Housatonic Community College

Friends of the Environment Club Presents:

got green?       want green?        get green!

All events are free and open to the public.

Download a PDF of the Earthweeks Poster...

The Friends of the Environment would like to invite your participation in Earthweeks 2009, an entertaining and educational celebration surrounding Earth day, April 22.  We hope you will find time to take part in one or more of the events being planned by clubs and organizations throughout the College.

Community Educational effort: Ongoing through March and April, Sponsored by the HCC ECE Program

The ECE program is devoting extensive time and resources to ensuring that area students of various ages learn about the environment, conservation, and nutrition. Advanced Early Childhood Education and other students will be teaching lessons designed to promote environmental and nutritional awareness to local school classes. In addition, the ECE will be putting the lessons on-line, affording community college teachers around the state the opportunity to see how to inject the environment into the classroom.

Movies: April 14 and 15, Sponsored by the Student Senate and Friends of the Environment

Car of the Future
April 14th - 12:30pm – 2:00pm in room 370 Beacon Hall
April 15th - 6:30pm – 8:30pm in the Events Center in Beacon Hall (2nd floor)

This Nova broadcast deals with that distinctly American obsession, the car: Where do you turn in today's car market? Is new technology about to transform the way we drive? Join Tom Magliozzi and his brother Ray- better known as Click and Clack, the Tappet brothers- as they take an intelligent, yet light-hearted look at America's four-wheeled future. For more information about this event please email Brandon Bisceglia at  aethermist@sbcglobal.net

Garbage Revolution
April 14th - 6:30pm – 8:30pm in the Events Center in Beacon Hall (2nd floor)
April 15th - 12:30pm – 2:00pm in room 370 Beacon Hall

This film follows the McDonald family of Toronto, Canada, as they track their environmental impact through garbage for three months. All their waste is accounted for during that time, even the kids’ lunchboxes. While the topic is serious and the footage provides interesting statistics on how each of us contributes to global warming, there are many humorous moments as well. The director encourages the audience to join an online community on the film’s web site to recount its own experiences, and to share videos, stories and ideas for change. For more information about this event please email Brandon Bisceglia at  aethermist@sbcglobal.net

Third Thursday: April 16, Sponsored by the Theater Arts Program

The Theater Arts Program will sponsor an event on April 16 that celebrates the Culture of the Environment, featuring musician Geoff Kaufman and his “Tree of Life” program. Geoff draws on folk traditions ranging from ancient balladry to contemporary compositions to craft his presentations.  His "Tree of Life" program brings a vibrant focus to environmental concerns through music. Geoff sings and plays guitar, concertina, whistle, and traditional percussion instruments.

From 2 to 3:15 pm, there will be a workshop in the Performing Arts Center with HCC Theater Arts students and Mr. Kaufman.  It is open for public viewing.

From 7 to 8 pm, Mr. Kaufman’s performance will include the presentation of the piece developed in the workshop, theatrical pieces prepared by HCC Theater Arts students, and solo material from Mr. Kaufman. The performance is in the PAC at 7 pm. It is free and open to the public.

Please contact Professor Geoff Sheehan for more information at gsheehan@hcc.commnet.edu

Faculty Teach In: April 20, 21, Sponsored by the Center For Teaching.

We hope that faculty members will be willing, as they did last year, to dedicate a lecture to some aspect of Environmentalism. We are leaning toward a theme summed up by the environmental slogan “Reduce, Reuse and Recycle,” since this can cover a number of academic pursuits and disciplines. But this is, of course, just a suggestion; we are wide open to ideas. Faculty can open their classroom to all students, faculty and staff if they choose to do so, however, we have decided not to advertise the event to the general public this year. For more information on this event, or If you are interested in participating, let Steve Mark know by contacting him at smark@hcc.commnet.edu

Wednesday, April 22nd : Earth Day

Feeling the Eco Muse
Lafayette Hall PAC (performing Arts Center) 6:30 – 8:30 pm

A poetry and music jam for students faculty and staff, sponsored by Music club, Performance Arts club and the Friends Of the Environment club.

For more information and to participate email Caroline Carrier at ccarrier@optonline.net

Environmental Forum: April 23, sponsored by the Criminal Justice Club and Friends of the Environment

“Bridgeport’s Environment: What is being done, what you can do”
9:30 – 11:30 am in Event Center at Beacon Hall (2nd floor)

A forum for the HCC community and general public will be held on Thursday morning, April 23. Connecticut Attorney General Richard Blumenthal will open the program, with other speakers from the Bridgeport area, including HCC students, to address Bridgeport’s environmental needs, and to offer ways the general community can serve as its own best environmental defender. Read more about the speakers at the Forum...

For more information about this event please email Dave Koch at dkoch@hcc.commnet.edu

Community Service: April 25, Sponsored by the Outing Club and Friends of the Environment

We are going once again to the Ansonia Nature Center, where we will be corduroying trails- laying down logs and earth where the land is eroded, damaged, or just soggy. It’s a lot of fun, and will give you a chance to get dirty and tired, and to get free lunch for it, a good trade. For those not certain that physical labor like that is the best thing for them, the Nature Center will have many more jobs for people to do, so anyone- kids included- can come and join in. This counts as community service work in many public school districts as well, so if you have kids who need volunteer hours, please let them know about this event. More Information about this event...

Green Fair: Thursday, April 30, Sponsored by the Women’s Center

The Women’s Center of Housatonic Community College is sponsoring an environmental fair on Thursday, April 30, 2009. Business, environmental, and grassroots organizations are being invited to staff a table and talk to students and faculty about their organization and the important environmental issues with which they are involved. The fair is scheduled to be held from 10 AM to 2 PM, and will include lunch for exhibitors. We are committed to raising awareness and encouraging students to care about the world in which they live. For more information on this timely event, please contact Linda Bayusik, LBayusik@hcc.commnet.edu, or 203.332.5058.