In 2024, commuter travel accounted for 16% of Elon’s carbon emissions. Elon’s Office of Sustainability is working towards achieving carbon neutrality by 2037. As such, Elon uses, encourages and supports sustainable transportation options that help reduce carbon emissions.

Link Transit’s Blue Line runs from the Town of Elon to both Gibsonville and Burlington, Monday through Friday 5:30 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. and Saturday from 9:25 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.

Link Transit’s  can be used to locate the exact location of buses that are currently running. Additionally,  may be viewed for each of the bus lines.

For more information on the Link Transit bus system, visit  For more information on sustainable transportation initiatives at Elon, please visit the Office of Sustainability’s website.

The shop runs twice a week, Mondays from 4 – 6 p.m. and Fridays 3:30 – 6 p.m. If students would like to get free clothing but do not have any clothing on hand to swap they may commit to a sustainable habit or donate any fabric scraps on hand.

Lauren Nesbit ‘27 is the current outreach intern for the Office of Sustainability, and part of her role is managing the Pop-Up Swap Shop.

“I really love working on it because I get to meet so many people on campus passionate about personal style and sustainable fashion,” said Nesbit.

Additionally, Nesbit emphasized the importance of student donations in helping maintain the Swap Shop’s inventory and ability to reach more members of the Elon community.

“The wider variety of donations we get, the wider variety of customers we can serve, so never be afraid to donate what you have/ Every donation helps someone else achieve their dream closet in a sustainable way,” she added.

For more information on sustainable events and initiatives across campus, visit the Office of Sustainability’s website. To view dates and times of specific events, view the 

Students, faculty and staff are encouraged to attend as many events as you can for your chance to win various prizes! First, second and third place winners will be determined by those who attend the most events throughout the week. There will be one set of student winners and another set of faculty/staff winners. More competition details may be viewed on the 

Huria Tahiry ‘26, environmental justice intern for Elon’s Office of Sustainability, has attended several Earth Week events over the past three years, and says that Earth Week is “a wonderful opportunity to learn, make new friends, have fun, and take a moment to appreciate the Earth.” Tahiry is particularly excited for this year’s Earth Week, since there will be more events than any previous year.

SCHEDULE OF EVENTS 

Saturday, April 18

SUSTAINABLE DAY OF SERVICE | VARIOUS TIMES & LOCATIONS (TRANSPORTATION PROVIDED)
9 – 12 p.m. | PARK REVITALIZATION WITH ALAMANCE COUNTY PARKS & RECREATION

Help restore one of the local Alamance parks that serves the whole community! The event will be at Swepsonville River Park (2472 Boywood Rd. Swepsonville N.C.) The activities will include repainting the entrance gate, and staining two Kiosks, and a couple of park benches.

Transportation will be provided from the Elon Express Bus Stop between Inman Admissions and the Library

9:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. | MORROWTOWN COMMUNITY GARDEN WORK DAY | MORROWTOWN COMMUNITY GARDEN

Spend time outdoors, connect with others, and support a space that provides fresh food and connection opportunities in Burlington! Come get your hands dirty, learn something new, and be part of growing something meaningful together. �ճ����Morrowtown Community Garden was founded and is managed by the Morrowtown Community Group, which was formed to inspire positive social and environmental change for a diverse community in Burlington that deserves to thrive. Participants should wear clothing and shoes they don’t mind getting dirty. Please bring a reusable water bottle and sunscreen. Transportation to the event will be from the Elon Express spot outside of the library.

1:30 – 4:30 p.m. | KAYAK CLEAN UP | LAKE MACKINTOSH

Take care of local Lake Mackintosh while enjoying the beauty of nature. Kayaks, gloves and trash bags provided. New and experienced kayakers are welcome!  Please wear clothing you don’t mind getting dirty and bring a reusable water bottle and sunscreen. Transportation to the event will be from the Elon Express stop outside of the library.

Monday, April 20

9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. | CAREER CLOSET | UPSTAIRS LAKESIDE

Join us for the Career Closet “grand opening” for a special one-day pop-up shopping event!

The Career Closet empowers Elon students by increasing access to professional and formal attire while fostering leadership, service, and community impact. In partnership with the Student Professional Development Center, the Center for Leadership, the Office of Sustainability and Student Involvement, this on-campus resource encourages students to think ahead, support one another and give back to the Elon community.

This event is open to all members of the Elon community.

Have extra professional or formal wear? Donate gently used items from April 7th–April 17th in the Center for Leadership to give back, support fellow students and promote sustainability on campus.

Stop by, shop sustainably and find the perfect look for your next interview, internship, or formal event!

11 a.m. – 1 p.m. | ORGANIC MOCKTAILS | CLOHAN DINING HALL

Come try a delicious mocktail featuring Certified Organic Tractor Beverage and learn about organic produce with Elon Dining’s Sustainability Manager Leslie Bosse!

11:30 a.m. – 1 p.m. | SOOTHING SOUNDS OF SUCCULENTS | NUMEN LUMEN SACRED SPACE

Step into a space designed to help you slow down, breathe deeply and reconnect. Soothing Sounds & Sprouts is a mental-health-centered gathering where calming music and hands-on planting come together to nurture you.

Enjoy a curated soundscape of gentle, restorative music; learn how different sounds can impact mood; and plant your own small herb to take home—a living reminder of growth, care and resilience. We will share simple grounding practices you can use anytime stress feels overwhelming and use our senses to be more present.

Whether you stay for five minutes or the full experience, this event invites you to pause, reset, and tend to yourself—because just like plants, we thrive when we receive light, care, and space to grow.

4 – 6 p.m.  | POP UP SWAP SHOP | DOWNSTAIRS MOSELEY
Looking to refresh your closet? Have any perfectly good clothing you no longer wear? Bring it to the Pop-Up Swap Shop to trade for new-to-you shirts, pants, dresses, and more! No clothing to swap? No problem! Commit to a sustainable habit OR donate any fabric scraps on hand to earn free clothing!

�ճ����Pop Up Swap Shop runs in downstairs Moseley every Monday (4 – 6 p.m.) and Friday (3:30-6 pm) during the Spring 2026 semester.

4:15 – 5:30 p.m. | BOOK DISCUSSION – SAVING US: A CLIMATE SCIENTIST’S CASE FOR HOPE AND HEALING IN A DIVIDED WORLD | LOY FARM

In preparation for Katharine Hayhoe’s keynote address on Wednesday, April 22, join Faculty Fellow for Sustainability Scott Morrison for a discussion about Hayhoe’s most recent book. Light snacks will be provided for those who register.

5:30 – 6:30 p.m. | HONORING INDIGENOUS VOICES | CREDE

Join us for a conversation with Corey Roberts, assistant professor of Native American and Indigenous studies, exploring indigenous history, culture and perspectives connected to this region. This event aims to create space for learning, reflection and dialogue within the Elon community. Traditional food will be shared as part of the gathering.

Tuesday, April 21

9:40-10:20 a.m. | COLLEGE COFFEE 

Stop by the Office of Sustainability’s table at College Coffee to learn about sustainability efforts on campus. Don’t forget your reusable mug to enter to win $100 Phoenix Cash!

11 a.m. – 12:15 p.m. | COASTAL CRAFTS: SHELL JEWELRY DISHES | YOUNG COMMONS

Create or take home oyster and wampum shell jewelry dishes while learning about their ecological significance and Indigenous cultural importance in the Northeastern United States.

11 a.m. – 2 p.m. | GARDEN PARTY | MCEWEN DINING HALL

McEwen Dining Hall will feature garden party themed foods, including small plates and plant-forward options. Come join us for this super fun and sustainable lunch!

4 – 5 p.m. | STARS CELEBRATION | LAKESIDE MEETING ROOMS

Celebrate 51������’s most recent Sustainability, Tracking, Assessment & Rating System (STARS) Report with food, interactive activities and exciting prizes! Learn about Elon’s sustainability efforts, connect with others and discover opportunities to support sustainability at Elon. This event is open to all students, faculty and staff.

Wednesday, April 22

11:30 a.m. – 2 p.m. | PICKLE POP UP | LAKESIDE DINING HALL
Join Elon Dining to taste how delicious and sustainable pickling can be!

12 – 2  p.m. | TOTE-ALLY SUSTAINABLE | MEDALLION PLAZA
Join us to paint your own reusable tote bag while learning about how to reduce waste!

5 – 6:30 p.m. | BELTANE CELEBRATION | ELON COMMUNITY GARDEN
Beltane is a time of renewal, protection and community where people can come together to share stories, offerings for deities, and have fun by dancing and making crafts. Beltane is historically a practical agricultural and seasonal holiday signifying the start of the growing seasons and time of abundance. Come celebrate together by making flower crowns, mini maypoles, and enjoying good food!

7 – 8 p.m. | EARTH WEEK KEYNOTE: KATHARINE HAYHOE, “SOLVING CLIMATE CHANGE STARTS WITH US (BUT NOT THE WAY YOU THINK!)” | MCKINNON HALL, MOSELEY CENTER

“What can I do?” is most people’s top climate question. The truth is, while our personal choices matter, the most important action any of us can take isn’t changing a lightbulb, eating a plant-based burger or buying an electric vehicle (EV). Drawing on lessons from science, history, and social movements, Katherine Hayhoe shows how using our voices to call for systemic change is the first step towards catalyzing the tipping points that will help us build a better future. Solving climate change does start with us—but in ways far more powerful than we might imagine.

Katharine Hayhoe is the chief scientist for The Nature Conservancy and a Horn Distinguished Professor and endowed professor of public policy and public law at Texas Tech University. She has served as a lead author for the second, third and fourth U.S. National Climate Assessments. She is the author of the best-selling book “Saving Us: A Climate Scientist’s Case for Hope and Healing in a Divided World.” Hayhoe has been named to lists including the TIME 100 Most Influential People and Fortune’s 50 World’s Greatest Leaders.

Sponsored by the Office of Sustainability, the Environmental Studies Department, Facilities Management, the School of Communications, the Sustainable Enterprises program and the Truitt Center for Religious and Spiritual Life.

9 – 10 p.m. | S’MORES WITH OUTDOORS | BECK POOL PATIO

Join Elon Outdoors and the Eco-Reps for a special Earth Week S’mores with Outdoors! Make your own sustainable bug spray so that you can enjoy more time outdoors.

Thursday, April 23

9:50 – 10:30 a.m. | NUMEN LUMEN | NUMEN LUMEN PAVILION 110

The challenges we face expand our perspectives. The moments that leave us speechless have the power to change lives. The stories we tell help us to make sense of these challenges, moments, and everything in between.

Grounding ourselves in this moment is how we show up in an unexpected and ever-changing world.

This week’s speaker is Becca Bishopric Patterson, associate director of the  Gender and LGBTQIA Center at 51������ where her work focuses on gender equity, LGBTQ+ inclusion, survivor support and violence prevention. For the last 15 years, Becca’s life and work has been dedicated to facilitating healing, justice, sustainability, and connection within communities in professional and personal roles. Becca has served on leadership and organizing teams across Alamance County, currently leading initiatives within the Alamance Racial Equity Alliance and Transcend Alamance. Bischipric Patterson lives in Elon with her spouse, toddlers, and (many) pets, and loves spending time with friends envisioning a world where all life can thrive.

5 – 7 p.m. PM | PARTY FOR THE PLANET | MOSELEY WEST LAWN

Celebrate sustainability with fun activities and live entertainment! This event will also feature a swap shop where students can trade their gently used clothes for new (gently used) clothes.

5 – 7:30 PM | EARTH FEST | LAKE MARY NELL

Try over a dozen dishes featuring local foods and meet the local partners themselves at Elon Dining’s Earth Fest! You’ll even get to meet our most famous local partner, Pearl the dairy cow, from Ran-Lew Dairy.

Friday, April 24

PIZZA & PRAYERS FOR THE PLANET | VARIOUS TIMES | MCBRIDE GATHERING SPACE (NUMEN LUMEN)

Join the Truitt Center’s Rabbi Maor Greene, Father Peter Tremblay and Imam Shane Atkinson for Earth Week themed sermons and guided discussion on being caretakers of the natural world. All are welcome to attend one or all of the following sessions:

12:15 -12:45 p.m.  – Catholic Mass
12:45 – 1:15 p.m.  – Lunch & Learn with Rabbi Maor
1:15 – 1:30 p.m. – Jumuah Prayer

3:30-6 p.m. | POP UP SWAP SHOP | DOWNSTAIRS MOSELEY

Looking to refresh your closet? Have any perfectly good clothing you no longer wear? Bring it to the Pop-Up Swap Shop to trade for new-to-you shirts, pants, dresses, and more! No clothing to swap?  No problem! Commit to a sustainable habit OR donate any fabric scraps on hand to earn free clothing!

�ճ����Pop Up Swap Shop runs in downstairs Moseley every Monday (4-6 pm) and Friday (3:30-6 pm) during the Spring 2026 semester.

8:00-9:00 p.m. | SUSTAINABLE FASHION SHOW | GREAT HALL, SATO COMMONS

Join us for a student-led sustainable fashion show celebrating the creativity and potential of upcycled fashion! Featuring three main themes of comfy, casual, and classy, student designers and models are showcasing the endless possibilities of sustainable styles! Come early to enjoy sustainable sweets and a scrap fruit mocktail prior to the show!

Sunday, April 26

1 – 3 p.m. | ZERO WASTE BASEBALL GAME | LATHAM PARK

Join us at Latham Park for a Zero Waste Baseball Game—where cheering for Elon also means cheering for the planet! Enjoy the game while helping us reduce landfill waste through composting and recycling. Come learn how small actions can make a big difference and help us show that game day can be both fun and sustainable.

Hayhoe is the chief scientist for The Nature Conservancy and a Horn Distinguished Professor and endowed professor of public policy and public law at Texas Tech University. She has served as a lead author for the second, third and fourth U.S. National Climate Assessments. She is the author of the best-selling book “Saving Us: A Climate Scientist’s Case for Hope and Healing in a Divided World.” Hayhoe has been named to lists including the TIME 100 Most Influential People and Fortune’s 50 World’s Greatest Leaders.

Hayhoe’s talk will focus on the importance of calling for systemic change to tackle the climate crisis. Many people are eager to learn what they can do as individuals to help address climate change. While personal actions are important, Hayhoe emphasizes that solving climate change is dependent on people using their voices to help build a better future.

Hayhoe is also the creator of “Talking Climate”, an online newsletter that shares helpful climate science and solutions through weekly climate updates, positive climate stories and more. 

To view the full schedule of Earth Week events and read more about the upcoming keynote, visit the Office of Sustainability’s website.  

�ճ����Elon Farmer’s Market runs every Thursday at the Elon Community Church parking lot from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. (271 N. Williamson Ave., Elon). Typical items sold at the market include fruits and vegetables, seasonal fresh-cut flowers, homemade bread, eggs and more.

Other occasional and guest vendors sell items including pottery, jewelry, crafts, clothing and apothecary products. Additionally, Alamance County Public Libraries attends the Farmer’s Market every other week to encourage residents to take advantage of the books and library resources available in Alamance County.

“We love when 51������ students and faculty not only shop but also participate in the market,” said Sarah Bass, the manager of the farmer’s market. “We have had many students participate as guest vendors and musicians. We also have a professor selling her artwork at the market this season”.

Elon’s Office of Sustainability will be tabling during opening day of the Farmer’s market about “ugly” produce and shopping sustainably. For more information on the Farmer’s Market, visit the  For additional information on sustainability-related events at Elon, visit the Office of Sustainability’s website.

The Haw River stretches 110 miles, and tributaries of the Haw River extend through several counties (including Alamance County), providing drinking water and recreational opportunities to residents.

“As a current intern and past Eco-Rep for the Office of Sustainability at Elon, I have been able to learn how sustainability is applicable to many different fields and areas of study. Now as an intern for the Haw River Assembly, I have an even greater understanding of how sustainability is important in addressing both human and environmental health,” Campbell said.

Campbell’s role as an intern for the Haw River Assembly is to conduct surveys of several streams and tributaries in the Haw River watershed with the goal of contributing to research on the overall health of the watershed. Data collection includes biological and chemical parameters, as well as macroinvertebrate sampling. Macroinvertebrates are organisms that can be seen without a microscope. Stream macroinvertebrates are good indicators of water quality since different types have varying tolerances to pollution. Pollution-sensitive macroinvertebrates, such as stoneflies and caddisflies, for example, can only be found in good quality water.

The Haw River Assembly has several opportunities for community members to get involved in helping to protect the river, including educational events and .

Anyone interested in learning more about the Haw River Assembly may  on events and information or view the .

“I work to ensure that when conversations are happening about programming or policy, we as student representatives are also considering the impacts on people, the planet, and prosperity,” Costa-Helmsteadt said

In addition to meeting regularly with other members of Student Government, Costa-Helmsteadt also works with the Environmental Advisory Council at Elon. The council is comprised of faculty, staff and students and serves to raise awareness of environmental issues and sustainable practices.

Through her work as both an Eco-Rep and SGA senator, Marielle has gained a broader understanding of sustainability and emphasized how it can relate to many different aspects of everyday life.

“Through these roles, I’ve learned a lot about the policy side of sustainable work,” Costa-Helmsteadt said. “I’ve also realized that people often think of sustainability as more complicated than it really is. In reality, it can be embedded into everyday choices and systems with intentionality and collective action.”

Finally, Costa-Helmsteadt hopes that through her work she can help show other students at Elon how they can incorporate sustainability into their own lives easily.

“I love being in these positions because they’ve shown me that sustainability doesn’t have to be overwhelming,” she said. “Through my work, I hope to keep demonstrating to Elon’s community that sustainability can be as simple as choosing reusable options at events, being mindful about where funding is directed, or just pausing to consider how a decision impacts people, the planet, and long-term prosperity!”

Visit the SGA website to view the full list of representatives from each academic and undergraduate college. For more information on sustainability initiatives and events at Elon, visit the Office of Sustainability’s website.

Lauren Hill ‘24 graduated from Elon with a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Engineering. During her time at Elon, she worked as an Intern for the Office of Sustainability, where she regularly attended the Sustainable Alumni Speaker Series. Lauren also participated in the Sustainable Alumni Speaker Series as an Elon graduate in September 2025.

Hill currently works for the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality as a permit engineer within the Division of Waste Management. Her responsibilities include reviewing permit applications for large composting facilities, which helps support public health and the environment.

�ճ����Sustainable Alumni Speaker Series helped to show Hill, as an Elon student, that the path to finding a job in a sustainable career is rarely linear.

“Up until you graduate, you’re always in a really set path,” Hill observed.

Additionally, hearing from several different alumni working in sustainability helped her to gain a broader perspective of how different the job path can be for everyone.

“My biggest takeaway from the speaker series that I attended and something I really felt when I was looking for a job is just how different that journey is for everyone,” she said.

Students may view upcoming Sustainable Alumni Speaker Series on the Office of Sustainability’s events webpage. Students may  to virtual meetings.  For more information on upcoming sustainability-related events across campus, please visit the .

The Sustainability Research Grants were initiated through the Class of 2010’s gift to the University.  Sustainability research clearly addresses the concept of sustainability, furthers understanding of the interdependence of ecological and social/economic systems, or focuses on a major sustainability challenge. �ճ���� illustrate the breadth of sustainability and major sustainability challenges.

Zachary Diamond is a senior at Elon and a Sustainability Research Grant recipient. He is majoring in Environmental and Ecological Sciences and Statistics with a minor in GIS.

“Over the past three years, I’ve been conducting a sustainability-focused research project examining how different soil amendments (biochar, basalt rock dust, and used coffee grounds) influence soil organic carbon, pH, cation exchange capacity, and overall turfgrass health. The broader goal of the project is to evaluate whether alternative, lower-input soil amendments can improve soil function and carbon storage in managed landscapes such as lawns and golf courses,” Diamond said.

Zachary first found out about the Sustainability Research Scholars through faculty in the Environmental Science department. The grant has allowed him to purchase the necessary materials to test soil samples as part of his field experiment. It has also allowed him to present his findings at the ASA-CSSA-SSSA CANVAS Annual Meeting in Salt Lake City, Utah and connect with other scientists. More broadly, this research experience has helped him to grow his skills in data analysis and experimental design as well as improve his ability to communicate science to a wide variety of audiences.

“After interning this past summer at Vineyard Golf Club, a nationally recognized and preeminent organic golf course, I will be returning after graduation in May, where I hope to continue applying sustainability-focused agronomic management practices in the field,” said Diamond.

For more information on how to apply for the Sustainability Research Grant, visit  Elon’s Endowed Grants website. The application is available .  Grant applications will be accepted until March 13 at 5 p.m. For more information on the Sustainability Research Scholars and other sustainable programs and initiatives at Elon, please visit the Office of Sustainability’s website.

Oaks Originals is a Doherty Center for Creativity, Innovation and Entrepreneurship program that provides student business owners with opportunities to showcase their products to the Elon community. Students are able to access pop-ups, workshops, networking and consulting events that help them to further their journeys as entrepreneurs.

Many student business owners at Elon have worked to incorporate sustainability into their products and designs.

Shriya Baru ’25 is an accounting major at Elon, and her business, Kolis USA, started as a passion project that allowed her to channel her creative interests, and has grown into a lifestyle brand that incorporates Indian design through handcrafted products including candles, jewelry and accessories. Oaks Originals has allowed Baru to further her passion for entrepreneurship while maintaining a commitment to sustainability in various forms.

“KOLIS connects to sustainability through small-batch, handcrafted production that minimizes waste, reusable candle jars and durable materials, reduces transportation impact, and a focuses on cultural sustainability,” Baru said.

Noah Elliott ’28, is an economics and financial technology major whose business, Elliott Ringworks, makes and sells fine jewelry. Throughout his time at Elon, Elliott has become particularly interested in how business and management connect to jewelry making. His jewelry-making process involves the recycling of silver and metal scraps:

“I take my old scraps from previous projects, such as off-cuts and old rings. I then combine that with new silver in the form of a coin and heat it up to 1763 degrees. It all melts together and I can pour it out into usable ingots and make more jewelry out of it,” said Elliott.

For more information on student vendors at Oak Originals, visit this link. For more information on student groups involved with sustainability on campus, please visit the Office of Sustainability’s website.