Sustainable RSOs and Volunteer Opportunities
Registered Student Organizations (RSOs)
CMU Sierra Club
The CMU Sierra Club is dedicated to the preservation and responsible enjoyment of Mount Pleasant’s, Michigan’s and all the earth’s natural places. The CMU Sierra Club’s mission is to expand our understanding of conservation and the natural world by exploring the untamed wild, informing community and government representatives on environmental issues and carrying out actions necessary to create a more sustainable world through peaceful active citizenry and service to our community.
Core activities of this organization include:
- Volunteer work dedicated to preserving natural spaces such as parks, reserves, etc.
- Engaging in political activity such as marches, protests, writing to, and meeting with government officials to promote the welfare of the environment.
- Taking trips to different natural areas across Michigan and the United States.
Learn more on the Central Student Sierra Club website
Take Back the Tap
The purpose of Take Back the Tap is to end the sale of bottled water on the campus of Central Michigan University and encourage students, faculty and staff to drink tap water and use reusable bottles instead of buying disposable bottled water. Take Back the Tap highlights the social, economic and environmental problems with bottled water and aims to raise awareness of the consequences of the use of single-use bottled water. Take Back the Tap is part of a campaign run by Food and Water Watch, a non-profit organization working with grassroots organizations to create an economically and environmentally viable future.
Geography and Environmental Studies Club
Geography and Environmental Studies Club is a group that welcomes geography majors, environmental studies majors and anything in between. The Geography and Environmental Studies club focuses on discussing geography as a group, doing community service, forming study groups and fundraising for future trips. Students from any major or minor are welcome to a community of like-minded peers that share a common interest in the Earth, how we use it and how to gain knowledge of our world today.
The CMU Student Chapter of the Wildlife Society
The Central Michigan University Student Chapter of The Wildlife Society focuses on preparing its members for their future careers in biology, specifically with wildlife. They do a variety of activities and volunteer work throughout the year. Among other events, they assist with projects for The Wildlife Recovery Association, The Association to Rescue Kritters and the Chippewa Watershed Conservancy. They host a panel of graduate students and professors in the fields of wildlife research and conservation, coordinate hiking and camping trips and organize a lively community feast in the form of a Wild Game Dinner, all the while educating their members about current issues related to wildlife during weekly meetings. Email cmu_tws@cmich.edu with any questions.
Refugee Outreach Collective
ROC is a volunteer-run 501(c)3 nonprofit that expands access to education opportunities to those experiencing forced-displacement, advocates for just opportunities to migrate and organizes outreach efforts to people as they are subjected to object poverty in encampments. Ultimately, ROC amplifies diverse narratives of migrant and displaced communities through alliance and relationship building. ROC works to make the US a more welcoming place to resettling communities and to eradicate refugee camps as a normative concept. ROC’s work can be understood as having to do with three pillars, those being education, advocacy and outreach. In terms of education, ROC expands access to education opportunities as people experience displacement or resettlement. ROC works with universities to open access to college courses for those experiencing forced displacement along the US-Mexico border and in Malawi and provides tutoring assistance for students who are resettling to Southwest Michigan. In regards to advocacy, ROC organizes regular advocacy efforts across university campuses in Southwest Michigan and online through our Moving Lines Podcast. Currently, there are seven going on eight ROC chapters, each of which organizes regular educational meetings, events open to the public, fundraising efforts and outreach initiatives. In terms of outreach, ROC provides assistance to individuals as they are subjected to object poverty, experience restrictions on their movement and many other socio-political constraints as they live in encampments. All of ROC’s outreach efforts are organized and led by members of the community that the initiative is organized to assist. Here at the Central Michigan University chapter, it is the mission of ROC to exemplify these three principles. ROC welcomes students from any major or minor who share an interest in educating the community about forced migration, advocating for refugee-friendly policy and serving displaced people through fundraising and volunteering.
Central Votes
Central Votes is a non-partisan campus-wide organization whose purpose is to educate college students on voter rights and voter suppression so they will register and exercise their democratic right to vote. Email centralvotes@gmail.com with any questions.
CMich Outdoors
CMich Outdoors exists to promote stewardship and conservation of public lands, facilitate professional development and networking opportunities, provide outdoor recreational experiences and organize volunteer and service projects to benefit park and recreation organizations and students.
Environmental and Water Resources Institute Student Chapter at CMU
Students interested in pursuing careers in environmental and water-related fields are encouraged to become members of EWRI student chapter. EWRI offers student competitions, student mentoring events, career planning sessions at our regular gatherings and other opportunities for growth. Students can jump-start their careers with EWRI at no cost.
Sustainable volunteering opportunities
What is sustainable volunteering? Sustainable volunteering is a way of giving back to the community or environment. It focuses on creating a positive, lasting effect on communities by respecting their needs and sensitivities.
How can you get more involved? Explore these opportunities!
Alternative breaks
Central Michigan Alternative Breaks offers several sustainability-oriented breaks. Through these breaks, students have the opportunity to develop into lifelong active citizens in local, national and global communities through diverse, direct-service experiences dedicated to social justice.
Explore alternative breaks to learn more.
Campus gardening
Campus Grows is an ongoing initiative to restore CMU's gardening program. Campus Grows is the new campus gardening RSO that hosts gardening events and maintains the community garden portion of CMU's main campus garden.
Those interested should email Central Sustainability. You can also register to join Campus Grows via Engage Central.
Humane Animal Treatment Society
The Humane Animal Treatment Society in Mt. Pleasant is always seeking dedicated volunteers to provide care and socialization for their animals on a consistent basis.
Explore opportunities at the Humane Animal Treatment Society.
Bonny's Clean Up Crew
Join Bonny's Clean Up Crew! This organization meets every Sunday at 8:30 a.m. at different locations throughout Mt. Pleasant. Bonny's cleans the parks for about an hour and then eats breakfast at Ponder Coffee Co. Everyone is welcome!
Explore opportunities with Bonny's Clean Up Crew.
Chippewa Watershed Conservancy
The Chippewa Watershed Conservancy is a nationally accredited land conservancy dedicated to protecting and restoring Central Michigan's land, water and wildlife resources to improve the quality of life for all.
Explore volunteer opportunities with the Chippewa Watershed Conservancy.
Habitat for Humanity
Habitat for Humanity Isabella County seeks passionate individuals and organizations to join its fight against substandard housing in Isabella County.