In early celebration of Earth Day, the GreenJays kicked off this past week sponsoring giveaways and voting on the annual campus tree of the year.

GreenJays, formerly known as the Environmental Science Club, was officially recognized as a Creighton organization in August 2009. Student led, their mission is to promote and inform students, faculty, and staff of sustainable initiatives on campus.  Anyone affiliated with the Creighton community can sign up to be on the listserve and as of last semester records show there was an estimated 200 members signed up to receive any and all information about meetings, speakers, actions or presentations held on Creighton’s campus.

According to The Princeton Review Guide, Creighton was named one of the 322 most environmentally responsible colleges in the U. S. and Canada. There is no doubt that organizations like GreenJays contribute to Creighton’s reputable standing, making the Creighton name known by bringing about environmental awareness and promoting principles of sustainability.

“In the last couple of years Creighton has done a significant job moving forward with sustainability, but we still have a long ways to go.”  Arts & Sciences sophomore and CCSJ GreenJays liaison Haley Warren said. “I hope through raising awareness people will become more passionate about sustainability and Creighton will become a more sustainable campus.”

Some of the events that GreenJays organize include film screenings and various Earth Day events. The group also helps with the Community Garden and promotes free bike storage for students on campus.

Friday April 26  the GreenJays will be putting on an awareness walk titled “We Matter Walk: Our Climate Our Future.” Participating students and community members are expected to meet on the KFC lawn, walking to communicate their collective concerns about effects of climate change in the world today. Live music and food will kick off the event at 3:30 p.m. and the walk will begin at 5:00 p.m. Arts & Sciences junior Liz Hines looks forward to the event.

“I’m not in GreenJays, but I heard about this event and I think it is a really cool concept.  I look forward to seeing what the event will have in store” Hines said.

Visit the Creighton Center for Service and Justice blog to learn more about featured events: http://blogs.creighton.edu/ccsj/2013/04/we-matter-walk-our-climate-our-future/