Past Events

Winter/Spring 2009
Energy Stewardship: From Pew to Planet - Saturday January 31
Creation Connection Potluck - Thursday February 12
Simple Living in Troubled Times - Saturday February 21
Land Volunteer Work Day - Saturday March 7
Project Wild! & Aquatic Wild! - Saturday March 28
Land Volunteer Work Day - Saturday April 4
Opening the Book of Nature Retreat - Saturday April 18
Land Volunteer Work Day - Saturday May 2
Gallery Opening Reception - Sunday April 19
Spring Inspiration Retreat - Saturday April 25
Gardening with Natives - Saturday June 13
Native Plant Sale - Saturday June 20

Fall 2008/Winter 2009
Native Plant Propagation by Seed: Part 1 of 2 - Saturday September 20
Land Steward Volunteer Day - Saturday September 20
Climate Change: A New Vision for Earth - Saturday September 27
Land Steward Volunteer Day - Saturday October 4
Native Plant Propagation by Seed: Part 2 of 2 - Saturday November 8
Land Service Volunteer Day - Saturday November 8
Images of Mary: Contemporary Best Sellers - Thursday November 13
Creation Connections Potluck - Thursday November 13
Book Discussion: Secret Life of Bees - Thursday November 20
Gallery Show Artist Gathering - Tuesday December 9
Winter Solstice Sunrise Celebration - Monday December 22

Winter/Spring 2008
Land Steward Training & Volunteer Work Day: Native shrubs - March 1
Peaceful Earth Works Gallery Opening - March 29
Namaste: Greeting the Planet Within Us - March 31
Land Stewards Volunteer Work Day - April 5
Project Wild Environmental Education Workshop - April 6
Take Another Look - April 10
Spring Inspiration: Peace and the Environment - April 19
Land Steward Training & Volunteer Work Day: Seeding prairies - May 3
Mary, Model of Justice - May 21
Native Plant Gardening Workshop - June 21
Native Plant Sale - June 28

Winter 2007-2008
Winter Solstice Sunrise Celebration - Dec. 21
International Fair Trade Christmas Sale - Dec. 8
Winter Wisdom: Pathways of Peace - Feb. 2

Autumn 2007
Land Steward Volunteer Day - Oct. 13
Healthy Living with Local Food - Oct. 16
Autumn Inspiration - Oct. 20
Project Learning Tree - Oct. 21
Congregation Liaison Stewardship Training - Oct. 27
Land Steward Volunteer Day - Nov. 3
Mary, Peace & the Earth - Nov. 14

Winter/Spring 2007
Winter Solstice Sunrise Walk - Dec. 21
Gallery St. John Intent to Submit forms due - Feb. 2
Winter Wisdom - Feb. 3
Land Steward Volunteer Day - Feb. 10
Gallery St. John Art & Education Exhibit - March 28 - April 29
Project Wild - April 1
Eggs and the New Life of Easter - April 4
Land Steward Training: Shrub Propagation - April 14
Land Steward Volunteer Day - April 14
Earth Day Celebration - April 15
Spring Inspiration - April 21
Land Steward Training: Prairies - May 5
Land Steward Volunteer Day - May 5
Mary, Women and Cultural Diversity - May 22
Land Steward Volunteer Day - June 9
Gardening with Native Plants - June 16
Native Plant Sale - June 23
Land Steward Volunteer Day - July 7 

Autumn 2006
Land Steward Training: Native Plant Propagation Part I - Sept. 9
Land Steward Volunteer Day - Sept. 9
Cooking with Adèle - Cancelled
Listening in Troubled Times - Oct. 5
Land Steward Training: Native Plant Propagation Part II - Oct. 7
Land Steward Volunteer Day - Oct. 7
Autumn Inspiration - Oct. 21
Project Learning Tree Environmental Education Workshop - Oct. 22
Land Steward Volunteer Day - Nov. 4
Ohio's Sustainable Energy Future - Nov. 9
International Artisan Market - Dec. 9
Winter Solstice Sunrise Walk - Dec. 21

Spring 2006
Restoring our Connections Gallery St. John show - March 22 - April 23
Spring Inspiration - March 25
Land Steward Training: Shrub Propagation - April 1
Land Steward Volunteer Day - April 1
Project WILD Environmental Education Workshop - April 2
Earth Day Celebration - April 22
Native Plant Gardening 101 - April 29
Land Steward Training: Hand Seeding Prairies - May 6
Land Steward Volunteer Day - May 6
Living an Upside-Down Life - May 17
Cooking So That Others Might Eat - May 25
Land Steward Volunteer Day - June 3
Native Plant Sale - June 24
Sack Family Farm Tour - June 27
Land Steward Volunteer Day - July 8

Land Steward Volunteer Work Day
Saturday, July 9, 1 - 4 p.m.

Our task for the day will be transplanting native shrub seedlings into larger pots.  We'll provide all the information and tools you need - refreshments, too. Please dress for the weather. Close-toed shoes are a must and long pants are strongly suggested. Bring your own gloves and hand clippers if you wish. RSVP by Friday July 10 by emailing meec@udayton.edu or calling 937/429.3582.

Environmental Summit for Faith Communities
October 2 - 4
Proctor Center, London, Ohio

Building Gratitude and Reverence for God's Earth, Energy & Nature.  Keynote speakers will include Michael Schut and J. Matthew Sleeth.  Workshops and information on sustainable living, organic agriculture, environmental spirituality and stewardship, energy efficiency and conservation, eco-justice and more. Click here for a preliminary flyer.

Energy Stewardship: From Pew to Planet
Saturday, January 31, 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Marianist Family Room, Marianist Center, MSJ

Join a dynamic faith-based community engaged in environmental initiatives to learn about energy ethics, confront the realities of our energy crisis, understand climate change impacts, explore congregational energy audits, discover resources for energy education and action. Registration fee: $40 for first member of congregation; $30 for second member; $25 for third and fourth members.  Fee includes lunch and resources. Space is limited; register by January 16. Download flyer here.

Creation Connection Potluck
Thursday February 12, 6-8 p.m.
Christ Episcopal Church, Dayton

Creation Connection, the environmental justice ministry of Greater Dayton Christian Connections (GDCC), hosts these wonderful ecumenical gatherings to share faith, food (vegetarian preferred) and ideas for caring for creation. Gary Percesepe, Ph.D., director of GDCC, will offer a reflection on politics, religion and the environment. For questions or to RSVP, contact Mary Sue at msgmeiner@yahoo.com.

Simple Living in Troubled Times: A Winter Wisdom Retreat
Saturday, February 21, Noon - 5 p.m.
Marianist Family Room, Marianist Center, MSJ

The changing seasons provide rhythm for our spiritual journey. Renew your spirit and prepare for Lent by exploring simpler ways to pray, plan and act in ways that place less demand on Earth's resources. Presenters will draw upon history, spiritual writers, literature and nature itself to help you embrace the path of simplicity in your inner and outer life. Registration fee: $25 ($15 Friends of MEEC). Register or call by February 18. Download flyer here.

Land Volunteer Workdays
Saturdays March 7, April 4 & May 2, 1 - 4 p.m.
MEEC Resource Center, St. Joseph Hall, MSJ

Learn to transplant shrubs, remove honeysuckle and seed prairies. Specific tasks are weather dependent. Tools, information and refreshments provided. Closed-toe shoes and long pants required. RSVP to Michele at meec@udayton.edu or (937)429-3582 by Thursday prior. Ask about group service opportunities.

Project Wild! and Aquatic Wild! Environmental Education Workshop
Saturday March 28, 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.
MEEC Resource Center, St. Joseph Hall, MSJ

For teachers, environmental educators, camp counselors or anyone interested in learning more about how our world works. Receive Wild! and Aquatic Wild! curricula correlated to state standards courtesy of the Ohio Department of Natural Resources. Registration Fee of $15 due March 24. Student scholarships available. Download flyer here.

Opening the Book of Nature Retreat
Saturday April 18, 9 a.m. - noon
MEEC Resource Center, St. Joseph Hall, MSJ

Enjoy the beauty of nature, the third book of God's revelation in this ecumenical retreat experience. Guided process includes nature walk, scripture sharing, environmental learning, personal reflection, journaling and sharing. Dress for the weather. Facilitated by Bob & Bev Jurick, parishioners at Mary Help of Christians parish. Co-sponsored by Creation Connection, the environmental justice ministry of Greater Dayton Christian Connection. RSVP by April 16. Free-will offerings accepted.

Gardening with Natives
Saturday, June 13, 8:30 a.m. - 1 p.m.
Marianist Family Room, St. Joseph Hall, MSJ

Conserve water and energy, provide habitat and green your yard! Whether you want to create a bird and butterfly garden, add reliable blooms to a "problem area," install a raingarden, replace invasive species or establish a prairie patch, we can help make your native garden a success. Registrants may buy plants at the workshop - one week ahead of our June 20 native plant sale. Download flyer here.

Native Plant Propagation by Seed: Part 1 of 2
Saturday, September 20  11:30 - 1 p.m.

Learn to propagate your own wildflowers from seed. This session will cover fall identification, ripening timetables and harvesting. This workshop is offered immediately prior to our land volunteer work hours. You need not attend the workshop to volunteer. Bring a brown bag lunch for a mid-day break. MEEC will provide light refreshments. $10, complimentary for ongoing MEEC volunteers. RSVP for workshop or volunteering by Thursday September 18.

Land Steward Volunteer Day
Saturday, September 20  1-3 p.m.

Help us collect wildflower seed from our native plant nursery while learning about local plants. We'll provide all the information and tools you need - refreshments, too. Please dress for the weather. Close-toed shoes are a must and long pants are strongly suggested. Bring your own gloves and hand clippers if you wish. RSVP by Thursday September 18.

Climate Change: A New Vision for Earth
Saturday, September 27  9:15 a.m. - 4 p.m.
Martin de Porres Center, Columbus, Ohio

MEEC Director Sr. Leanne Jablonski is a presenter at this workshop exploring how science, theology, ethics and spirituality frames our response to climate change.  Dr. Gregory Hitzhusen, director of Ohio Interfaith Power and Light is also featured.  Sponsored by the Dominican Sisters of St. Mary of the Springs in collaboration with the Ohio Catholic Rural Life Conference.  Download brochure here.

Land Steward Volunteer Day
Saturday, October 4  1-4 p.m.

Help us collect native seed from our nursery and prairie while learning about local plants. We'll provide all the information and tools you need - refreshments, too. Please dress for the weather. Close-toed shoes are a must and long pants are strongly suggested. Bring your own gloves and hand clippers if you wish. RSVP by Thursday October 2nd.

Native Plant Propagation by Seed: Part 2 of 2
Saturday, November 8  11:40 a.m. - 1 p.m.

Learn to propagate your own wildflowers from seed. This session will follow-up on the September 8 workshop and cover seed treatments and planting. This workshop is offered immediately prior to our land volunteer work hours. You need not attend the workshop to volunteer. Bring a brown bag lunch for a mid-day break. MEEC will provide light refreshments. $10, complimentary for ongoing MEEC volunteers.

Land Service Volunteer Day
Saturday, November 8  1-3 p.m.

Help us process and/or collect native seed from our prairie while learning about local plants. We'll provide all the information and tools you need - refreshments, too. Please dress for the weather. Close-toed shoes are a must and long pants are strongly suggested. Bring your own gloves if you wish. RSVP for workshop or volunteering by Thursday Nov 6th.

Images of Mary: Contemporary Best Sellers
Thursday, November 13  7-9 p.m.
Si Lounge, Sieben Hall, MSJ

What images of Mary found in contemporary North American novels and the Wisdom Books of Scripture can inspire us to live for justice, peace and integrity of Creation? Come explore with members of the Marianist Family, MEEC community and Biblical and Marian scholar, Fr. Francois Rossier, SM. Featured novel excerpts include: Marek Halter, Mary of Nazareth: A Novel (New York: Crown Publishers, 2008), Sue MONK Kidd, The Secret Life of Bees (New York: Viking, 2002) and Diane Schoemperlen, Our Lady of the Lost and Found (New York: Viking 2001).  Evening will include presentation, prayer, personal reflection, group sharing and refreshments.  Free-will offerings accepted.  RSVP by November 11.

Creation Connections Potluck: Harvest Time
Thursday November 13, 6-8 p.m.
Greater Dayton Christian Connection Office, 601 W. Riverdale Ave.

Celebrate the fall harvest and discuss efforts to organize access to local food. For more information call the GDCC office at (937)227-9485 or email Mary Sue Gmeiner at msgmeiner@yahoo.com.

Book Discussion: Secret Life of Bees
Thursday, November 20, 7-9 p.m.
MEEC Resource Center, St. Joseph Hall

Following on Fr. Francois Rossier's November 13 presentation, MEEC volunteer Kathryn Eckerle will facilitate a book discussion of the Secret Life of Bees. Fr. Francois's presentation will inform our discussion, but is not a prerequisite. A familiarity with the book or movie is recommended. Free-will offerings accepted. RSVP by November 18.

Gallery Show Artist Gathering
Tuesday, December 9,  7-9 p.m.
University of Dayton Art Street

MEEC staff and gallery volunteers will host this educational and reflective evening for artists who wish to explore concepts for our annual spring show. We'll explore visual evidence of climate change and consider our roles in shaping past and future environmental trends. Time and studio space will be provided to interact, discuss the theme, and explore concepts. RSVP by Monday, December 8. Download flyer here.

Winter Solstice Sunrise Celebration
Monday December 22, 6:30 – 8 a.m. 
Marianist Family Room, Marianist Center, MSJ

Observe the longest night of the year with prayers for world peace and a candlelight procession through the woods of Mount St. John.  A bonfire in the prairie at sunrise will welcome the Prince of Peace.  Hot beverages and light breakfast provided.  Free-will offerings accepted.  Dress for the weather.  RSVP by Thursday December 18.

Land Steward Training & Volunteer Work Day: Native Shrubs
Saturday, March 1  11:30 - 3 p.m.

An indoor training session will cover plant identification, habitat preference, propagation by seed and root shoot cuttings, setting up a small nursery for woody species and tips for successful transplanting. Afterward, we'll practice what we learned in the MEEC nursery.  We'll provide all the information and tools you need. Please dress for the weather. Closed-toe shoes are a must and long pants are strongly suggested. Bring your own gloves if you wish. Bring a brown bag lunch for a mid-day break. MEEC will provide light refreshments. $10, complimentary for ongoing MEEC volunteers. RSVP by Thursday Feb 28. 

Peaceful Earth Works Gallery Show Opening Reception
Saturday March 29, 2-5 p.m. 
Gallery St. John, St. Joseph Hall

View our 2008 art & education exhibit which explores the relationship between peace and the environment.  The gallery show will be open Wednesdays - Sundays Noon - 4 p.m. through April 27.  For more information about the show, click here.

Namaste: Greeting the Planet Within Us
Monday, March 31, 7:30 p.m.
Bergamo Center Chapel, Mount St. John

Developed for Peaceful Earth Works, this transformative performance piece focuses on the proportional relationship between the condition of each human being and the condition of the global environment. Namaste uses an inspiring variety of songs, dance, poetry, scenes, artwork and comedy to acknowledge and celebrate our interconnectedness. Stage, Song and Service is a collaborative service learning experience between members of the UD and Dayton communities founded by Lee Hoffman. Download a poster here.

Land Steward Volunteer Workday
Saturday, April 5  1-4 p.m.

Help us clear invasive bush honeysuckle from the MEEC woodlands. We'll provide all the information and tools you need - refreshments, too. Please dress for the weather. Closed-toe shoes are a must and long pants are strongly suggested. Bring your own gloves if you wish. RSVP by Thursday April 3. 

Project WILD!
Sunday, April 6, Noon - 6 p.m.

For teachers, environmental educators, naturalists, camp counselors or anyone interested in learning more about how our world works.  Become certified in this award-winning environmental education curriculum which emphasizes wildlife conservation and is correlated to state science standards. Receive the the Project WILD! and Aquatic WILD! activity manuals. Registration & $12 fee due April 1.  Scholarships available for UD education majors.  Download flyer.

Take Another Look: Peaceful Earth Works
Thursday April 10, 7
Gallery St. John, St. Joseph Hall

MEEC volunteer Kathryn Eckerly will hosts this evening of reflection on the gallery theme of peace and the environment.  Take Another Look will also be an opportunity to discuss living more peacefully and sustainably.  RSVP by Monday April 7.

Spring Inspiration: Exploring a Spirituality of
Peace and the environment
Saturday April 19, 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Marianist Family Room, Marianist Center

This retreat and workshop day draws from the wisdom of the world's religious traditions, the beauty of nature in the springtime, the Peaceful Earth Works gallery show and the insights of practitioners. We will explore how the environment influences the challenge of peacemaking, be inspired in our quest to live sustainably and go forth spiritually renewed. Featuring Dr. Judith Martin, SSJ, Fr. Jim Fitz, SM, former Ohio First Lady Hope Taft, Janet Lasley, Ven. Molini Rai, Ven. Dhammavijaya, and guitarist Eric Loy.  Download brochure.

Land Steward Training & Volunteer Work Day: Seeding prairies
Saturday May 3, 11:30 - 3 p.m.

An indoor training session will show you how to turn an open area into a tallgrass prairie. We'll cover planning and design, site preparation, seed procedures and ongoing management. Afterward, we'll practice hands-on soil preparation and hand-broadcasting seed. We'll provide all needed tools. Please dress for the weather. Closed-toe shoes are a must and long pants are strongly encouraged. Bring your own gloves if you wish. Bring a brown bag lunch for a mid-day break. MEEC will provide light refreshments. $10, complimentary for ongoing MEEC volunteers. RSVP by Thursday, May 1.

Mary Model of Justice
Wednesday May 21, 7:30 - 9 p.m.
Si Lounge, Sieben Hall

Carol Ramey will lead us in an exploration of how Mary's life can inspire each of us in our work for justice; from her faith-filled "yes" and patient waiting on the mystery of God's ways, to remaining hopeful in the midst of failures and rejoicing in wonder at graces given. From a Marianist perspective, environmental work is about embodying Christ in places where the integrity of creation is absent or having difficulty being sustained. How can we duplicate Mary's virtues to sustain us in our environmental work today? We'll explore practices she demonstrated such as seeking guidance, discerning where and how to share our gifts, facing challenges, and living with ambiguity. Finally, we'll share tips for the role of community as a place of mentoring, support and prayer that sustains us in the ordinary work of justice as we plant seeds that others will water and harvest. Evening will include presentation, prayer, personal reflection, group sharing and refreshments. Carol is director of the North American Center for Marianist Studies. Free-will offerings will be accepted. RSVP by May 19.

Pathways of Peace: Winter Wisdom Retreat
Saturday February 2, Noon - 5 p.m.
Marianist Family Room, Marianist Center

Explore the beauty and spiritual wisdom of winter through presentations, workshops and reflections designed to help you embrace the path of non-violence with yourself and others. Build your own experience from concurrent workshop offerings. Keynote presentation Discovering the Peace and Wisdom a Garden Gives by Bro. Tom Wendorf, SM. $25/$15 Friends of MEEC, students, seniors. Register by Monday Jan. 28. Download complete description and registration materials here.

Land Steward Volunteer Day
Saturday October 13, 1 – 4 p.m. 

Help collect seeds from our native plant nurseries.  Optional land steward training covering seed treatments and planting at 11:30 a.m.  RSVP by Thursday October 11.

Healthy Living with Local Food
Tuesday October 16, 7:30 – 9 p.m. 
Maple Avenue Church of God in Fairborn

Sponsored by the BW-Greenway Community.  Call (937) 878-6060.  Download flyer here.

Autumn Inspiration
Saturday October 20, Noon – 5 p.m. 
Marianist Family Room, Marianist Center. 

Explore the beauty and spiritual wisdom of autumn and design your own experience from concurrent workshops.  Options include praying in nature, home energy conservation, exploring nature and “green” gift giving.  $22/$13 Friends of MEEC, students, seniors.  Register by Tuesday October 16. Download flyer here.

Project Learning Tree
Sunday October 21, Noon – 7 p.m. 

PLT is a hands-on, multidisciplinary environmental education curriculum containing some of the most popular and acclaimed learning activities in the world.  Participants receive the PLT Activity Guide and one secondary module.  $40 registration fee; scholarships available for University of Dayton education majors.  Register by Tuesday October 16. Download flyer here.

Congregation Liaison Training
Saturday October 27, 1-5 p.m.

Join others who wish to deepen their faith and respond to the Christian call to Earth stewardship, and receive curriculum resources and guidance on leading your faith community to address environmental issues.  Optional networking and potluck luncheon from 10 a.m. – 1 p.m.  Cosponsored by Creation Connection.  RSVP by Wednesday October 24. 

Land Steward Volunteer Day
Saturday November 3, 1 – 4 p.m. 

Help collect seeds from our tallgrass prairie.  RSVP by Thursday, November 1.

Mary, Peace and the Earth: A Marianist Approach to Justice
Wednesday November 14, 7:30 – 9 p.m.  Si Lounge, Sieben Hall

Facilitated by Jim Vogt, director of the Marianist Social Justice Collaborative.  Come to learn, share and reflect about Mary the justice seeker, Mary the peacemaker, Mary who calls us to be co-creators in the “new thing” God seeks to do on the Earth.  What can we learn from Mary, how are we challenged by her life, where is she leading us?  Come and see!  Free-will offerings accepted.  Optional potluck at 6 p.m. RSVP by Monday November 12.

Winter Solstice Sunrise Celebration –
Friday December 21, 6:30 – 8 a.m. 
Marianist Family Room, Marianist Center

Observe the longest night of the year with prayers for world peace and a candlelight procession through the woods of Mount St. John.  A bonfire in the prairie at sunrise will welcome the Prince of Peace.  Hot beverages and light breakfast provided.  Free-will offerings accepted.  Dress for the weather.  RSVP by Wednesday December 19.

Shop for unique gifts, jewelry, toys, food items and more from more than 20 developing nations.  Artisans receive fair wages for their labor.  Download flyer here.

Winter Solstice Sunrise Celebration
Thursday, December 21, 2006 6:30 - 8 am
In the Marianist Center Family Room

The winter solstice marks the longest night of the year, which we observe with prayers for world peace and a candlelight procession through the MSJ woods ending in the prairie to watch the sunrise.  Enjoy a bonfire, hot beverages and a light breakfast.  Donations accepted.  RSVP by December 19.  Download an invitation here.

Winter Wisdom
Saturday, February 3  Noon - 5 pm
Marianist Family Room, Marianist Center

The biology of the natural world and the rhythm of the seasons can provide lessons to inspire our spiritual journey.  Winter’s beautiful stillness and the upcoming Lenten season are opportunities to pause from the cycle of growth, to be restored, and to refocus our energy and attention.  Design your own program from the concurrent workshop offerings.  Download a flyer here.

Land Steward Volunteer Day
Saturday, February 10  1 - 4 pm

Depending on the weather, we will either be cleaning wildflower seed or taking root-shoot cuttings in the shrub nursery.  We'll provide all the information and tools you need - refreshments, too.  Please dress for the weather.  Bring your own gloves if you wish.  RSVP by Thursday February 8.  For more information, download our Land Volunteer Team brochure.

Land Volunteer Day
Saturday, March 3  1-4 pm

Help us ball and burlap shrubs from the nursery, take root-shoot cuttings and transplant shrubs into the nature preserve. We'll provide all the information and tools you need - refreshments, too. Please dress for the weather. Close-toed shoes are a must and long pants are strongly suggested. Bring your own gloves if you wish. RSVP by Thursday March 1. For more information, download our Land Volunteer Team brochure.

Project WILD!
Sunday, April 1, Noon-7 pm

For teachers, environmental educators, naturalists, camp counselors or anyone interested in learning more about how our world works.  Become certified in this award-winning environmental education curriculum which emphasizes wildlife conservation and is correlated to state science standards. Receive the the Project WILD! and Aquatic WILD! activity manuals. Registration & $12 fee due March 27.  Scholarships available for UD education majors.  For more information, download a flyer and registration form. Flyer coming soon.

Eggs and the New Life of Easter
Wednesday, April 4  7-9 pm

Eggs have long been a symbol of spring and of the new life of Easter.  Prepare for Easter by learning about two cultural traditions for egg decorating, the Ukrainian pysanky tradition which uses beeswax to layer colors and intricate symbols onto eggs, and the washi tradition, in which eggs are wrapped in traditional Japanese paper.  We will discover the meanings of colors and symbols used on the eggs, and participants will decorate a washi egg to take home.  You will also receive blessing prayers, such as those offered over swieconka (baskets of food, including eggs) in the Polish community, to use during your paschal celebrations.  $15/$10 Friends of MEEC/Seniors/Students. Register by March 28. Download flyer.

Land Steward Training: Native Shrub Propagation
Saturday, April 14 11:30 am - 1 pm

This session will cover identification, habitat preference, propagation by seed and asexual root shoot cuttings, setting up a small nursery for raising woody species, and tips for a successful transplanting. This workshop is offered to immediately prior to our land volunteer work hours. It is FREE for those who volunteer from 1-4.  A $5 fee applies for others. You need not attend the workshop to volunteer.  RSVP for workshop or volunteering by Thursday April 5.

Land Volunteer Day
Saturday, April 14  1-4 pm

Help us ball and burlap shrubs from the nursery, take root-shoot cuttings and transplant shrubs into the nature preserve. We'll provide all the information and tools you need - refreshments, too. Please dress for the weather. Close-toed shoes are a must and long pants are strongly suggested. Bring your own gloves if you wish. RSVP by Thursday April 5. For more information, download our Land Volunteer Team brochure.

Earth Day Celebration
Sunday, April 15  Noon - 4 pm

Join us at Mount St. John as we mark International Earth Day, a time for reflection, thanksgiving, dedication and commitment to the care of our planet. Opening prayer service at Noon. View our 2007 Gallery St. John Art & Education Exhibit, enjoy spring wildflower hikes, attend mini-workshops, walk the labyrinth and more!  Refreshments provided, suggested donation $5-$10. Meet in Gallery St. John. View flyer here.

Spring Inspiration
Saturday April 21  Noon - 5 pm
Marianist Family Room, Marianist Center

The biology of the natural world and the rhythm of the seasons can provide lessons to inspire our spiritual journey.  Spring is the season of reawakening, and the attentive ear is rewarded with the sounds of birds and insects breaking their winter silence.  Spring is also the planting season, and we will focus on food, ending our day in Gallery St. John for prayer and viewing our art & education exhibit, Come to the Table.  Keynote presentation, Loving the Earth that Feeds Us, by MEEC Founder Don Geiger, SM.  Workshop themes:  nature hikes, creative art experience, the spirituality of fasting & feasting,  Facilitators include Mary Benson Landau, Janet Lasley, Heather May, and MEEC staff.  $25 ($15 Friends of MEEC/Seniors/Students).  View flyer here.

Land Steward Training: Prairies
Saturday, May 5 11:30 am - 1 pm

This session will cover how to determine the amount of seed needed for planting, planting mixtures, soil preparation, planting time, and the first critical years management. This workshop is offered to immediately prior to our land volunteer work hours.  It is FREE for those who volunteer from 1-4.  A $5 fee applies for others.  You need not attend the workshop to volunteer.  RSVP for workshop or volunteering by Thursday, May 3.

Land Steward Volunteer Day
Saturday, May 5  1-4 pm

Help us seed prairie grasses and forbs into the MSJ front field.  We'll provide all the information and tools you need - refreshments, too.  Please dress for the weather.  Close-toed shoes are a must and long pants are strongly suggested.  Bring your own gloves if you wish. For more information, download our Land Volunteer Team brochure. RSVP by Thursday, May 3.

A Global Embrace: Mary, Women and Cultural Diversity
Tuesday, May 22  7:30 - 9 pm
Marianist Family Room, Marianist Center
Optional labyrinth walk from 6 - 7:15 pm
Meet in MEEC Resource Center, St. Joseph Hall

Explore how Mary and understanding women's challenges in various societies can open us to greater solidarity and acceptance of difference across boundaries. Listen to stories from India and the US/Mexico border, reflect on your own experiences and share insights. Facilitated by Sr. Laura M. Leming, FMI, Ph.D., a sociologist of religion who teaches at the University of Dayton, both here in Ohio and in Bangalore, India.  Her research focuses on how "religious agency" helps people claim their religious identity and can be a catalyst in transforming religious traditions. View flyer.

Land Steward Volunteer Day
Saturday, June 9  1-4 pm
Meet in MEEC Resource Center, St. Joseph Hall

Gardening with Native Plants
Saturday, June 16  9 am - Noon

If you’ve never gardened with native plants, this workshop will help you select which species will thrive in your garden for season-long bloom. Whether you want to create a bird and butterfly garden, add reliable blooms to “problem areas,” replace aggressive species, or establish a prairie patch, this workshop will provide the information you need to make your garden a success. Facilitated by MEEC staff and volunteers. $15 ($10 Friends of MEEC, seniors & students). View flyer.

Native Plant Sale
Saturday, June 23  8:30 am - 1 pm

Invite nature onto your property with native plants! Whether your land is sunny or shady, wet or dry, we have prairie and woodland edge plants that will thrive and return year after year.  Choose from more than 50 species of forbs, grasses and shrubs available. Pre-orders received by June 18 will be available for pick-up during the sale. For more information on the sale, click here.

Land Volunteer Day
Saturday, July 7  9 am - Noon

This Saturday volunteers will be mixing soil and transplanting seedlings into 1-gallon pots in our native plant nursery. Please dress for the weather. Close-toed shoes are a must and long pants are strongly suggested. Bring your own gloves if you wish. RSVP by Thursday June 5. For more information, download our Land Volunteer Team brochure.

Native Plant Propagation by Seed: Part 1 of 2
Saturday, September 9, 2006  11:30 am - 1 pm

Learn to propagate your own wildflowers from seed.  This session will cover fall identification, ripening timetables and harvesting.  This workshop is offered to immediately prior to our land volunteer work hours.  It is FREE for those who volunteer from 1-4.  A $5 fee applies for others.  You need not attend the workshop to volunteer.  RSVP for workshop or volunteering by Thursday September 7.

Land Steward Volunteer Day
Saturday, September 9, 2006  1 - 4 pm

Help us collect wildflower seed from our native plant nursery while learning about local plants.  We'll provide all the information and tools you need - refreshments, too.  Please dress for the weather.  Close-toed shoes are a must and long pants are strongly suggested.  Bring your own gloves if you wish.  RSVP by Thursday September 7. For more information, download our Land Volunteer Team brochure.

Cooking with Adèle
Due to ongoing health concerns for our presenter, Sr. Audrey Buttner, FMI, we have regrettably cancelled this program.  Please keep Sr. Audrey in your prayers.  

Adèle de Batz de Trenquelléon, founder of the Marianist Sisters, was raised in rural southern France, and as a very young woman formed an association of women dedicated to serving the poor. We’ll look to Adele’s life and work for inspiration to confront the plight of today’s rural poor, including the family farmer. We’ll connect with the bread baking process through a hands-on demonstration by Sr. Audrey Buttner, FMI and explore how to connect with family farmers by purchasing local food and reducing dependence on processed food. We’ll end with a bread and soup supper. At the Marianist Novitiate at Mount St. John. This was to be the third of three programs in the Just Good Food series co-sponsored by MEEC and the Marianist Social Justice Collaborative's Environment & Ecology Issue Team. 

Listening in Troubled Times (With optional labyrinth walk)
Thursday, October 5 2006 7:30 - 9 pm

Mary’s spirit speaks through different cultures and traditions, as experienced by Marianist Founder Father Chaminade when exiled in Spain. How can we allow Mary to reach us today? What can we learn from how these holy ones prayed when away from home? Vincenzina Krymow will present the tradition of Our Lady of the Pillar that inspired Fr. Chaminade as well as other black Madonnas and their connection to the earth. Bro. Tom Giardino, SM will share insights for discerning God’s path amid life’s challenges. In Si Lounge of Sieben Hall. Free-will offerings accepted. RSVP by October 3. Download a flyer here.  Optional sunset labyrinth meditation walk led by Leanne Jablonski, FMI will be held at 6:30 pm. Meet in MEEC Resource Center.

Native Plant Propagation by Seed: Part 2 of 2
Saturday, October 7, 2005  11:30 am - 1 pm

Learn to propagate your own wildflowers from seed.  This session will follow-up on the September 9 workshop and cover seed treatments and planting.  This workshop is offered to immediately prior to our land volunteer work hours.  It is FREE for those who volunteer from 1-4.  A $5 fee applies for others.  You need not attend the workshop to volunteer.  RSVP for workshop or volunteering by Thursday October 5.

Land Steward Volunteer Day
Saturday, October 7, 2005  1-4 pm

Help us collect wildflower seed from our native plant nursery while learning about local plants.  We'll provide all the information and tools you need - refreshments, too.  Please dress for the weather.  Close-toed shoes are a must and long pants are strongly suggested.  Bring your own gloves if you wish. For more information, download our Land Volunteer Team brochure. RSVP by Thursday October 5.

Autumn Inspiration
Saturday, October 21, 2006  Noon - 5 pm
In the Marianist Center Family Room

Autumn is a season for giving thanks for the abundance of the harvest, and for letting go of what impedes our growth. The 20th anniversary celebration of the Mount Saint John Prairie restoration provides an opportunity to celebrate the fruitfulness of the land and our own lives, and to be inspired with hope and practical tips for living more sustainably. Come enjoy an afternoon of renewal amid the beauty of autumn’s bounty of the woods and prairie. Our closing meditation will feature the nature photography of Brother John Lemker SM. Registration: $22 ($13 Friends of MEEC, seniors and students). An additional $5 fee applies for the Raku pottery workshop. Register by Tuesday, October 17.

Project Learning Tree Environmental Education Workshop
Sunday, October 22, 2006 Noon - 7 pm

PLT is a hands-on, multidisciplinary environmental education curriculum containing some of the most popular and acclaimed learning activities in the world. During this workshop you will learn how to use the activities with youth, gain an understanding of basic environmental principles and experience several outdoor activities yourself. $40 fee includes K-8 guide, Energy and Me CD and one secondary module (forests, forest ecology, risk management or solid waste - additional modules are available for $8), and snacks. Bring your own lunch. Ask about scholarships for UD education majors. Register by October 17. Download a flyer.

Land Steward Volunteer Day
Saturday, November 4, 2006  1-4 pm

MEEC Land Stewards help manage the Mount St. John Nature Preserve to eliminate invasive species, establish native plant populations, harvest seed, maintain trails and help gather data. We'll provide all the information and tools you need - refreshments, too. Please dress for the weather. Close-toed shoes are a must and long pants are strongly suggested. Bring your own gloves if you wish. For more information, download our Land Volunteer Team brochure. RSVP by Thursday, November 2.

Ohio's Sustainable Energy Future
Thursday, November 9, 2006 7 - 9 pm

The Ohio Council of Churches’ Environmental Justice Task Force & the Interfaith Climate and Energy Campaign have developed an Ohio energy charter articulating the faith community’s vision and values. Learn the science and environmental justice issues of energy conservation including the impacts of climate change in our region, energy initiatives in Ohio and discuss action steps for how you and your faith community can respond. Participants will receive educational resources including interfaith study guides and current science information from the Union of Concerned Scientists. The session will be facilitated by Leanne Jablonski, FMI, PhD, a climate change scientist and Ohio campaign coordinator. Optional vegetation potluck from 5:30 – 6:45 pm. The evening is co-sponsored with Creation Connection (CC), the environmental justice ministry of Greater Dayton Christian Connections. In MEEC Resource Center. RSVP by November 7.

Restoring Our Connections
March 22 - April 23, 2006
Gallery St. John Hours: Noon - 4 pm Wednesday - Sunday

2006 marks the 20th anniversary of the Mount St. John Prairie. To celebrate, MEEC will host Restoring Our Connections in Gallery St. John March 22 - April 23.

Planting those first prairie seeds in the construction borrow pit was a hope-filled step born of desire to heal broken connections within the land. Everyone involved in this work over the past 20 years, however, has discovered or strengthened their own relationship with the animals and plants at Mount St. John. To restore the land, we must include ourselves.

The show will feature work from youth and adults that express our connections with the land. Artists, writers, photographers and musicians are invited to participate. All MEEC programs during the exhibit will include a tour of the show.

Spring Inspiration
Saturday, March 25, 2006  noon - 5 pm

Spring is the season of reawakening, and the attentive ear is rewarded with the sounds of birds and insects breaking their winter silence. During this season we celebrate the feast of the Annunciation, when Mary heard and responded to her call. Spring is brimming with the spirit’s invitations, and this day will provide an opportunity to attune our inner ears to those urgings. Download flyer here. Register by March 21.

Native Shrub Propagation
Saturday, April 1, 2006  11:30 am - 1 pm

This session will cover identification, habitat preference, propagation by seed and asexual root shoot cuttings, setting up a small nursery for raising woody species, and tips for a successful transplanting. This workshop is offered to immediately prior to our land volunteer work hours. It is FREE for those who volunteer from 1-4.  A $5 fee applies for others. You need not attend the workshop to volunteer.  RSVP for workshop or volunteering by Thursday March 30.

Land Volunteer Day
Saturday, April 1, 2006  1-4 pm

Help us ball and burlap shrubs from the nursery, take root-shoot cuttings and transplant shrubs into the nature preserve. We'll provide all the information and tools you need - refreshments, too. Please dress for the weather. Close-toed shoes are a must and long pants are strongly suggested. Bring your own gloves if you wish. RSVP by Thursday March 30. For more information, download our Land Volunteer Team brochure.

Project WILD!
Sunday, April 2, 2006 Noon-7 pm

For teachers, environmental educators, naturalists, camp counselors or anyone interested in learning more about how our world works.  Become certified in this award-winning environmental education curriculum which emphasizes wildlife conservation and is correlated to state science standards. Receive the the Project WILD! and Aquatic WILD! activity manuals. Registration & $12 fee due March 28.  Scholarships available for UD education majors.  For more information, download a flyer and registration form.

Earth Day Celebration
Saturday, April 22, 2006 Noon - 4 pm

Join us at Mount St. John as we mark International Earth Day, a time for reflection, thanksgiving, dedication and commitment to the care of our planet. Opening prayer service at Noon. View our 2006 Gallery St. John Art & Education Exhibit, enjoy spring wildflower hikes, attend mini-workshops, walk the labyrinth and more! Kids’ activities included. Refreshments provided, free-will offerings accepted. Meet in Gallery St. John. Download a flyer.

Native Plant Gardening 101
Saturday, April 29, 2006 9 am - 1 pm

If you’ve never gardened with native plants, this workshop will help you select which species will thrive in your garden for season-long bloom. Whether you want to create a bird and butterfly garden, add reliable blooms to “problem areas,” replace aggressive species, or establish a prairie patch, this workshop will provide the information you need to make your garden a success. Facilitated by MEEC staff and volunteers. In the MEEC resource room. $10 ($5 Friends of MEEC, seniors & students). Register by April 25. Download a flyer.

Hand Seeding Prairies
Saturday, May 6, 2006 11:30 am - 1 pm

This session will cover how to determine the amount of seed needed for planting, planting mixtures, soil preparation, planting time, and the first critical years management. This workshop is offered to immediately prior to our land volunteer work hours.  It is FREE for those who volunteer from 1-4.  A $5 fee applies for others.  You need not attend the workshop to volunteer.  RSVP for workshop or volunteering by Thursday, May 4.

Land Steward Volunteer Day
Saturday, May 6, 2006  1-4 pm

Help us seed prairie grasses and forbs into the MSJ front field.  We'll provide all the information and tools you need - refreshments, too.  Please dress for the weather.  Close-toed shoes are a must and long pants are strongly suggested.  Bring your own gloves if you wish. For more information, download our Land Volunteer Team brochure. RSVP by Thursday, May 4.

Living an Upside-Down Life
Wednesday, May 17, 2006 7:30 - 9 pm

This countercultural exploration of the Magnificat shows that turning your life inside out and upside down can be comforting and revolutionary at the same time. We will explore the wisdom of opposites and living in tension with the world as we know it. When does less become more? When does slow become fast? When does simple become complex? Find out at an evening of tearing down conventional wisdom and raising up your spirit. Facilitated by lay Marianists Jim & Sue Vogt. In Si Lounge of Sieben Hall. Free-will offerings accepted. RSVP by May 15. Download a flyer.

Cooking So That Others Might Eat
Thursday, May 25, 2006 6:15 - 9 pm

Don Geiger, SM will facilitate sharing of tips on cooking with meat alternatives and locally-grown, in-season produce. You are invited to bring your favorite meatless recipes or dishes to share with others. We will discuss the place of origin of our dinner foods and the earth resources expended (for growth, transport, processing) to bring it to us. At the Marianist Novitiate at Mount St. John. This is the first of three programs in the Just Good Food series co-sponsored by MEEC and the Marianist Social Justice Collaborative's Environment & Ecology Issue Team.  RSVP by May 19. Download a flyer.

Land Steward Volunteer Day
Saturday, June 3, 2006 1-4 pm

MEEC Land Stewards help manage the Mount St. John Nature Preserve to eliminate invasive species, establish native plant populations, harvest seed, maintain trails and help gather data. We'll provide all the information and tools you need - refreshments, too. Please dress for the weather. Close-toed shoes are a must and long pants are strongly suggested. Bring your own gloves if you wish. For more information, download our Land Volunteer Team brochure. RSVP by Thursday, June 1.

Native Plant Sale
Saturday, June 24, 2006 8:30 am - 1 pm

Invite nature onto your property with native plants! Whether your land is sunny or shady, wet or dry, we have plants that will thrive and return year after year. For an order form with a full list of the nearly 60 species available, click here. We propagate about 140 species in all, so if you're looking for a special plant and don't see it - just ask, and we may be able to provide it. Pre-order by June 19 and have your order ready for pick-up during the sale.

Sack Family Farm Tour & Picnic Supper
Tuesday, June 27, 2006 6 pm

Sue and Larry Sack, members of the Micah Marianist Community, value environmental stewardship and self-sufficiency and will show how they’ve put their values into action on less than three acres. They’ve upgraded an older home that needed lots of “love” when purchased, established an organic family garden and orchard, and raise dairy goats, steers and chickens. They also manage a woodlot and have established native plant populations. Tour the farm, enjoy a simple supper including local produce and exchange ideas for living closer to the land. We encourage you to carpool (some leaving from Mount Saint John) and to bring your own re-usable picnic ware. This is the second of three programs in the Just Good Food series co-sponsored by MEEC and the Marianist Social Justice Collaborative's Environment & Ecology Issue Team.  RSVP by June 21. Download a flyer.

Land Steward Volunteer Day
Saturday, July 8 2006 1-4 pm

MEEC Land Stewards help manage the Mount St. John Nature Preserve to eliminate invasive species, establish native plant populations, harvest seed, maintain trails and help gather data. We'll provide all the information and tools you need - refreshments, too. Please dress for the weather. Close-toed shoes are a must and long pants are strongly suggested. Bring your own gloves if you wish. For more information, download our Land Volunteer Team brochure. RSVP by Thursday, July 6.