Earth Science Week
Earth Science Week at FHSU Geosciences!
As part of the nation wide Earth Science awareness campaign FHSU Department of Geosciences hosts events and activities for all to engage in gaining a better understanding of all things earth.
Earth Science Week 2025
Schedule of Events and Activities
October 13-19, 2025
"Energy Resources for Our Future"
How will we celebrate Earth Science Week in 2025?
We plan to celebrate big and small, local and global, in-person and remote.
Check out our daily and week-long activities highlighting the importance of knowing about the earth and how we ourselves have an impact.
DAILY ACTIVITIES
Sunday, Oct. 12 - Earth Cache Day
Explore geological wonders, firsthand.
Visit an EarthCache and learn from the rocks under your feet. An EarthCache is a special type of geocache you can visit to learn a geology lesson developed by the community.
How to find your first EarthCache
- Create a Geocaching.com account. Create Account Sign Up for Email
- Go to 'Play' and use Filter to show only EarthCache locations.
- Visit a cache and log your find!
Week-long Challenge
Community Clean-up Challenge: We challenge you to help clear litter from an area near you.
Walk and work until you fill at least 1 bag of trash and litter per person. Do this on your own, with your family, or with a group for more fun. Take a picture of you with your haul and upload to our challenge survey to be entered into a drawing for a small FHSU and City of Hays Swag bag. Accepting entries until Sunday, Oct. 19th.
Monday, Oct. 13 - Minerals Day
Informational Table and Information Mapping
11:00 am - 2:00 pm
on-campus at the Memorial Union, near Starbucks
Stop by to find out more about hosted events during the week, add to our info map. And maybe test your knowledge of the how earth science impacts you and how you impact the earth.
*For On-line students and remote visitors*
Check out the events and links below below (links activated and available as noted)
and our facebook page for more games and challenges posted all week long.
Want to search information on or ID a mineral? Check the searchable database of geology samples from the Hudson Institute of Mineralogy
Tuesday, Oct. 14 - Earth Observation Day, No Child Left Inside Day
Trivia Tuesday
Opens at noon
*100% online
What do you know about earth science and the connections between all things geosciences and your daily life? Find your Earth & Energy Score by taking our trivia test (link opens at noon on Tuesday and will stay open through Friday). Share your results with us on our facebook page and challenge others to take the trivia too!
Challenge
Go on-line or get Outside and observe the earth around you. We challenge you to take a 10 minute walk and see how many different energy using/resource items you can find. (Examples: Solar power plant stake, propane fuel tank, gas barbeque grill)
Wednesday, Oct. 15 - National Fossil Day
Open House: Graduate Research Work area & Reference Library
Honoring Dr. Richard Zakrzeski
4:00 pm-6:30 pm
Tomanek Hall 215
A large reference library of paleontology articles, journals, and books has been gifted to the department by the estate of former Geosciences Faculty member and Paleontologist in the Department of Geosciences, Dr. Richard Zakrzewski [Dr. Z]. These materials are on display in a new reference library in Tomanek Hall 215 and will be available to students for research use and reference.
4:15 pm Dr. Kenneth Neuhauser will give a short presentation and kick off the dedication of the Dr. Z Reference Library and Graduate Student Research Work area.
4:30 - 6:30 pm The new area will be open for exploration of the library and work area as well as an opportunity to socialize and share memories. Light snacks will be provided.
*An on-line option for attendance and reunion of alumni is available.
Please register to receive the event link
Challenge
Color your Way through Prehistoric Times
Pick up 1 or more National Park Service coloring sheets and color your way to some prehistoric fun.
On campus, outside of the Department main office, 2nd Floor of Tomanek
*OR download from the National Park Service
Feel free to share your creations with us.
PLUS: Bonus FHSU Geosciences and Sternberg Museum special coloring pages will be relased on our Facebook page or can be downloaded HERE.
Thursday, Oct. 16 - Geoscience for Everyone Day
Geo Club Movie Night
6:30 - 9:00 pm
Tomanek Hall 225
The Sternberg Geosciences Club will be hosting a Movie Night, with snacks. Come at 6:30 to vote on the movie we will be watching (Hint: all 3 options are fun Halloween themed).
Friday, Oct. 17 - Geologic Map Day
Find it Friday: Kansas Energy Bingo
Bingo Cards available beginning at 10:00 am
Kicking off Friday of ESW is a fun Bingo Game tied into this year’s theme. Stop by in-person in the main Geosciences Office, Tomanek Hall 233 to pick up your card OR register for an on-line bingo card.
You will have all weekend to try to create a geometric design or black out your bingo card. Full play instructions will be released on Friday morning.
Sunday, Oct. 19 - National Fossil Day Celebrated at Sternberg Museum
Sternberg Museum of Natural History is celebrating Fossil Day on Sunday!
3000 Drive, Sternberg Drive, Hays, KS
1:00-4:00 pm
Admission is free. Special displays and activities will be available for visitors of all ages.
Check out their Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/sternberg.museum/ for more information.
CHALLENGES - for ALL, including on-line students and remote visitors
Week-long Challenge
Community Clean-up Challenge: We challenge you to help clear litter from an area near you. Walk and work until you fill at least 1 bag of trash and litter per person. Do this on your own, with your family, or with a group for more fun. Take a picture of you with your haul and upload to our challenge survey to be entered into a drawing for a small FHSU and City of Hays Swag bag. Accepting entries until Sunday, Oct. 19th.
Tuesday - Go on-line or get Outside and observe the earth around you. We challenge you to take a 10 minute walk and see how many different energy using/resource items you can find. (Examples: Solar power plant stake, propane fuel tank, gas barbeque grill)
Wednesday - Color your Way through Prehistoric Times: Pick up 1 or more National Park Service coloring sheets and color your way to some prehistoric fun. On campus, outside of the Department main office, 2nd Floor of Tomanek *OR download from the National Park Service.
Feel free to share your creations with us.
PLUS: Bonus FHSU Geosciences special coloring pages will be relased on our Facebook page!
Friday - Kansas Energy Bingo - Bingo Cards available beginning at 10:00 am
Kicking off Friday of ESW is a fun Bingo Game tied into this year’s theme. Stop by in-person in the main Geosciences Office, Tomanek Hall 233 to pick up your card OR register for an on-line bingo card.
You will have all weekend to try to create a geometric design or black out your bingo card. Full play instructions will be released on Friday morning.
WEEK-LONG ACTIVITIES
American Geosciences Institute, Earth Science Week WEBINAR SERIES
In collaboration with Earth Science Week program partners, the American Geosciences Institute (AGI) is pleased to invite students, educators, geoscience professionals, and others to participate in the Webinar Series during Earth Science Week and/or view recordings after the event.
This webinar series will cover an array of thought-provoking, timely topics relating to the Earth Science Week
- Monday - Spreading Energy Awareness with NEED–strategies and examples for incorporating energy content into your classroom from some energy education experts!
- Tuesday - Geothermal: The energy resource of our past, present & future!
- Wednesday - Shaping the Future of Energy Exploration with Geoscience and Innovation
- Thursday - Geologic Mapping and Modeling
For more information and to view past years webinars, visit Earth Science Week Webinar Series
Registration is required. Webinars will have a live question-and-answer period with presenters. Webinars will be available in 62 languages with multilingual captioning. Recordings will be available following the weeklong series for those who register.
National and International Contests hosted by other organizations
AGI ESW HOSTED ACTIVITIES
The following national and international contests are open will open in September. Let us know if you submit an entry so we can watch for the contest winners announcement along with you!
Earth Science Week Video Contest
For Earth Science Week, the American Geosciences Institute invites you to enter the “Energy Efficiency in Action: Small Changes, Big Impact” video contest. Submit a brief, 1-2 minute, original video on how individuals, businesses, or governmental institutions in your area are implementing energy-efficient solutions, whether in home appliances, transportation, or industrial processes that can help achieve Sustainable Development Goal 7.
Your video entry could take almost any form. A public service announcement? An animated cartoon? A video incorporating your own original music? An audio interview with a family member or even a professional geoscientist? Some other format? You decide. Show how people of various backgrounds around the world use geoscience to strive for sustainability!
Entries Due: Fri., Oct. 17
Earth Science Week AGI Photography Contest
AGI is sponsoring a photography contest to celebrate Earth Science Week. The photography theme this year is "Capturing Energy in Motion".
Entries Due: Fri., Oct. 17
OTHER ESW HOSTED ACTIVITIES
Check out other ESW activities and resources https://www.earthsciweek.org/
Keep checking back for additional details on planned events such as virtual field trips and fun challenges, special presentations, and get-involved activities.
What is Earth Science Week and Why celebrate?
The American Geological Institute established Earth Sciences Week in 1998 to raise awareness of the geosciences and their importance to society. It is supported by the US Geological survey, NASA, NOAA, the National Park Service, and the AAPG Foundation.
"What does it mean to see the world through eyes informed by the geosciences? Earth scientists use many types of visualizations - graphic representations of data and information - to show what we know about how our planet's geosphere, hydrosphere, and biosphere interact. Earth Science Week 2015 focuses on the theme of 'Visualizing Earth Systems', exploring visualization methods ranging from traditional charts, graphs, diagrams, illustrations, and still images to videos, computer-generated animations, and 3D-printed creations. The celebration's learning resources and activities are engaging young people and others in investigating many ways of visualizing Earth systems." -Geoff Camphire, Manager, Outreach Programs, American Geological Institute