charles Stonewall and Cleveland Wall.
“There's a main piece where you open these little doors and it turns this large dark piece from a gloomy, like we have all these impacts, to a bright — all these great actions that we can take.
“And underneath, there's all these brighter, more vibrant pieces of art. And so, as people open the little flaps, it goes from that dark to the bright.”
Works from students in Deirdre Murphy’s “Big Questions” class at Lehigh University will also be featured. The course “looks at the creative practice of visual communication and artmaking focused on the intersection between art and climate change,” officials said.
Visitors will also be able to contribute their thoughts in a large art book that will remain part of the exhibit. They will also receive “climate-friendly kits,” tote bags that include a reusable water bottle and paper towel, among other items.
Opening receptions are scheduled at noon and 3 p.m. in Bethlehem and Easton, respectively. The installations are expected to remain on view for four to six weeks.
“This is our inaugural event, so we have not done this before, and we're excited about the possibility we'll see how it goes, to see if we continue it in the future,” Semmens said.
The week is part of CREATE Connections, a four-year grant funded program through the NOAA Office of Education Environmental Literacy Program.
“This was meant to be really a way that we can draw attention to sustainability and climate action in Easton and Bethlehem — because that's what our grant is focusing on the climate action plans in those two cities — and trying to get the community to connect with each other around these issues, become aware of these issues and all of the things that we can do as a community to make progress,” Semmens said.
For a full list of events, go to Nurture Nature Center’s website.
