This week serves as a reminder of Elon’s existing commitment to environmental stewardship and the continued dedication to improving Elon’s engagement with sustainable behavior change.
The Office of Sustainability has planned a wide variety of events for Campus Sustainability Week (Oct. 19-23) to raise awareness and inspire sustainable behavior change across campus.
Campus Sustainability Week is a campus-wide initiative that celebrates, educates, and examines the sustainable habits that shape how the Elon community interacts with the environment. The week is an opportunity to learn about existing behaviors of students, faculty and staff while also critically examining how Elon as a community can inspire sustainable changes across campus.
Campus Sustainability Week also includes a competition with prizes including Phoenix Cash, hammocks and more! Attend as many events as possible during this week for a chance to win! More information can be found on the Campus Sustainability Week website!
Schedule of Events
Monday, October 19
4 – 6 p.m. | Pop Up Swap Shop (Downstairs Moseley)
Bring your gently used clothing to swap for something new-to-you. No clothing to bring? No problem! You can commit to a sustainable habit to earn free clothing.
Pop Up Swap Shop runs in downstairs Moseley every Monday (4-6 p.m.), Thursday (5-6 p.m.) and Friday (4-6 p.m.) during the Fall 2026 semester.
Tuesday, October 20
9:40-10:20 a.m. | Scrappy Sips at College Coffee (Phi Beta Kappa Plaza)
Celebrate Campus Sustainability Week with a sweet twist on food waste! Stop by the Office of Sustainability’s table at College Coffee to enjoy scrappy-apple syrup and spice up your coffee or tea while exploring how food scraps can be repurposed!
7-8 p.m. | Campus Sustainability Week Keynote: A Stronger, Safer, More Resilient North Carolina with Kathie Dello (McKinnon Hall, Moseley Center)
North Carolina is preparing for a future shaped by stronger storms, increased flooding, extreme heat and other natural hazards. Drawing on her experience as both North Carolina’s former state climatologist and her current role as the assistant secretary for resilience at the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality, Kathie Dello will explain how resilience moves beyond disaster response to reduce risk before disasters occur, especially in the wake of the three damaging hurricanes that hit North Carolina in less than a decade. She will highlight the state’s resilience work through the Flood Resiliency Blueprint, and community-based programs that help local governments identify vulnerabilities and invest in long-term solutions. She will also discuss how partnerships with universities and local leaders contribute to stronger, safer communities across North Carolina.
Co-sponsored by the Office of Sustainability, the Environmental Studies Department, and the Kernodle Center for Civic Life.
Wednesday, October 21
12-2 p.m. | Fall Faves: Recipes to Reduce Food Waste (McEwen Dining Hall)
Join Elon Dining and the Office of Sustainability to learn how to turn food scraps into cozy autumn treats! Learn what produce is in season right now in NC, and how buying in season is better for the environment and yourself!
2-4 p.m. | Scraps to Simmer Pots: A Second Life for Fall Food Waste! (Medallion Plaza)
Learn how to use the whole pumpkin and discover creative ways to reduce fall food waste! Make your own autumnal simmer pot packet using dehydrated fall food scraps to take home and fill your space with a cozy fall scent.
4-6 p.m. | The Sustainable Home Lab (Mill Point Commons)
The Sustainable Home Lab is a hands-on workshop where students can create their own DIY household cleaning and laundry products while exploring practical ways to reduce waste and make more sustainable choices at home.
9-10 p.m. | S’mores with Outdoors (Beck Pool Patio)
Join Elon Outdoors and the Eco-Reps for a special Campus Sustainability Week S’mores with Outdoors!
Thursday, October 22
4:30-6:30 p.m. | Season of Shadows and Light: A Samhain Celebration (McBride Gathering Space)
Samhain marks the close of the harvest season and the transition into winter, the darker half of the year. Rooted in Celtic and Gaelic traditions, Samhain is widely observed across contemporary earth-based practices as a time when the boundary between the living and the spirit world is understood to be especially thin. It offers an opportunity for reflection, remembrance, release of old habits and attachments, and honoring ancestors and the unseen. All are welcome!
Sponsored by the Truitt Center for Religious and Spiritual Life
5-6 p.m. | Pop Up Swap Shop (Downstairs Moseley)
Bring your gently used clothing to swap for something new-to-you. No clothing to bring? No problem! You can commit to a sustainable habit to earn free clothing.
The Pop Up Swap Shop runs in downstairs Moseley every Monday (4-6 p.m.), Thursday (5-6 p.m.) and Friday (4-6 p.m.) during the Fall 2026 semester.
10 p.m. to 12 a.m. | Paint 1010 with SUB (Winter Garden)
Join SUB and Eco-Reps at paint 1010 to have a chill night of painting your own tote bag! Bring a friend, a snack and even come in your pjs if you want! We supply all materials needed.
Friday, October 23
12-1 p.m. | Fall into Waste Reduction: Upcycling Jars (Medallion Plaza)
Reduce. Reuse. Recycle. This hierarchy helps us understand the best ways to reduce waste. Join us to upcycle jars and scraps into beautiful fall decorations to keep these items out of the landfill!
2-4 p.m. | Forest Bathing at Loy Farm (Loy Farm) Registration Required
Forest bathing refers to the practice of immersing ourselves in nature or ‘bathing’ (metaphorically) in the environment of the forest, taking it in through our different senses. Visiting Scholar Wong Soon Fen from the National University of Singapore will lead us in a forest (nature) bathing practice at Loy Farm.
Co-sponsored by the Office of Sustainability, Outdoor Leadership Education, HealthEU, and the Faculty Fellows for Sustainability and Wellness & Wellbeing.
4-6 p.m. | Danieley Fall Fest (Daniel Commons Patio)
Stop by Eco-Rep Maeve’s table at Danieley Fall Fest to learn how to make your own sustainable cleaning spray and learn about environmentally-friendly practices for your own home!
4-6 p.m. PM | Pop Up Swap Shop (Downstairs Moseley)
Bring your gently used clothing to swap for something new-to-you. No clothing to bring? No problem! You can commit to a sustainable habit to earn free clothing. We’re here to encourage pursuing hobbies sustainably! Donate in exchange for clothes OR recycled yarn from our Autumn Swap Shop!
5-6 p.m. | Yoga in Nature (Center for the Arts Patio)
Take a break from the busy week to step outside, relax, and reset with Yoga Club and the Office of Sustainability. We’ll do a rejuvenating yoga flow and learn about the physical and mental health benefits of spending time outside. Yoga mats provided.