Eco Experience

-Anonymous

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

Volume 32, January 2024

Eco Tips and More

Many humans make resolutions and goals at this time of year to improve their health and habits. Consider making a green resolution this year by shifting a personal behavior to help our Mother Earth AND your personal well being. You may try going meat-free (once a week, even!), loving food not waste or other ways to reduce your carbon emissions output.

I'm here to cheer you on!

-Tana

-Gandhi

Here's a few easy things you can do immediately to reduce your impact on the planet:

1. Never buy bottled water again

2. Brew your own Fair trade coffee

3. Pick up trash

4. Bike, Walk, Carpool

5. Eliminate Phantom Power...unplug things you aren't using

6. Eat plant based meals

7. Replace your lightbulbs for LED's

8. Do business locally

9. Go plastic free

10. Swap single use for reusable

11. Repair items

12. Compost food scraps

13. Rethink your toilet paper brand

14. Buy Less

15. Rewear clothes

16. Stop showering every day

17. Cook at home

18. Hang your laundry to dry

19. Fix drippy faucets

20. Plant a Garden

21. Recycle Right

22. Turn off lights

23. Adjust your water heater to 120°

24. Avoid Fast Fashion

For more ideas check out these links:

Tree Hugger 10 Easy , Green New Year's Resolutions Anyone Can Keep

Green Resolutions for a Sustainable 2024

10 Eco Friendly Resolutions

Green Citizen 12 Actionable and Sustainable New Year's Resolutions

Eco-Friendly New Year’s Resolutions: 24 Ways to Go Green in 2024

-Albert Einstein

January is also known as ... Veganuary...a 30 day Challenge!

Veganuary inspired and supported over 620,000 people to try vegan during their 2022 campaign – with participants from over 220 countries and territories. They have worked with businesses to drive up vegan food options in shops and restaurants, and have made veganism more visible and accessible through their work with national and international media.

This site offers recipes, meal plans and more. 30 Day Veganuary Challenge

Veganuary

Meatless Mondays

Meatfree Monday

-James Cromwell

With students returning to schools after winter break, please plan to do a refresher on cafeteria waste routines in order to help keep the system up and running successfully. Use the Love Food Not Waste Resources to help you help your students understand the importance of keeping food out of the landfill.

23/24 Elementary Love Food Not Waste Resources

23/24 Secondary Love Food Not Waste Resources

Be a Waste Warrior-K-12 lessons (by grade band), activities, and resources to teach the planetary impact of what we eat and what we throw away. WWF Food Waste Warrior FREE!!

Small Shifts, Big Difference-Shift Campaign Food Waste video

It takes a village to keep food waste out of the land fill. 🌎🌏🌍

4J/EEP's Wind Energy and EV Challenge

7th and 8th grade science teachers...stay tuned for an email this week with information about 4J'EEP's energy offerings.

7th grade-Wind energy: A how to workshop late January (date TBD) followed by an opportunity to check out the wind unit to teach in your class with some support from the 4J/EEP staff.

8th grade-The annual EWEB EV Challenge is back this spring!! The 2024 EWEB EV Challenge Interest Form is live. Check out the EWEB EV Challenge page for more info.

The City of Eugene is providing their “SPLASH!” grant funding for instruction in science. SPLASH! (Stormwater Pollution Learn and Share!) is a website and curriculum for grade levels K-8 exploring water and the effects of pollution in water systems, the water cycle, and local ecosystems. Also included in this program is the Salmon and the Ecosystem curriculum, available for grades 5-12, which approaches water quality issues with emphasis on salmon and its role in our region’s ecosystem, economy and culture.

Here are the SPLASH! Website and City of Eugene's Classroom Materials sites containing all the grade-level curriculum information and materials.

Here is the link to the 2024 SPLASH! Grant Application. There are two levels of grant funding available: (a) a one time per year per school, up to $2,000 award; or (b) two up to $500 per year per school awards. Funds will be allocated based on alignment with SPLASH! Curriculum; alignment with 4J Science Curriculum, Common Core State Standards and NGSS; and the proposed project budget. A copy of the scoring rubric is attached for your reference. In the event of multiple classroom or grade level applications per school, Principals will need to prioritize the requests prior to submission of completed applications. Please read the application carefully as there are specific restrictions with regard to proposed technology purchases.

Note: Requests for funding of Outdoor School programs will not be considered as State funding has been allocated for Outdoor School for all 4J Elementary Schools.

In order to be considered for funding, completed applications must be received by 11:55 pm on Friday, March 22, 2024.

This is a great opportunity for your school and a nice partnership with the City of Eugene. Please let me know if you have any questions regarding the SPLASH! Program or your project eligibility.

I'd love to work with you and your students on climate, energy and conservation projects!

If your school needs cafeteria support with the Love Food Not Waste program, need help with your Eco Club or if you would like an individual 30-60 minute classroom visit/activity, please fill out the Eco Chick Visit Form. Because I serve K-12 students, your information will help me tailor my presentation/activity to your specific classroom learning needs.

I look forward to working with you and your students! 🌎🌏🌍

Take A Walk Outdoors Day falls on January 20 every year, and as the name suggests, it’s a day to step outside for a walk alone or with someone. Walking comes with a bag full of health benefits, and taking a walk outdoors is always more fun than doing it on a treadmill. Walking outdoors lets your body absorb Vitamin D which is good for your bones and muscle growth. For best results, try an early morning walk because only the early morning sun generates Vitamin D, and 75% of adults don’t get enough of it.

Take a Walk Outdoors Day

Self-Guided Walking Tours of Eugene

Blog-Favorite Flat Paths

International Environmental Education Day, which falls on January 26, is observed all over the world in the hopes of improving the relationship between our fellow humans and nature itself. It seeks to identify and find solutions to certain environmental issues, both globally and locally. With this, a collective and effective process is made available to reach more like-minded people who want to make a difference for our world itself. Aside from just assessing these issues, the main goal for this day is to bring about awareness for the motivation to continue on this endeavor. Once this has been achieved, motivation to act with the right forward-thinking and knowledge can bring about a sustainable change for today and future generations as well. You can find a list of science scholarships to enhance the effect of this journey through education from the leading schools and institutes in the country, for the betterment of the environment and our future.

International Environment Education Day

NEEF K-12 Education

EPA Environmental Education

North American Association for Environmental Education (NAAEE)

January 26th marks the 324th anniversary of the Cascadia Subduction Earthquake. And, we are due for another big event like this at any moment. All the more reason to be aware and prepared. Below are several links for you to dig into.

Realtime Earthquake Map

Quake Alert App

OPB Mega Quake video

Article: How to Prepare Your kids for the Cascadia Earthquake

Shake Alert Activities for teachers

On this day in history...lesson

Article: The Really Big One

Oregon.Gov Cascadia Subduction Zone

EWEB Pledge to Prepare, a 12-month blueprint for emergency preparedness.

4J/EEP's Aware and Prepared

And, if you have never heard Steven Eberlein's talk...do it today. Linked below.

-Anonymous

Since global warming affects — well — the globe, reducing CO2 emissions to control this effect should be a global event, which brings us to International Reducing CO2 Emissions Day, held on January 28 each year. Since CO2 is such a big contributor to climate change, this event intends to change the way countries around the world operate. Over time, this day seeks to aid the world’s transition to a cleaner environment.

International Reducing CO2 Emissions Day

SHIFT transportation

Here's how CO2 emissions have changed since 1900

10 ways to reduce carbon footprints in schools

National Seed Swap Day is celebrated on the last Saturday in January, which is January 27th this year, to honor the great U.S. tradition of swapping seeds with neighbors. The final week of January lays the chilly winds of winter to rest and signals the coming of spring — a season of cherry blossoms, outdoor picnics, and fresh plantations. As the plants and trees shed their final bounty, communities gather to plan for the next year of harvest. Mark this brand new season by swapping seeds and sharing warmth with your community on National Seed Swap Day.

National Seed Swap Day

Seed Savers Exchange

12 Tips for Organizing a Seed Swap

Eugene Seed Library

-Maya Angelou

Tana Shepard aka Eco Chick

TOSA-Climate. Energy. Conservation

Email: shepard_t@4j.lane.edu
Website: https://bit.ly/4J-eep
Phone: 541.790.5533