Ashlee Robison, staff writer

Although Earth Day officially falls on April 22, Warren Wilson College celebrated on Saturday, April 26, a few days late, with music,  food, wellness activities, and booths.
Earth Day was first celebrated in the United States in 1970 and was created by Gaylord Nelson, a senator from Wisconsin, to promote environmental awareness across the country.

Warren Wilson had a full day of events scheduled, beginning with a birding excursion led by Lou Weber, which was followed by the Adventure Race. Eleven teams slogged through seven different stations scattered across campus. The teams of three ran from the gym to the Swannanoa River, up to Jones Mountain, out to Dam Pasture, and then back to the Pond. Along the way they had to kayak, carry a team member up Jones on a two by four, and haul buckets of water, each weighing 40 pounds, up Daisy Hill pasture. There were several river crossings during the event, along with a slack line activity over the pond. The triple threat team of sophomore Chelsea Gay, senior Kevin Lane, and sophomore John Wright won the race, coming in a solid fifteen minutes before the next team.

The festivities continued into the afternoon with tables set up in the formal gardens for work crews and organizations relating to the environment. Reggae band Chalwah and Funk/Soul group Hot Politics  played in the pavilion during the festivities.

The Eco-Team table had owl pellets for kids to dissect, and the Herb Crew pedaled their wares of homemade teas, salves, and face washes.

The most original display among the tables was a Power Up display created by junior Cameron Lash, a member of Mallory McDuff’s Community Organizing Class. She had a colorful poster of facts on the amount of electricity appliances use even when they’re turned off.

“It’s startling actually, and it’s making me learn about how I personally use energy,” freshman Sally Obremski said.
Lash also set up a contest to see who could plug their appliances into power strips the fastest. The winner received a free power strip.

“Don’t use plastic water bottles, and sort your trash,” sophomore Amy Peddie, the compost dictatress at the recycling table, said.

The Peace and Social Justice Crew signed people up to vote and advertised their library. They have a large selection of books in their office for students to use that are not available in the school library. Everyone is encouraged to stop by and check them out.

“Be conscious of what you’re consuming and conscious of energy use,” was the take home message of the day, according to sophomore Callie Barech of the Campus Greening Crew.