Sustainable Blacksburg is a non-profit – 501(c)3 – community organization whose mission it is to facilitate environmental stewardship in the Blacksburg area and to enhance the region’s livability by reducing its impact on the local and global environment.
There current goals are to initiate and promote sustainable practices in the Blacksburg area, encourage other area organizations that promote sustainability, and to disseminate information to area residents that will enhance our ability to live in balance with our environment.
They will be hosting a variety of events for all ages this Saturday through Sunday, Sept. 24.
Kids’ Activities Passport
Event Description: We believe that children are our future! This year for Sustainability Week we are offering something new – a passport to all the activities that are kid/family friendly. Kids who participate in at least four Sustainability Week activities (initialed by parent/teacher) will receive a special prize!
Times: At least one kid/family friendly event is being offered each day of Sustainability Week – see event descriptions below and look for *kid/family friendly to find all the fantastic events you and your kiddos could attend!
Location: multiple locations
Additional Information: Passports can be picked up at the SEEDS Office/Price House Nature Center, 107 Wharton Street SE, the Blacksburg Children’s Museum, 1470 S Main Street, Suite 106, the YMCA Thrift Store, 1000 N Main Street, or Imaginations Toy and Furniture, 1531 S Main St, Blacksburg, VA 24060. If you would like the passport emailed to you, please contact sustainability@blacksburg.gov. Children 12 and under must be accompanied by a parent at all Sustainability Week events. Prizes for completed passports can be collected at any of the places where passports were distributed, or at the Town of Blacksburg Sustainability Office – 141 Jackson Street.
An Inconvenient Sequel: Truth to Power
Event Description: A decade after An Inconvenient Truth (2006) brought climate change into the heart of popular culture comes the follow-up that shows just how close we are to a real energy revolution. A sequel to The Inconvenient Truth, the follow-up documentary addresses the progress made to tackle the problem of climate change and Al Gore’s global efforts to persuade governmental leaders to invest in renewable energy, culminating in the landmark signing of 2016’s Paris Climate Agreement. Rating PG, run time 98 minutes
Times: Sunday 3 p.m., 7 p.m. & 9:15 p.m.; Mon 10 a.m., 7 a.m. & 9:15 p.m.; Tues-Thurs, 7 p.m. & 9:15 p.m.
Location: The Lyric Theater, 135 College Avenue
Stormwater Public Arts Project Kick-Off
Event Description: The Town of Blacksburg is planning to launch a new public arts program centered around water heritage and water quality. Modeled after a successful program in Richmond – Blacksburg will be seeking design concepts from local artists to adorn some selected storm drains around town – with a mission to raise awareness about the choices (and changes) we can all make to restore the health of our local impaired waterways. Selected artists will receive a stipend to complete their works and a public unveiling of the newly decorated storm drains is planned for next year’s Sustainability Week.
Time: Submissions accepted anytime between Sept. 16 and Dec. 15, 2017
Additional Information: sustainability@blacksburg.gov or 443-1617
Public Poetry Project
Event Description: Poems, selected for their human connection to Nature/Mother Earth, by local and global poets, are printed on recycled lengths of fabric (curtains, tablecloths, etc.) and hung from poles in locations around Blacksburg. See if you can find/visit them all! *kid/family friendly
Time: all week
Locations: The YMCA Thrift Store, Price House Nature Center, Stroubles Creek next to Five Chimneys, Bollo’s Cafe and Bakery, Blacksburg Municipal Building, Blacksburg Old Town Hall
Participatory Public Prayer Project: Eco-Prayer Flag
Event Description: At the library, near the book return slot inside, there will be materials for making an eco-prayer flag. This will be similar to the Tibetan Prayer Flags in which individual flags are strung together on a rope or string. The finished prayer flag, in the tradition of the Tibetan ones, will be hung in Blacksburg and allowed to slowly age and decay. The wind and the elements carry the prayers to the Sky, to the Sun, and the Moon. Each participant may write their eco-prayer on a piece of paper, then use a clothespin to attach it to the frame at the station. Paper and clothespins, as well as markers and pens, will be at the station. At the end of the week the prayers will be strung together (by Karen Cairns) and the completed prayer flag hung in an outdoor location to be decided. *kid/family friendly
Time: all week
Location: Blacksburg Public Library
Caught Green Handed
Event Description: Do you see people on campus or around town using reusable bags, biking to work, or filling a reusable water bottle, or doing something else green? Help us catch these people “green handed”. This campaign looks to spread awareness and give a tangible “attagirl” or “attaboy” to folks who take that extra step to make green choices in their everyday lives. CGH Ambassadors will be given a set of Caught Green Handed stickers and over the course of the week, they will keep their eyes peeled so they can “catch” people doing something green. We also ask our CGH Ambassadors to help spread the message by posting pics of themselves with their “catchee” to our social media campaign #CaughtGreenHanded. (with permission of course). *kid/family friendly (kids can be CGH Ambassadors as long as they are working with a parent/adult)
Time: all week
Location: anywhere someone can be caught!
Additional Information: We need 20 volunteers to be Caught Green Handed Ambassadors – if you are interested, please visit our Volunteer SignUp Page, or contact skarlee3@vt.edu (if you are a VT student) or sustainability@blacksburg.gov (if you are a community member)
For a complete list of events, visit www.sustainableblacksburgva.org/events/sustainability-week-2017/
