POTSDAM – SUNY Potsdam will host a variety of sustainability events during its fifth annual observation of Earth Week, from April 21 to April 28.

The celebration brings together the entire campus under sponsorship by SUNY Potsdam's environmental club, the Middle Ground, each year.

All events are free and the community is welcome to take part.

The goal of Earth Week is to encourage student, staff, faculty and community environmental awareness, to educate individuals about environmental problems and how they can make changes in their everyday lives to help contribute to solutions. Middle Ground develops events that are fun, engaging, and educational.

This year's Earth Week events include:

• Sunday, April 22, celebrating 42nd annual Earth Day from 1 to 5 p.m. behind the Barrington Student Union where there will be a concert and barbecue. From 1 to 4 p.m., the United Unitarian Universalist Church and the college seek volunteers to meet at the Cecile Garden in SUNY Potsdam's Lehman Park. Planted in memory of Cecile Pletcher, all are welcome to celebrate her life by preparing the garden for this year. Follow the trail next to the Raquette River to find the garden.

• Monday, April 23, a talk by Dominic Frongillo, 6 to 7:30 p.m. in Kellas 103. Frongillo has worked in sustainability, most notably as a U.S. Youth Delegate to the United Nations climate negotiations in Durban in 2011, Cancun in 2010, Copenhagen in 2009 and Bali in 2007.

• Tuesday, April 24, 5K Walk/Run to raise funds for the Nature Conservancy's program to adopt an acre in the Appalachian Mountains, 5 to 7 p.m.. Meet at the union to register. Also, the SUNY Potsdam Outing Club will present a low impact camp-out in Marshall Park overnight, starting at 8 p.m.

• Wednesday, April 25, journalist Charles Fishman speaks about “The Big Thirst: The Secret Life and Turbulent Future of Water, ” 7:30 p.m. in Snell Music Theater at SUNY Potsdam's Crane School of Music. Limited seating: to reserve a seat, call 267-2515.

• Thursday, April 26, a second clean-up of the Cecile Garden in Lehman Park, 2 to 5 p.m.

• Saturday, April 28, Residence Life and the Counseling Center sponsor “yoga on the mountain,” a brief hike up Mount Arab in Piercefield, relaxing on the top with a group yoga session. Pre-registration is required: metotal192@potsdam.edu. And the Department of Geology’s fifth annual Rock and Fossil Fair in Timermann Hall from 9 a.m. to noon. All are welcome to this free family-friendly event.