Despite a rainy start, Sustain-a-Bash 2025 was a huge success. Sustain-a-Bash is an annual week-long celebration of sustainability on campus, co-hosted with University Housing. This year, Sustain-a-Bash consisted of a native planting party, Green Fund and Wisconsin Urban Planning Association kickoff events, national voter registration day, a crafternoon with the Disability Cultural Center, and a walking tour leading to the celebration’s namesake and flagship event: the Sustain-a-Bash Showcase.
This year’s Showcase brought more than 30 campus and community organizations together on Dejope Lawn, connecting new and returning students with resources to learn how Badgers live sustainably. From screen printing on thrifted clothing and hands-on activities at every station, to yard games and push-up competitions with Bucky, “Sustain-a-Badgers” showed up to create connections and community.
Though Sustain-a-Bash 2025 has concluded, the celebration served as a launch party for another year of collaborative sustainability efforts across campus. If you missed us at the Showcase, we invite you to scroll through the photo gallery below and explore some of the year-long opportunities students have to get involved with sustainability, including connecting with one of the 50+ sustainability-related organizations on campus, attending the Sustainability Symposium on October 29, or joining us at Earth Fest this spring.
And, of course, remember to mark your calendar for next year’s edition of Sustain-a-Bash!
School of Education Native Planting Work Party
To kick off the week, the School of Education hosted a work party in their native plant garden. Students and staff worked together to clean up the native plant garden on the School of Education’s green roof. The project and event were supported by the Green Fund, which facilitates student-led sustainability projects on campus, to help support pollinators and create a space for indigenous place-based learning. Photo by Kate Scroggins.
Green Fund Fall Kickoff: Tour & Picnic
Green Fund Program Manager Ian Aley led a tour on Tuesday, highlighting some of the recent projects completed by Green Fund students. The tour culminated in an informational networking picnic to generate ideas for the next wave of Green Fund projects. The Green Fund helps students fund projects that address the environmental footprint, social impact, and operating costs of campus facilities, and in turn gives them a hands-on role in supporting UW–Madison’s campus-wide sustainability goals. Photo by Catie Stumpf.
Among other stops, Green Fund tour attendees visited the D.C. Smith Greenhouse, where they observed two Green Fund projects: a new aquaponics system and an LED lighting retrofit. Photo by Catie Stumpf.
They also visited Babcock Dairy, where they got to try ice cream developed through a Green Fund project led by students in food science, health science, and engineering. The “low-energy ice cream” they’re researching can be held at a higher temperature, which allows freezers to use less energy and could eventually lead to new, more sustainable industry standard. Photo by Catie Stumpf.
Sustainability Walking Tour
Ahead of the Sustain-a-Bash Showcase on Friday, Office of Sustainability interns led a campus walking tour highlighting sustainability features across UW–Madison. They visited the historic Ho-Chunk mounds on Observatory Hill, Allen Centennial Garden, and more. Photo by John Ernst.
The tour ended at Dejope Lawn, where the Sustain-a-Bash Showcase was about to begin. It was a perfect ending spot, as the interns finished with some of the Green Fund projects that have been implemented in Lakeshore residence halls. Here, an intern is pictured pointing out bird-safe glass decals recently installed at Dejope Residence Hall. Photo by John Ernst.
Sustain-a-Bash Showcase
Sustain-a-Bash culminated with the Showcase, the biggest event of the week. We were lucky to partner with over 30 sustainability-focused organizations, a screen printing company, and more, to populate Dejope Lawn with sustainability. From snacks from University Housing to button-making with the Office of Sustainability, the Showcase had everything a Sustain-a-Badger could want (including Bucky!). Photo by John Ernst.
Bucky participated in many sustainable activities at the Showcase, including riding the smoothie bike to create his very own berry smoothie. Photo by John Ernst.
He also helped students recycle by demonstrating proper waste disposal methods with his own trash and recyclables. Photo by John Ernst.
In addition to Bucky, the Showcase attracted many students and passersby. Organization tables were packed with interested students learning more about sustainability on campus and in the community. Photo by John Ernst.
Along with informational resources, many booths had hands-on activities, such as coloring, seed-ball making, and button-making. Photo by John Ernst.
Sustain-a-Bash also welcomed a screen printing company, Phantasy Prints, which printed three different designs on recycled and reused clothing items. Photo by John Ernst.
Students could choose from thrifted clothing to screen print, or bring their own to be repurposed into something new and sustainable! Photo by John Ernst.