Volunteers Will Tend Campus Sustainable Gardens on Campus, Help at The Newark Conservancy Urban Environmental Center

Members of the media are welcome April 22 and April 23

For 10 years, Earth Day has been a time for volunteers from Rutgers University-Newark to offer “green” service to their campus’s home city while creating bird- and butterfly-friendly habitats on campus and a green oasis in Newark’s concrete canyons. That tradition continues this month, when volunteers from the RU-N community will help beautify their campus on April 22 by prepping and planting sustainable species on the Norman Samuels Plaza.  Staff from the Newark Conservancy will provide them with materials and hands-on instructions. Then on April 23 students will head to the Newark Conservancy to help prepare the gardens and plant flowers. (pictured: Earth Day 2012)

WHAT/WHEN:

  • TUESDAY, APRIL 22, 10:30 a.m. –noon and 12:30 p.m. -2 p.m.: Volunteer students and staff members will work with Greater Newark Conservancy experts to improve the existing sustainable gardens on the campus, created over the course of past Earth Day programs.  LOCATION: Norman Samuels Plaza (entrance from the Rutgers Arch on University Avenue between Bleeker Street and Warren Street.) RAIN DATE: April 29
  • WEDNESDAY, APRIL 23, volunteers will pitch in to plant flowers, weed, rake, and prepare compost at the Greater Newark Conservancy’s Urban Environmental Center, Springfield Avenue and Prince Street, Newark. 10:30 a.m. – noon, and 12:30 p.m. - 2 p.m. (Shuttles available from the Golden Dome Athletic Center.) RAIN DATE: April 30


WHO:  Volunteer students, faculty, and staff

BACKGROUND: Earth Day allows the Rutgers family to give back to the community by making Newark more “green.”  On past Earth Days Rutgers volunteers have not only prepared the gardens at the Greater Newark Conservancy center but also “greened” the Rutgers campus, planting sustainable gardens, a native grasses garden and a bird pond, all to create bird- and butterfly-friendly habitats on campus and a green oasis in Newark’s concrete canyons.  Students also learn how to become environmental stewards.

Information: http://www.newark.rutgers.edu/earthday/

MEDIA CONTACT: Carla Capizzi, 973 353 5263