by Niki Acton '16

Knox College community members and Galesburg residents gathered recently near the Gizmo patio for the annual Earth Day Festival, presented by Knox Advocates for Recycling and Environmental Support. The club, also known as KARES, was responsible for planning and running the event, which featured booths from campus organizations and local businesses, games, and live music.

"The point is to merge the Galesburg and Knox communities," said KARES Co-President Sophia Spooner '16. Spooner was responsible for inviting local businesses to participate in the festival.

Community representatives at the event included the Galesburg Farmers Market, local restaurant En Season, and Sitka Salmon Shares. Other activities at the festival, sponsored by student clubs and organizations, included making an Earth Day pledge, planting microgreens, Tarot readings, and face painting.

The April 23 festival concluded a series of events which took place at Knox throughout April to celebrate Earth Month. Events included EquiKnox speaker Tyrone Hayes; workshops in terrarium-building, soap-making, and microgreens-planting; a recovered food dinner; and an Earth Day 5K Fun Run and Walk.

The Neuroscience and Psychology Club's table featured Professor of Psychology Tim Kasser's research and an array of facts about the environment, as well as the opportunity for attendees to set conservation goals for themselves.

"We had the idea to use some of Tim Kasser's research about the psychology of helping people achieve their goals," said club President Emily Corwin-Renner '17. "We combined that with information we compiled about recycling and the environment."

As part of the musical line-up, student-run a capella group Soulfege performed several songs.

"I went to the Earth Day Festival to see Soulfege perform," said Emily Trevor '17, who spent the afternoon at the festival. "I was surprised to come away feeling more immersed in the Galesburg community. I'm excited to check out the Farmers Market and pay a visit to En Season!"