The Gallatin Earth Celebration, which aims to inspire environmental stewardship and pride of place, will be held April 16-22 at locations around the Gallatin Valley.

The celebration brings community members together to clean neighborhoods, learn what is happening in the region to advance sustainability and get involved. It is a partnership between Montana State University, the City of Bozeman, local businesses and organizations and independent citizens.

The celebration includes a run, sustainability fair, community wide clean up day and more. The complete schedule of events is listed below.

Run for the Earth
The third annual Run for the Earth will be held Sunday, April 17. The event is focused on people and community, healthy lifestyles and making sustainable living choices. It features a one-mile fun run/walk, a five-kilometer run and a 10-kilometer run. (The one-mile and five-kilometer categories are both dog and stroller friendly). The event kicks off at 9:30 a.m. with all courses beginning and ending at the Bozeman Public Library. T-shirts and refreshments will be provided for participants. All runners and walkers can pick up their race number and T-shirts the day of the race or on Saturday, April 16, at Bogert Park from 8:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m.

The registration fee is $15 in advance or $20 after April 16. Interested participants can register online at http://www.active.com or by calling Stephanie Hanson at 994-6653.

The Story of Stuff and the Impact of Overconsumption
A multimedia presentation, “The Story of Stuff and the Impact of Overconsumption,” is set for Wednesday, April 20, at 7:30 p.m. in MSU’s SUB Ballrooms.

The 2007 animated short film “The Story of Stuff” challenged citizens to reconsider consumer culture. Now a series of six films, “The Story of Stuff” project aims to build a more just and sustainable world through public discourse on environmental, social and economic concerns. Allison Cook, a special project coordinator and staff member with the project, will give a multimedia presentation about addiction to stuff and how to change that dependence.

The event is hosted by the ASMSU Sustainability Center and is free and open to the public. Call 994-6873 or visit www.montana.edu/gec for more information.

Earth Week activities with NECO
Students with the Network of Environmentally Conscious Organizations (NECO) will host activities outside on the mall at MSU during the Gallatin Earth Celebration. All events will be held between 10 a.m. -3 p.m. and are free and open to the public. Events include a visual renegade art day on April 17; sustained agriculture with sheep on April 18; a presentation on sustained agriculture on April 19; Montana State bike day on April 20; NECO lobby day on April 21; and NECO hike on April 22.

Clean Up Day and Sustainability Fair
A clean up day and sustainability fair will be held Saturday, April 16, from 8:30 a.m.-1 p.m.

The initiative helps educate city residents about the impact of littering, gets them involved in the task of city-wide clean up and allows people to become part of the community by participating alongside their neighbors. Organizers are also reminding citizens that clean water is closely tied to clean streets. Litter and debris in parks, alleys, vacant lots and streets often ends up in Bozeman Creek and the East Gallatin River.

Volunteers should meet at Bogert Park in Bozeman starting at 8:30 a.m. for supplies, maps, coffee and snacks (travel mugs are encouraged). After collecting waste and recyclables, volunteers are invited to return to Bogert Park for a post clean up party featuring a free volunteer’s lunch, live music, raffle prizes and a showcase of local businesses and organizations who support a sustainable Bozeman.

Individuals who are interested in exhibiting at the fair or learning more may visit www.montana.edu/gec.

Summit on Sustainability and the Environment
The 2011 Summit on Sustainability and the Environment will be held Saturday, April 16, at 1 p.m. in MSU’s Procrastinator Theatre.

Gateway Youth Group (GYG), a Turner Youth Initiative, invites all high school students to participate in the 2011 Summit on Sustainability and the Environment. Bringing together area high school students, the summit is intended to inform, inspire and empower young people by creating a dialogue between youth, educators, businesses, political leaders and community organizations. For more information, contact Martha Joh at 582-8667 or mjreeder@hotmail.com.

The Gallatin Earth Celebration is sponsored by the City of Bozeman, MSU, MSU Office of the President, Associated Students of MSU, ASMSU Sustainability Center, Bozeman Running Company, Island Noodles, Friends of Bogert Park, Bozeman Beatification Advisory Board, Bozeman Solid Waste Division, Network of Environmentally Conscious Organizations and
Community Food Co-Op.

For more information, visit www.montana.edu/gec/.