To kick off the first day of Earth Week yesterday, groups gathered in Red Square to spread the message of protecting the planet before being forced indoors due to soggy weather.

Groups big and small, new and old, local and national gathered in Mary Gates Hall while two groups stuck it out in Red Square.

One of the newest and smallest presenters yesterday was Students Expressing Environmental Dedication (SEED), which had a cardboard poster advocating its cause. SEED is a campus grass-roots organization that started this year to get students more involved in environmental issues, according to member Lily Constans.

Constans said SEED's first cause was to expand recycling in the dorms. A few members collect recyclables in McMahon Hall by having students put items near the elevators on their floors. For now, the group only collects in McMahon.

"The reasons we are here is to get our word out and maybe recruit more people," Constans said.

Constans said Earth Week was a great opportunity for small organizations to get their word out.

Larger groups such as WashPIRG, the College of Forest Resources, the School of Oceanography and UW Environmental Health and Safety were present yesterday, as well as such lesser-known groups as Seattle Youth Garden Works and Population Connection.

Population Connection and UW Environmental Health and Safety both stuck out yesterday's downpour, huddled under two tents in Red Square. Jill Mount of Population Connection said that yesterday's poor weather was unfortunate because not as many students congregate in Red Square during bad weather. Mount said her group, which advocates family planning, was only able to gather enough volunteers to run a booth for one day of Earth Week.

Seattle Youth Garden Works, one of the groups that moved inside to Mary Gates, employs homeless teens, especially from areas like the Ave., teaching them how to garden organically.

Greg Both, of Seattle Youth Garden Works, said the move inside hurt the groups participating in the first day of Earth Week because of the small amount of traffic that moves through Mary Gates as compared to Red Square.

"We have taken a few names," said Both. "Even though things are a bit quieter than we hoped, [Earth Week] is still a great opportunity to reach students."

Organizations will continue to man booths in Red Square if weather permits (or in Mary Gates if not) throughout Earth Week. In addition to organizations advocating various causes, there is a series of lectures, events and presentations taking place through Saturday. A schedule of events is available at students/washington.edu/uwearth/sched.htm.