As Earth Day is celebrated globally, it serves as a reminder of the advancements made in combating pollution and an invitation to contemplate future actions for environmental preservation. At the University of Scranton, this year’s Earth Day Fair, hosted by the Society for Sustainability and Conservation, showcased student and faculty initiatives aimed at promoting eco-consciousness.
Assistant professor JoyAnna Hopper from the University of Scranton’s Department of Political Science emphasized the ongoing relevance of Earth Day. “We continue to have major environmental issues that are going to affect the trajectory of our lives, our children’s lives,” she stated. “And so it’s important to take the time to not only appreciate this beautiful planet that we live on, but also to think about what we could do to improve it.”
Throughout the event, students engaged in activities such as planting herbs and learning about local recycling efforts. The fair, organized in the Loyola Science Center, was spearheaded by Samantha Kosmark, president of the university’s Society for Sustainability and Conservation. Kosmark noted, “All of the faculty and the organizations that are here … are all doing something that, in retrospect, is small, but it amounts to something so much bigger than themselves.”
Courtesy of the University of Scranton
Environmental Awareness and Action
Earth Day, first observed on April 22, 1970, continues to highlight the fight against pollution. Organizations like Scranton Tomorrow are dedicated to fostering community involvement through plant distributions and cleanups. Project manager Steve Ward remarked, “We want people to enjoy the Earth and be involved and make that connection between what’s happening all around the world, but also in their own backyard.”
Professor Hopper addressed the challenges posed by climate change and the need for continued efforts despite setbacks in federal climate policy. She advocates for personal actions such as reducing plastic use and choosing sustainable, local foods. However, she emphasized, “Fundamentally, where the change happens is going to be for corporations, and it’s going to be through regulations, and the government incentivizing certain kinds of behaviors.”
Ward and Hopper both encourage active participation in environmental stewardship, whether through simple actions like planting or by making informed choices at the polls.
Courtesy of the University of Scranton
Upcoming Earth Day events around the region:
Saturday, April 25
- Pocono Mountains Visitors Bureau Pick Up the Poconos Day, 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.; sign up to clean your borough or township at PickUpThePoconos.com.
- Pocono Organics Earth Day Celebration, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., 1015 Long Pond Road, Blakeslee; presentations, educational attractions, displays, vendors and food and refreshments featuring Pocono Organics Cafe and more.
- Schuylkill County Conservancy Earth Day at the Frog Hollow Nature Area, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., Stone Mountain Road, Schuylkill Haven; community cleanup.
- Pocono Environmental Education Center Earth Day Festival, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., 538 Emery Road, Dingman Ferry; will feature hands-on activities, conservation exhibits, vendors, crafts, food, music and more; $5 per car.
- Lackawanna County Earth Day Event, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., McDade Park, Pavilion 2, 1 Bald Mountain Road, Scranton; free arts and crafts, music and environmental education offerings from participating organizations; Sierra Club pre-event cleanup and planting, 9 a.m. to 11 a.m.
- 2026 Williamsport Earth Day Celebration, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., Brandon Park, 880 Packer St., Williamsport; the family-oriented event hosted by local nonprofit organizations and sustainable businesses will celebrate Earth Day and sustainability.
- Endless Mountains Heritage Region Earth Day Hike at Vosburg Neck State Park, 1 to 3:30 p.m., 470 Vosburg Road, Tunkhannock; 4 mile-hike featuring Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources Environmental Educational Specialist Amanda Kiernan, who will discuss the different types of trees in the park; wear sensible shoes suitable for mud and dress for the weather; bring water; event is free but registration is required by Thursday, April 23.
Sunday, April 26
- Lackawanna Heritage Valley, NEPA Sierra Club, Lackawanna County Environmental Office and Keep NEPA Beautiful Community Clean-Up, 11 a.m., 739 River St., Peckville; family-friendly and geared towards ages 8 and older which features a cleanup along Winton Street and the Heritage Trail Jessup trailhead, an in-depth look at the litter found at each location and invasive plant removal; trash bags, gloves, vest, and road signs will be provided by Keep NEPA Beautiful.
- Sierra Sessions Earth Month Pizza Party, 1 p.m., McDade Park, 1 Bald Mountain Road; learn about the local Sierra Club Group and listen to Sierra Sessions, a streamed Earth Day concert put together by the Sierra Club that spotlights singer/songwriters.
- City of Scranton electronics recycling event, 9 a.m. to noon, Department of Public Works headquarters, 101 West Poplar St., Scranton; items to be recycled include: CRT televisions and computer monitors, desktop computers, flat screen televisions and computer monitors, laptop computers and peripheral computer devices including printers with all ink, toner cartridges and paper removed; mice and keyboards; the event is open to Scranton residents only; registration is required and open now at scrantonpa.gov/recycling.
May 2
- Bradford County Conservation District Earth Day Festival, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Stoll Natural Resource Center, 200 Lake Road, Towanda; featuring food trucks, educational vendors and opportunities for all ages, hands-on activities, local businesses and seedling sale pick up (pre-orders and extras)
Also, the Susquehanna Greenway is hosting cleanups, plantings, and other activities throughout Earth Month. For a list of events, visit Susquehanna Greenway Cleanup Month
