Happy Earth Month!
The University of Pittsburgh is excited to announce our Earth Month theme for this year: “Bring Sustainability Home.” This initiative aims to empower students, faculty, and staff with the tools and knowledge necessary to create sustainable change in their neighborhoods and communities, whether in Oakland or beyond.
Through practical, hands-on workshops aligned with Pitt’s Sustainability Plan, participants will focus on key areas such as energy, water, transportation, landscapes and ecology, materials and waste, and equity and access. These sessions will provide the resources needed to take meaningful action both at Pitt and in local communities.
Earth Month 2025 will highlight Pitt’s vital role in the region, showcasing community-driven projects and research that demonstrate how local actions can lead to broader environmental change.
Read on to learn about Pitt’s many events, opportunities, and resources to “bring sustainability home” this Earth Month!
Pitt Sustainability’s Earth Month Playlist
Looking for music to work, study, or hang out to this Earth Month? Pitt Sustainability has your back– and your ears! Listen to our custom-curated Earth Month playlist, inspired by nature, sustainability, and the UN Sustainability Development Goals!
Pitt Earth Month Events
Looking for sustainable events to spice up your Earth Month? Check out some of our featured events below, or click the button to explore our full calendar!
Compost at Home with EcoReps | April 4 @ 5:30 -7 pm | SOOS
Follow along with Pitt’s EcoReps in an interactive tutorial for at-home composting! Composting helps divert organic materials from the landfill and can be used to enhance your garden.
Be a Good Neighbor Celebration | April 5 @ 1 pm | Cathedral Lawn
After volunteering at the Be a Good Neighbor Signature Day of Service, join PittServes, Engagement and Community Affairs, Pitt Sustainability, and community organizations for a celebration on the Cathedral Lawn! Free food, carnival games, sustainability activities and more.
Green Games: Baseball & Women’s Soccer | April 6 @ 1 & 6 pm | PSC
Cheer on Pitt’s Baseball and Women’s Soccer teams at an Earth-Month themed “Green Game”! Celebrate the launch of facility-wide composting in the Petersen Sports Center, and learn how to recycle and compost your items from concessions with volunteers.
Campus Tree Walks | April 11 @ 11 am & 1pm | Cathedral Lawn
Join us for a tree campus tour this spring to explore the buds and blooms on campus with local nonprofit Tree Pittsburgh! Learn about the tree species on campus, fun facts about their natural history, and tree identification tips.
Sustainability Symposium and Awards Ceremony | April 18 @ 8:30 am – 2 pm | WPU
Join us on Friday, April 18, from 12:30–1:15 PM to celebrate the 2024 Pitt Sustainability Awardees! Since 2015, Pitt has recognized faculty, staff, students, and groups for outstanding contributions to campus sustainability. Arrive early to explore the Spring Sustainability Symposium from 8:30 AM–12 PM. RSVP by April 7.
Solar 101: Solar @ Home in Allegheny County | April 30 @ 12 – 1 pm | Virtual
Join us and Solar United Neighbors to learn about solar energy and its benefits for your home or small business. SUN will walk you through the technologies, economics, financing, environmental impacts, and more. Plus, hear about an upcoming solar co-op in Allegheny County!
Prepare for the Return of Clutter for a Cause!
The University of Pittsburgh facilitates a zero-waste move out with Clutter for a Cause. We collect clothing, textiles, dorm room essentials, electronics, personal hygiene products, and non-perishable food items from on- and off-campus residents. Clutter for a Cause is organized by the Pitt EcoReps, Student Office of Sustainability, Pitt Surplus, Pitt Pantry, University of Thriftsburgh, and the Pitt Police. The off-campus Clutter for a Cause is organized by Off-Campus Student Services in partnership with Oakland Planning and Development Corporation (OPDC).
Community Events
Check out these events happening throughout the month of April in Pittsburgh and the region:
- ReUse Design Jam Series, Reimagine Appalachia, April 3 & 10, Virtual
- Urban Ecology, Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy, April 5 @ Westinghouse Park
- Strategies for Winning Bike/Ped Advocacy Campaigns, BikePGH, April 5 @ Kingsley Association
- Volunteer Work Day, UpStreamPGH, April 7 @ Lower Frick Park Play Area
- Oakland Neighborhood Walk, BikePGH, April 7 @ Fifth & Lytton
- Spring Mushroom Walk, UpStreamPGH & Western PA Mushroom Club, April 9 @ Lower Frick Park Play Area
- Earth Month Celebration, Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy, April 19 @ McKinley Park
- Spring Stream Sweep, UpstreamPGH, April 26 @ Lower Frick Park Play Area
- Volunteer Day @ Braddock Farms, Grow Pittsburgh, April 26 @ Braddock Farms
- Celebrate Trails Day, Friends of the Riverfront, April 26 @ Millvale Riverfront Park and Southside Riverfront Park
- Forest Bathing, Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy, Tuesdays in April @ Multiple Locations
- Weekly Land-Based Cleanups, Allegheny Cleanways, Multiple Dates & Locations
- Tree Plantings, Western PA Conservancy, Multiple Dates & Locations
- Tree Pruning & Tree Nursery Volunteer Days, Tree Pittsburgh, Multiple Dates & Locations