Munising’s inaugural Earth Fest, a weeklong series of events celebrating Earth Day, was held last week at the Munising School Public Library. Over 100 people attended the various workshops, speaking engagements and displays.
“One young lady that came in and got her degree from Michigan Tech said she was surprised to see an event like this in Munising. It was stimulating to hear people talk about the different sciences,” said Joan Potter-Sommer, one of the organizers of the event. “I consider that successful for the first time around.”
Events were as poetic as they were technological, with some days focusing on conservation-based poetry and story times for books about the environment. Other audiences listened to presentations from MichiganTech’s Jeremy Worm about electric vehicle technology, climate change in the U.P. from Michigan State University Extension Center’s James DeDecker and a panel discussion on renewable energy in the home with representatives from UPPCO, Superior Watershed Partnership and Michigan Energy Options. Those discussions had more than 25 people each.
Potter-Sommer said that it was important to showcase multiple sides of environmental and conservation efforts throughout the week so everybody could find something to talk about.
“Climate is not discussed. Climate change and what that means is not on the tip of everyone’s tongue,” she said. “It was important so we can start conversations and talk about sustainability. It’s such a hard topic to talk about when talking about what we can do within our lifestyle.”
The event will most likely continue in the future. Potter-Sommer will look to continue the event next spring, but is welcoming more people to join in and decide what presentations and events will take place during the week.
“It should be inclusive with a range of things to be offered, so I wonder what will be the next (topic). I’m hoping it would be geared towards people with a range of knowing about climate and the earth,” she said. “We live in a wonderful and beautiful place and hope people would want to maintain that.”
