Ecochallenge.org

Campus Ecochallenge 2022

April 1 - April 21, 2022

Neil Leary

Dickinson Green Devils 2022

POINTS TOTAL

0 TODAY
0 THIS WEEK
793 TOTAL

participant impact

UP TO

2.0

public officials or leaders

contacted
UP TO

2.0

advocacy actions

completed
UP TO

135

minutes

spent learning
UP TO

2.0

hours

volunteered
UP TO

24

meatless or vegan meals

consumed
UP TO

760

minutes

spent exercising
UP TO

5.0

pounds

waste composted

Neil's actions

Health

Exercise Daily

Exercise is a great stress blaster! I will exercise for 50 minute(s) each day.

COMPLETED 13
DAILY ACTIONS

Health

Learn About Local Environmental Justice Concerns

I will spend 60 minutes researching environmental justice and environmental racism concerns in my region, who is affected by them, and local initiatives to address these concerns.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Waste

Compost Food Waste

I will avoid sending up to .69 lbs (.31 kg) of food waste to the landfill each day by composting my food or learning how to.

COMPLETED 5
DAILY ACTIONS

Food

Reduce Animal Products

I will enjoy 2 meatless meal(s) and/or 2 vegan meal(s) each day this week.

COMPLETED 12
DAILY ACTIONS

Health

Happiness

I will write down three things every day that I am grateful for, or send one email every day thanking or praising someone.

COMPLETED 19
DAILY ACTIONS

Transportation

Advocate for Greener Vehicles

I will spend at least 60 minutes assessing the vehicles used by my company or college and advocate for a purchasing policy focused on fuel-efficient vehicles.

UNCOMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Community

Express My Support

I will find out who in my state makes decisions that impact the environment and express my support for more environmental actions.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Energy

Learn About Renewable Energy

I will spend 60 minutes learning more about renewable energy alternatives (i.e. solar, wind, biomass) in my region.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Community

Volunteer in my Community

I will volunteer 2 hour(s) in my community during the challenge.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Community

I will join Carlisle Tool Library as a life-time member

Carlisle Tool Library is helping to create a sharing economy in Carlisle providing access to its extensive library of hand and power tools and workshops to enable people to create and repair things. Joining as a lifetime member will help provide much needed financial support for the Tool Library.

UNCOMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Community

Stand Against Racism

I will participate each day in the YWCA Stand Against Racism Challenge

COMPLETED 15
DAILY ACTIONS

Participant Feed

Reflection, encouragement, and relationship building are all important aspects of getting a new habit to stick.
Share thoughts, encourage others, and reinforce positive new habits on the Feed.

To get started, share “your why.” Why did you join the challenge and choose the actions you did?

REFLECTION QUESTION
Waste Compost Food Waste

New to composting? Be sure to check out the action resource links to learn tips and more about it. As you transition from throwing food away to composting, what do you notice about how much you are tossing? How will you use your compost once it is ready?

Neil Leary 4/18/2022 6:28 AM

Started composting our food waste this weekend. We used to compost but stopped because we weren't doing any gardening and didn't have a significant use for the compost. Now that Tory is retired and gardening, we can use the compost to help grow tomatoes, swiss chard, carrots, peppers and herbs for our table.

Read More
REFLECTION QUESTION
Health Exercise Daily

How can you incorporate other personal values (like quality time with friends or spending time in nature) into your exercise routine?

Neil Leary 4/16/2022 5:20 AM

Last weekend a good friend from college visited. We hadn't seen in each in person for many years. We hiked the White Rocks trail together while catching up with what's new in each other's lives and talking about friends we have in common. My morning jogging route includes the trails west of Dickinson's baseball field. The trails go through woods and meadow areas, and there's a great view of North Mountain from above the solar pv field.

Read More
REFLECTION QUESTION
Community Express My Support

What sustainability issues are most pressing or prominent on your campus? In your hometown? Where you live currently?

Neil Leary 4/15/2022 3:26 PM

PennEnvironment is organizing a Climate Lobby Day on June 2nd. The event is virtual, so it's very easy to participate. PennEnvironment plans to bring together hundreds of Pennsylvanians to hold Zoom lobby meetings with state legislators and their staff to advocate for legislation that will help fight climate change. Register and they'll schedule 1-2 video meetings for you and other constituents to meet with your elected officials for 30-45 mins to discuss the importance of implementing policies to tackle climate change. There will also be a virtual rally, webinars, and action stations for you to participate in throughout the day. Sign up to participate: https://pennenvironment.webaction.org/p/salsa/event/common/public/index.sjs?event_KEY=1274

Read More
Neil Leary 4/15/2022 3:15 PM

Students in my Sustainable & Resilient Communities course and I spent today's class outdoors, sitting in the grass next to the volley ball court. Great conversations and learning about D'son's sustainability efforts, soaking up sun, and feeling grass between our toes. Made me feel thankful to be working with a great group of students this semester. A wonderful way to end the week and ease into the weekend.

Read More
REFLECTION QUESTION
Health Learn About Local Environmental Justice Concerns

Who is most affected by environmental degration and/or environmental irresponsiblity in your community? How are they affected?

Neil Leary 4/15/2022 3:07 PM

In invited Manal El Harrak, Executive Director of the Sadler Health Center, to speak in my class this week. I and my students learned a great deal from Manal about social determinants of health that create and hold in place conditions that result in substantial health disparities between low income and wealthier people and between people of color and white people. The health disparities are wide ranging and include health impacts from poor air quality and other environmental causes. We also learned about the valuable and high impact work that Sadler Health Center performs in our community, enabling access to quality health care that would be financially out of reach for many of our neighbors. We are fortunate to have Sadler, and Manal, in our community!

Read More
Neil Leary 4/05/2022 5:28 PM

This afternoon I moderated and presented in a panel session on college-community partnerships for climate action as part of Second Nature's virtual Climate Leadership Summit conference. I spoke about the research Baird Sustainability Fellows did in the fall on climate risks to Cumberland County residents and adaptation strategies for the county Planning Department. The other panelists, Susan Powers at Clarkson University and Rachael Budowle at University of Wyoming, are doing great work with their communities in Potsdam, NY and Laramie, WY. Many of the attendees of the session are also engaging their students and communities in work to reduce ghg emissions and build climate resilience. Feeling inspired and hopeful for the future.

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Neil Leary 4/04/2022 4:58 AM

Antiracism work is part of creating a sustainable community. The YWCA's Stand Against Racism Challenge starts today and runs through May 4th. I've signed up for the challenge and I encourage you to do the same.
https://www.ywcachallenge.org/profile/form/index.cfm?PKformID=0x24112abcd

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Neil Leary 4/02/2022 5:03 AM

Today is the Northside Ride! If becoming more engaged in the community is one of your EcoChallenge goals, this is a fun way to do it. Building community is an important aspect of sustainability. We start at 10:15 am at New Life Community Church (64 E. North St., Carlisle). Arrive by 10 am to check in, come earlier for pancake breakfast. Hope to see many of you there.

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Neil Leary 4/01/2022 5:14 AM

It's the start of April and the start of Campus
EcoChallenge, which were preceded by the Climate Justice Teach-In. Thank you to everyone who attended a session of the teach-in. Thank you to everyone who organized, led, and spoke in a session. And thank you to the student volunteers and CSE interns who assisted with a day of learning about climate and justice. Now let's carry that momentum into Campus EcoChallenge and into action on climate change!

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