Eco Experience
with Eco Chick
4J/EEP's Wind Energy and EV Challenge
7th and 8th grade science teachers...look for emails in January with information about 4J'EEP's energy offerings.
7th grade-Wind energy: A how-to workshop in 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!! An email will go out in January to capture your interest, as well as give you more info about this free opportunity! Check out the EWEB EV Challenge page for more info.
Love Food Not Waste Refresher for January
Here's a shout out to everyone supporting the Love Food Not Waste Program in our K-12 cafeterias-a huge carbon emissions reduction effort!
This month is World Soil Day, a great connection to our district's Love Food Not Waste Program, since our food scraps are hauled away to be composted to make more soil! Understanding the value of food and where it comes from, as well as how to dispose of your meal remains is important knowledge to carry forward as humans on planet Earth.
When students return 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.
24/25 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. 🌎🌏🌍
World Soil Day December 5th
Caring for Soils: Measure, Monitor, Manage
Our planet’s survival depends on the precious link with soil. Over 95 percent of our food comes from soils. Besides, they supply 15 of the 18 naturally occurring chemical elements essential to plants.
However, in the face of climate change and human activity, our soils are being degraded. Erosion disrupts the natural balance, reducing water infiltration and availability for all forms of life, and decreasing the level of vitamins and nutrients in food.
Sustainable soil management practices, such as minimum tillage, crop rotation, organic matter addition, and cover cropping, improve soil health, reduce erosion and pollution, and enhance water infiltration and storage. These practices also preserve soil biodiversity, improve fertility, and contribute to carbon sequestration, playing a crucial role in the fight against climate change.
World Soil Day 2024 (WSD) campaign, under the theme Caring for soils: measure, monitor, manage underscores the importance of accurate soil data and information in understanding soils characteristics and supporting informed decision-making on sustainable soil management for food security.
How can I participate?
- Refresh your students on our cafeteria food waste collection procedures...our wasted school food makes more soil, people!
- Start using the curbside Love Food Not Waste program at home-that's right...put your food scraps in with your yard debris. It's a thing, people!
- Learn more about our planet's systems
- Watch the Kiss the Ground Documentary focused on soil health, regeneration, desertificiation
- Preorder the Common Ground Documentary focused on solution oriented, regeneration, social justice, food sovereignity
- Take the OSU Intro to Permaculture course FREE
- Appreciate the Outdoors...Eugene Parks and Trail maps
- Give back to Mother Nature...plant a tree, garden...leave the leaves.
United Nations World Soil Day for more information.
Kiss the Ground for Schools-stream the educational cut for free (45 minutes)!
Sit Spots...they aren't just for kids!
Here are a few great links to learn more.
Field Education at Home: Sit Spots
Complete Guide To Using A Sit Spot In Nature (Benefits & Steps)
adventure in place: sit spots – what they are & why they are important
Getting Outside in Winter: How to enjoy the outdoors in the colder months
Eco Friendly Holiday Tips
We all recognize that stretch from Thanksgiving to Christmas as “THE” holiday season. Unfortunately, that particular mega holiday season is not typically the most eco-friendly. This time of year can generate up to 43% more waste than the rest of the year, and holiday travel results in higher carbon emissions.
Every step we take to decrease the environmental footprint of the season is a win for the planet. With the big season just around the corner, here are tips to celebrate a sustainable, eco-friendly holiday season, whether you’re celebrating Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, or even Festivus.
- Get a real tree...and then recycle it
- Send digital gift cards
- Opt for gift experiences
- Window shop online and buy local #shopsmall
- Source Eco-friendly products
- If you purchase your gifts online...avoid expedited/overnight shipping
- Donate cash or time to a good cause
- Give ethically with handmade, recycled, or repurposed gifts
- Use recycled paper or reusable gift bags for wrapping gifts...or make your own
- Choose green holiday décor...reusable!
- Add organic and locally grown foods to your menu
- Decrease waste around the dinner table...compost food waste!
- Save energy-switch to LED lights, avoid inflatable, plastic items
- Adjust your thermostat...layering is fashionable for lounging
- Recycle old electronics at Next Step
- Offset your holiday travel
Check out: The Ultimate List of Eco-Friendly & Environmental Holidays [A Guide to Green Holidays] article on Eco Enclose for details
Is your holiday energy use naughty or nice?
This year, give the gift of energy efficiency. Whether you’re visiting family, decorating the brightest house on the block, or staying in with festive movies and treats, here are some ways to save energy during the holiday season.
Decorations:
Don’t worry, we won’t tell you to nix your holiday light show—at least, not entirely. There are a lot of easy steps you can take to make your festive displays more energy efficient.
- Switch to LED lights
- Use timers...you don't need them on all night.
- Turn of ambient lights
- decorate without electricity
Gifts:
It’s the season of giving, and it’s easier than ever to make your giving energy efficient. Here are some tips and tricks for gifts your loved ones and the planet will appreciate.
- Reuse and Regift
- Buy non-electric gifts
- Give clutter-free or consumable items
- Wrap responsibly.
- Recycle (Right)
Travel:
There’s no place like home for the holidays. Here are some ways to help you improve your energy efficiency on your way over the river and through the woods.
- Plan your travel ahead of time
- Turn off your lights
- Install a programmable thermostat for long trips so that you’re not needlessly heating your home.
- Set your water heater to “low” or take advantage of vacation mode settings to reduce energy waste from one of the biggest energy guzzlers in the home.
- Take advantage of programmable lights and other home electronic technology, such as apps that allow you to monitor your lighting, electricity use, and energy consumption from your phone.
Hosting:
Are you hosting a holiday gathering? Learn more about how to cook an energy-efficient meal in this Thanksgiving post here and read below for more energy-saving tips and tricks!
- Turn down your heat.
- Encourage your guests to carpool—this will save energy and driveway space!
- If you’re hosting a gift exchange or white elephant, encourage your guests to shop efficiently using the tips above—or consider making giving white elephant a thrifting theme!
For more details read the full article from Smarter House
Eco Giving-it's a thing!
Crazy to think that 25% more waste is generated during the holiday season...that's from "Thanksgiving" to the end of December, people! And, most of that stuff is still on the planet, likely in a landfill near you. According to Israel’s Weizmann Institute of Science, 2020 was the year where human made items outweighed all living things for the first time...but there's good news! (TIME)
Introducing EcoGifting! It's a thing! A hierarchy of options to rethink gift giving. The graphics that are sandwiching this article are great examples of stuff-free giving. And, here are a few links for you to check out to see if there's a small SHIFT you can make.
Here are some local ideas:
Unique Eugene Give a local gift they choose and use (gift cards good at all businesses in UE)
Join a local Buy Nothing Group
Thrift Shopper A National Thrift Store Directory
And, after the holidays...consider non-landfill options for your waste.
Styrofoam recycling-please do it!
Donate to local thrift stores, BRING, MECCA
Curbside composting with Love Food Not Waste
Lots of groups pick up trees...support youth!
Give the Gift of Preparedness
Oregon Department of Emergency Management
The holidays are a great opportunity to encourage your friends and family to prepare for emergencies and disasters.
Most people would love to be more prepared but haven’t made the time or don’t know where to start.
Here are a few low and no-cost ways to help your loved ones get prepared, and perhaps cross some items off your wish list as well:
Make a Plan
Planning is the first step in being prepared. Talk with your loved ones: Establish an evacuation route, a family meeting place, and how you will contact each other if you are separated during an emergency. These free preparedness publications can help you get started.
Stock an Emergency Kit
Help your loved ones create or update their emergency kit with essential items. Flashlights, extra batteries, portable power banks or phone chargers, a weather radio, a first aid kit, and tools are all necessary items that make great gifts.
Include the Kids
Protect your loved ones by helping them learn what to do in the event of an emergency. Kids and teens who are prepared often experience less anxiety and feel more confident during emergencies and disasters. Visit Ready.gov for resources to teach kids and teens how to be prepared, not scared, for emergencies.
Sign up for Emergency Notifications
Are you and your loved ones signed up for emergency alerts? Visit OR-Alert to sign up or update your contact information to receive local emergency alerts in Oregon. Share the website with friends and family on your holiday cards. Take a moment to help loved ones sign up during your holiday visits.
Create Community
Well-connected communities are more resilient. As you spread holiday cheer and share treats with your neighbors, talk to them about emergency plans. Exchange contact information and identify if any neighbors may need extra help during emergencies.
Get a Search and Rescue Card
Statewide Search and Rescue (SAR) efforts average 1,100 missions per year and are the responsibility of each county sheriff. Each SAR team, mostly made up of volunteers, must have the appropriate training and outfitting to perform their important role of saving lives.
The Oregon SAR Card program is a way for outdoor lovers to support SAR efforts statewide. The personalized cards are tax-deductible, feature a choice of eight Oregon landscapes, and are available as a one-year card for $10 or a five-year card for $55.
All proceeds help fund SAR training, equipment and missions across Oregon by contributing to the SAR Fund managed by the Oregon State Sheriffs’ Association.
Source: MyOregonNews.com
Preparedness Gift Ideas from EWEB
Jewelry, clothes and electronics are nice, but if you really want to show someone you care, consider giving the gift of safety and peace of mind. The holiday season is the perfect opportunity to help your friends and family prepare for an emergency or disaster.
Here are a few gift ideas for the special people in your life:
Stocking stuffers:
- Flashlight
- Back-up phone battery
- Freeze-dried food
- Candles
- Emergency poncho
- Heat Reflective Blanket
- Hand/foot warmers
Gifts under $100:
- First Aid kit
- Emergency radio (with solar power and/or hand-crank)
- Multi-tool
- Personal water filter
- Emergency water storage container
- Camp stove
- Walkie Talkies
- Portable solar power station
Gifts over $100:
- Pre-made 72-hour kit
- Family water filtration system
- 30-day emergency food supply
- Generator (EWEB offers a zero-interest loan for home generators)
These are just a few ideas, and it's possible to get really creative with homemade gifts, gifts for kids, pet-owners and more. The holidays can be a great time to introduce preparedness into the lives of your friends and family, and perhaps cross some items off your own wish-list as well!
Give the Gift of Outdoors
Save this season with the Oregon State Parks 12-month parking permit sale during the month of December. The permit hangtag once again features whimsical designs from Portland artist El Tran.
Holiday shoppers can buy the annual parking permits for only $25, which is a $5 savings starting Dec. 1 and running through Dec. 31. The permit is good for 12 months starting in the month of purchase.
Purchasing permits is easy. Buy them online at the Oregon State Parks store (use the drop down menu to pick your favorite design).
Parking permits are also sold at some state park friends' group stores and select local businesses throughout the state.
For a complete list of vendors, visit stateparks.oregon.gov. Parking costs $5 a day at 25 Oregon state parks unless you have a 12- or 24-month parking permit or a same-day camping receipt. The 24-month pass is $50 and is also available at store.oregonstateparks.org. The permits are transferable from vehicle to vehicle.
Click here for a list of Events in the State Parks.
EWEB's Pledge to Prepare
Set an intention for the new year-Pledge to Prepare
There's always the possibility that a natural or human-caused disaster could strike us here in the Pacific Northwest.
Events like wildfire, earthquake or even a really bad winter storm can impact our electric and water systems and other public services we all rely on. In a severe emergency, some services could be disrupted for weeks or even months. And if you are like many of us, the thought of preparing your home and family for a disaster or other emergency can be daunting: Where do you begin? What supplies should you start gathering? How much will it cost?
That's why EWEB created the EWEB Pledge to Prepare, a 12-month blueprint for emergency preparedness.
For additional resources: 4J/EEP's Aware and Prepared
Join the Oregon Climate Education Thought Leaders Committee
Background
To support Oregon classroom teachers across all grade levels and subjects, Oregon Educators for Climate Education partnered with SubjectToClimate to create the Oregon Climate Education Hub, which launched on August 29, 2023. The Oregon Climate Education Hub (www.oregonclimateeducation.org) is an online website that provides Oregon educators comprehensive resources to integrate climate change across all grade levels and subjects.
About the Advisory Committee
We invite you to join the Oregon Climate Education Thought Leaders Committee to:
Share resources and feedback so that the Hub remains relevant to Oregon educators
Identify areas to collaborate
Spread awareness about the Hub as well as other resources that will help Oregon educators teach about climate change
Our goal is to make it easier for Oregon educators of all grade levels and subjects to teach about climate change and environmental justice so their students will have access to powerful climate education throughout their lives.
Commitment
The Advisory Committee will initially meet once a month on the third Thursday of each month.
New! SPLASH! Stormwater Pollution Learn and Share site
4J/EWEB Education Partnership Program site
Salmon Education-The Salmon Spot
4J/EWEB Education Partnership
TOSA-Climate. Energy. Conservation
Email: shepard_t@4j.lane.edu
Website: https://bit.ly/4J-eep
Phone: 541.790.5533