ArboBlitz 2025 Garage Parking Map.pdfMake an impact in your community this fall! Upcoming opportunities include:
Sign up to make a difference today!
Also check out this tree Walk!
Tree Walk at Columbus Park of Roses
Oct. 9 | 1-2:30 p.m. | Columbus Park of Roses at Whetstone Park
Join Smart Columbus at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center on October 10th from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. to test drive the latest EV models, explore savings, and see how driving electric fits your lifestyle. Don’t miss your chance to experience electrified mobility firsthand! Register at https://www.smartrideanddrive.com/ohiostate
Smart Columbus is excited to bring the Ride & Drive Experience to The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center!
This interactive event gives employees the opportunity to test drive the latest electric vehicles (EVs), learn about EV ownership, and explore how electric mobility can fit into their lives.
We are excited to share that we have partnered with Smart Columbus to help transport our city to the future.
I invite you all to register for the upcoming Smart Columbus Ride & Drive Experience, an opportunity to explore the future of transportation and witness firsthand the innovative advanced mobility technologies showcased throughout our region.
The Columbus Region has become a national leader in advanced mobility. From a robust network of vehicle and battery manufacturing and testing, to deploying over 1,000+ charging stations and increasing electrified vehicle registrations by over 1200% in the last decade, our region has gained a competitive edge in advanced mobility.
Why You Should Attend
This Ride & Drive Experience is more than just a test drive—it’s a chance to:
Event Details
Ride & Drive Experience at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center
October 10, 2025
10:00am – 2:00pm
Participants will need to register at the link below:
https://www.smartrideanddrive.com/ohiostate
City of Columbus Recreation and Parks is looking for volunteers!
Pollinator Field Day
Saturday, Aug 23
10 a.m. to noon
Get your hands dirty for something that matters! Join us for Pollinator Field Day, one of our favorite volunteer events of the year! We’ll meet at the prairie at Whetstone Park. We’re looking for volunteers to help remove invasive species and maintain the pollinator habitat. We’ll provide supplies—you bring the energy. Register for your slot today!
Columbus ArborFest
Saturday, Aug 23
Noon to 5 p.m.
Happening at Whetstone Park, this event will include tours and tree ID walks; food trucks; exhibitors; live entertainment for all ages and more!
Pollinator Documentation Program
Now through September; Virtual
Learn how to track pollinator activity using the iNaturalist app. They will send you all the tools you need to get started when you register for the virtual training.
It is officially back to school season, and whether you are stocking up on school supplies or adjusting to a new routine, we can help you do it in a sustainable and cost efficient way. Here are some quick tips to help you get an A+ in sustainability and savings.
– Reduce carbon emissions and material waste. Walking, biking, or even carpooling to school can make a huge difference in the reduction of traffic and your carbon footprint.
– Buy second-hand and donate what you no longer need. Second-hand and resale shops can offer excellent value and keep old clothes, sports equipment, and technology out of the landfill.
-Pack to prevent waste. Cut down on lunchtime waste by using a reusable lunchbox and water bottle, and reduce packing waste by avoiding pre-packaged foods. You can even have your child bring leftovers home for tomorrow’s lunch or the garden compost.
– Utilize SWACO’s resources for schools. We offer grants, landfill tours, lesson plans, games, and educational resources for students, teachers, and schools.
Learn about SWACO’s Resources for Schools
Also see below for some great events hosted by SWACO this month!
For more information, visit https://www.swaco.org/
Interested in becoming more involved with sustainability on campus? Have talent you would like to share? Interested in networking outside your department?
The Green Team is always looking for passionate members to step up and take on a leadership role. Any employee of OSU and OSUMC (remote campuses included) can learn to take on a role that is suited to your talents and expertise! Expertise on sustainability in particular is not required.
In general we are always looking for someone who can extend a few hours a week or even a month to support the Green Team initiatives and work collaboratively. This can be through marketing, project management, education, webinars, communication, administration, event planning, graphics, networking, volunteering, budgets, spreading awareness, sharing ideas, recordkeeping, data analysis, document creation, and so much more! We hold 30 min Leadership Meetings virtually every other week.
Not want to be a member of leadership, but want to be involved? Join an Innovation Team! Innovation Teams are sub-committees with particular focus a certain area for improvement such as recycling, plant forward eating, composting, green spaces, and more. Have a specific area of interest that you would like to explore? Reach out to a member of leadership to join an Innovation Team!
Still not sure if you are able to commit the time? Reach out to Beth Strausbaugh or Julia Wilson to join our ongoing volunteer list! We will send you opportunities to volunteer at events and gatherings throughout the year, and you can let us know if you are available.
Please reach out to a member of leadership if you are interested or to learn more!
Michelle Pennington: pennington.165@osu.edu
Julia Wilson: Julia.Wilson@osumc.edu
Cecil Okotah: Cecil.Okotah@osumc.edu
Laura Volk: Laura.Volk@osumc.edu
Susannah Kistler: Susannah.Kistler@osumc.edu
Beth Strausbaugh: Elizabeth.Strausbaugh@osumc.edu
MacKenzie DiMarco: MacKenzie.DiMarco@osumc.edu
Combine Zero Waste with helping kids. Donate the following items to help summer camp kids build robots!
Things that are NOT needed:
Contact Betty Lise Anderson with questions and drop off information.
Betty Lise Anderson, PhD, Professor and Associate Chair
Electrical and Computer Engineering
205 Dreese Laboratory | 2015 Neil Avenue Columbus, OH 43210
614-292-1323 Office | 614-292-7596 Fax
anderson.67@osu.edu
Join Besa and Franklinton Farms to help increase access to local produce in our community! As a volunteer, you’ll be assisting with general stewardship and maintenance of the farm. Volunteers may also work indoors, either tending plants in our high tunnels or assisting with property maintenance, tool organization, and other various tasks.
Learn more and Sign Up Here!
Join Besa and Friends of Goodale Park to help maintain Goodale Park! Volunteers will garden, assist with litter removal, and other tasks as needed. Volunteers of all ages are welcome!
Learn more and Sign Up Here!
Join Besa and Central Community House to maintain the Columbus Community Center’s gardens and flower beds! Volunteers will assist in general stewardship of the gardens to ensure the center is beautiful and welcoming to all!
Learn more and Sign Up Here!
Join Besa and Cultivate for a community clean-up in the Milo-Grogan neighborhood! Cultivate works to strengthen the Milo-Grogan community through neighborhood-driven solutions. Volunteers will help with tasks like litter pickup to keep the area looking its best.
Learn more and Sign Up Here!
See how you can participate
id you know that The Ohio State University Sustainability Institute is hosting a Passport to Earth Month? Now through Tuesday, April 22 (Earth Day), engage in over 50 events and activities across campus and surrounding communities for the chance to win a special prize!
Learn more at Sustainability Institute.
Upcoming events include:
Find More Earth Day Events at The Green Team ERG’s website!!
