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Outdoor Activities

Donuts and Tree Care

Come out on Saturday, April 5th to do some much needed mulching for the trees by the UK Football Practice Field! With the warm Spring weather, mulch will help these trees retain water, regulate harsh temperatures, and improve their soil for the growth season!

Plus, we will have donuts!

Standby rain date: Saturday, April 12, 9:30am-11:30am. Will be announced via social media if the date changes.

Location: Between UK Football Practice Field and Alumni Drive
Date and Time: Saturday, April 5th, 9:30-11:30am

Volunteer with Donuts and Tree Care

Arboretum Bird Walk

Join experienced birders for a guided bird walk at The Arboretum! All experience levels are welcome and some binoculars will be available for loan during the event. These walks fill up quickly, so register today!

Email us at arboretum@uky.edu to register.

 

Location: The Arboretum, State Botanical Garden of Kentucky, 500 Alumni Drive, Lexington, KY 40503
 
Date and Time: Saturday, April 5th, 9-11am
Redwing blackbird perched on branch

Wildflower Walk at Raven Run Nature Sanctuary

Join staff at Raven Run Nature Sanctuary to see their beautiful display of spring ephemeral wildflowers and learn how to identify several species that commonly occur in the Bluegrass. Hiking route will be approximately two miles over moderately difficult hiking terrain with some elevation changes. Registration is required. Please register all guests attending. Program is best for adults and children ages 8+. If you have issues registering, please feel free to give them a call at the Nature Center (859) 272-6105.

Location: Raven Run Nature Sanctuary | 3885 Raven Run Way Lexington KY 40515
Date and Time: Tuesday, April 22nd, 1pm-3pm

Register here.

Reforest the Bluegrass

Reforest the Bluegrass is a community tree planting festival! Volunteers plant trees near streams and water bodies to improve "riparian buffers, " benefiting our water quality. These efforts also improve our tree canopy, air quality, quality of life and more! 

Location: Jacobson Park | 4001 Athens Boonesboro Road
Date and Time: Saturday, April 19th, 9am-1pm

Learn more here.

Reforest the Bluegrass sign at planting site

Earth Day Volunteer Hour at McConnell Springs Park

Celebrate Earth Day by giving one hour of time to volunteer and help improve the habitat at McConnell Springs.  Tools and instruction will be provided for registered participants. Signing waivers will be required before service begins. They will have opportunities to volunteer for all ages, please dress for the weather! Registration is required.

Location: McConnell Springs Park | 416 Rebmann Lane Lexington KY 40504
Date and Time: Tuesday, April 22nd, 10am-11am

Register here.

Photograph landscape of McConnell Springs Park

Wildflower Walk at Raven Run Nature Sanctuary

Join staff at Raven Run Nature Sanctuary to see their beautiful display of spring ephemeral wildflowers and learn how to identify several species that commonly occur in the Bluegrass. Hiking route will be approximately two miles over moderately difficult hiking terrain with some elevation changes. Registration is required. Please register all guests attending. Program is best for adults and children ages 8+. If you have issues registering, please feel free to give them a call at the Nature Center (859) 272-6105.

Location: Raven Run Nature Sanctuary | 3885 Raven Run Way Lexington KY 40515
Date and Time: Tuesday, April 22nd, 1pm-3pm

Register here.


Arts and Creativity

Urinetown, The Musical

Music and Lyrics by Mark Hollmann 
Book and Lyrics by Greg Kotis 
April 10 - 13, 2025 | Guignol Theatre 

In a Gotham-like city, a terrible water shortage, caused by a 20-year drought, has led to a government-enforced ban on private toilets. The denizens of Urinetown must use public facilities regulated by a single evil company that profits by charging for one of humanity’s most basic needs – the privilege to pee! 

Amidst all of this, a hero emerges, determined to lead a revolution for freedom! The Tony Award-winning URINETOWN is a hilarious musical satire of the legal system, capitalism, social irresponsibility, populism, environmental collapse, privatization of natural resources, bureaucracy, municipal politics, and musical theatre itself!

ADULT: $27.78, STUDENT: $19.56

Learn more here.

Urinetown poster

Resiliently Rooted Art Showcase

The Urban Forest Initiative is holding an Art Showcase and Contest in celebration of urban and community forestry! The showcase will be held from April 14th-18th, 2025 with an open house and announcement of winners on the 17th.

Location: Bolivar Art Gallery
Date & Time: April 17th, 4:30-7:30pm

Learn more here.

Resiliently Rooted Art Showcase - Open House April 17th, 4:30-7pm at Bolivar Art Gallery

Academic

2025 Annual John P. Wyatt, MD Environment and Health Symposium

Register now for the annual 2025 John P. Wyatt, MD Environment and Health Symposium. Held on Earth Day, April 22, 2025, the symposium will feature Awardee and Keynote Speaker, Ellen Hahn, PhD, RN, FAAN along with facilitated discussions with expert panelists covering “Moving Research to Policy.”

Location: Gatton Student Center
Date & Time: Tues, April 22nd, 8:30am-1:00pm

Register here.
 

2025 John P. Wyatt, M.D. Environment and Health Symposium

Canopy Con 2025

The second annual Canopy Con will be happening on Thursday, April 24, 2025, from 8:30am-4:00pm at the Fayette County Extension Office! See program at registration at Canopy Con 2025 | Urban Forest Initiative.

Canopy Con is a one-day conference hosting professional speakers and field demonstrations on Urban and Community Forestry. Breakfast, lunch, and snack included in registration. Attendance is encouraged for students and professionals alike. 

Register here.

Canopy Con 2025 - Expanding Urban Tree Canopies

5th Annual Sustainability Summit

Join us on April 28th, 2025, from 8:00am – 4:00pm for our 5th annual Sustainability Summit at the University of Kentucky Gatton Student Center. The Summit brings together community and business leaders seeking to move the sustainability needle and enact change in their own communities.

The Sustainability Summit is a unique opportunity to bring regional ideas, examples, and solutions to topics that are very timely for the Bluegrass. “The goal is to leave attendees feeling equipped and empowered to instill change in their own communities,” said Amy Sohner, Executive Director “and we aim to accomplish this by conversing with a collection of changemakers in areas such as waste reduction, transportation, climate, and more.” Community leaders, elected officials, and those interested in sustainability are all encouraged to attend.

Registration will open at 8:00am followed by opening remarks at 8:30am. The event will run until 4:00pm and will be followed by a reception & networking.

Learn more.

BGGS Sustainability Summit ad

Just for Fun!

Plant Forward Picnic

In honor of Earth Week, join UK Dining for our annual Plant Forward Picnic on April 23rd at Fresh Food Co. Enjoy a delicious plant-based lunch box and an outdoor picnic on The 90 Lawn (weather permitting). This event is open to all and costs one meal swipe into the dining hall. Don't have a meal plan? The door-rate is $12.98!

Location: Fresh Food Co., The 90
Date and Time: April 23rd, 11am-2pm


 
plant based lunchbox outside the 90