Eco Experience

with Eco Chick

Eco /ˈēkō/ adjective; not harming the environment; eco-friendly

Volume 4, April 2021

Earth Day Edition

4J Earth Day 2021

Every year April 22nd marks Earth Day; the anniversary of the birth of the modern environmental movement; a day set aside to honor, celebrate and take action for our one precious home-- Earth.

The 4J Climate Action team has put together a small collection of resources for you use with your students to bring awareness to Earth Day and small actions we can all take to make a big difference for our planet.

You will find elementary, middle and high school pages, Earth Week actions, and more.

4J Earth Day 2021

"Our goal is not just an environment of clean air and water and scenic beauty. The objective is an environment of decency, quality and mutual respect for all other human beings and all other living creatures."

-Gaylord Nelson, founder of Earth Day

Listen to the Kids!

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Get us back to our roots

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Save the Energy

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Every drop counts

4J Climate Action Students speak their truth!

The Eugene 4J Climate Justice Team is addressing the issues on climate for long term impact. The team is comprised of high school students, K-12 teachers and support staff across Eugene 4J district, working together for a better future in climate education. This group is dedicated to creating a permanent climate based education system across all subject areas and age groups in Eugene 4J.

4J Climate Action students had audience with the Oregon Department of Education last October tell their stories, share their ideas and hopes for Climate Change Education (CCE). They inspired and moved the adults present in the zoom call to take further action.

On April 7th, five amazing 4J Climate Justice high schoolers presented at the 2021 Council of State Science Supervisors Annual Conference, “Standing at the Intersection of Policy and Practice”. The focus was “Solutionaries: Students as Explorers, Designers, and Creators”. They wowed the science leaders of America and have opened the door for a deeper dive into what Climate Education for all will look, sound and feel like.

Watch the video below from last October to hear what our students have to say!

"I believe that climate change is the most pressing issue my generation will ever face, indeed that the world has ever faced. This is an environmental issue and it is also a human rights issue."

-Kelsey Juliana

Show the Love- EARTH Day Action week

Small actions, big difference!

4J Climate Justice Students planned actions for each day of Earth Week to challenge all of us to take small actions to make a big difference. Take 30 days to make a new green habit!

Meatless Monday-plan a meatless meal once or twice a week.

Trashy Tuesday-refuse what you don't need, reduce what you need, reuse what you consume, recycle what you cannot refuse, reduce or reuse, rot the rest (start curbside composting!)

Water Wednesday-fix leaks, don't leave the tap running, shorter showers, water only when needed

Thrifty Thursday-buy second hand, hang clothes to dry, choose reusable items

Forest Friday-get outside, make a tree friend, go for a hike, smell the flowers

Earth Weekend...and beyond-start curbside composting, walk instead of drive, organize a litter pick-up in your neighborhood, plant a garden or a tree, donate spring cleaning items, ...revisit the actions from the week.

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Love Food, Not Waste

In order to rethink food waste, we have to remember that food is a valuable resource. Many people on our planet and in our community do not have enough food to eat. When we throw food away aka waste our food, it contributes to methane production in our landfills. Methane is almost 25% more harmful in our air than co2! And, it wastes money.

Now is a great time to rethink our connection to our food and where it comes from. You and your family may choose to kick food waste to the curb! If you subscribe to trash service in Eugene, food waste can be added to your yard debris bins. Home composting has never been easier! Pick out a countertop food waste container and give it a try!

Give it a try!

Visit the City of Eugene's Love Food Not Waste site for more information about curbside composting.

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5 R's of Sustainability

REFUSE what you do not need.

It's okay to say "no, thank you" when someone is offering you something you don't need, a "freebie". It's also good to say "no" to yourself after thinking "huh...do I really NEED this?"

REDUCE what you need.

Let go of things that are no longer of use and donate or sell. Focus on necessary purchases. When we reduce what we purchase and what send to the landfill aka "away", this helps the solid waste stream a lot!

REUSE what you consume.

Switch from single use items to reusable and permanent alternatives.

Top 5 easy items to reuse: water bottle, reusable hot drink cup, reusable cold drink cup with reusable straw, utensils and napkin, shopping and produce bags.

RECYCLE what you cannot refuse, reduce or reuse.

Recycling is NOT the go-to solution for waste reduction. Many items cannot be recycled unless they are clean and accepted in our local waste stream-otherwise they are trash.

ROT (compost) the rest.

Compost your own household waste or take part in curbside composting in your yard debris bin.

More tips, Ecogeneration, Garbage Guru

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Eat Smart, Waste Less

Save your food from going to waste!

Take the Challenge!

Start by making small changes in the way you shop for, prepare and store your food. Check out Lane County Eat Smart, Waste Less for tips on how to shop with meals in mind, prep now and eat later, keep it fresh, eat what you buy, and measure your wasted food.

And, click here to learn about other ways to be be Waste Wise.

"Knowing that you love the earth changes you, activates you to defend and protect and celebrate. But when you feel that the earth loves you in return, that feeling transforms the relationship from a one-way street into a sacred bond."

-Robin Wall Kimmerer, Braiding Sweetgrass

Local Earth Loving Opportunities

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BRING-Student Product Design Challenge

BRING invites K-12 students to submit new products made out of salvaged building materials to our annual Student Product Design Challenge. Four $250 prizes will be awarded, including one People's Choice award, and winning products will be on display in the BRING gallery space this summer.

Registration ends April 30, and space is limited.

More info and materials: https://bringrecycling.org/school-product-design-challenge/

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Small shifts, Big Impact

To promote our local sustainability and climate action plans, the City of Eugene has launched a campaign call Shift.

Through the Shift Campaign, the City of Eugene and its partners will communicate small but impactful ways to lower our carbon footprint through everyday actions. The Campaign will cover a wide range of topics from shifting your ride, to eating a plant-based meal, to buying used. These actions will not only lead us towards more sustainable living but may even save us money!

The Shift Campaign is a partnership between the City of Eugene and the Eugene Climate Collaborative Partners (4J and EWEB are partners.)

Coming soon: SHIFT Eco Challenge for Earth Day.

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Coming soon: 4J Earth Day Art-a-bration!

Call for art submissions from students!

Shift-Act-Create-Share

April 22-May 21

-Shift- Choose a Shift. Small shifts, make a big difference.

-Act- Take action-shift a habit to make a change. Spend at least two weeks making your shift into a new habit

-Create-Draw, paint, collage, sculpture, public service announcement, poetry, spoken word, a song, a dance, an invention-You.do.you. Be creative.

-Share-submit your creation via photo, video or mp4 and a short paragraph about the habit you shifted and how your art represents your shift and a wish for the planet.

All submissions will become part of a Virtual Gallery.

All entrants will be entered into a drawing for prizes donated by local businesses.

More info soon!