Eco Experience
with Eco Chick
In this issue:
-->4J/EWEB Education Partnership Program Message
-->Eco News
- Extra, Extra...introducing Eugene 4J's Five Year Climate Plan
-->Monthly Matters
- Spring Cleaning Tips
- Earth Hour
-->Events and Opportunities
- Staycation ideas
- Garden Season is beginning!
- Summer Institute for teachers
-->Resources
- Climate Reads for spring break!
- OSU's Monthly Garden Calendar
- Eugene 4J's Earth Month Preview...dig in, people!
-->Eco Experience Archive
-->Sites: SPLASH!, 4J/EEP, The Salmon Spot
Staycation...is all I ever wanted...
Hey People,
Time to take a break! And, we have reached the time of year when the light is on our side. Longer daylight hours always feel like such a gift. Nature is waking up, greening, flowering. More time to linger in the garden in the evenings or enjoy a lovely walk in the neighborhood...sigh...I love this time of year.
This special issue has some big news, staycation ideas, spring cleaning info and a preview into Earth Month. Let's do it up this year in Eugene 4J- get involved!
Rest up, rejuvenate and ready yourselves for the last months of SY24/25.
Have a wonderful whatever you do!
~Tana aka Eco Chick
Drum roll, please...Introducing... Eugene 4J's Five year Climate Action Plan
In 2019 the Eugene School board unanimously approved Eugene 4J's Climate Resolution. Around the same time, Eugene 4J became part of the City of Eugene's Climate Collaborative and named in the City's Climate Action Plan 2.0 for the goal areas of: transportation, food waste, reduce/reuse strategies and water quality/conservation.
Since the return to buildings after covid, our district has been quietly working away on our goal areas, making some decent strides to meeting many of them. This year our district has decided to become more intentional with our climate resolution and a five year climate action plan was approved by the Executive Leadership team on January 21st. A Climate Task Force is being formed at the district level and our website will soon have information about what we have been doing and what is to come. Stay tuned for more info!
Being one of the largest employers in the area, we have an ethical responsibility to our community to shift our collective practices toward sustainability and carbon emissions reduction strategies. We already have many things to celebrate yet miles to go to walk our walk as an entity. I am excited to help shepherd the way so our district may become a model for sustainability and climate action across our community, the state and the nation. It takes a village to green a school district and I have faith we can work together to green up our district culture!
Small shifts make a big difference in helping our community with climate action goals! Let's do this!
Spring Cleaning...Just say no to Land Fill!
Nothing like a nice fresh start in the spring-time to get cleaning! And, as you do, think about all the places the items you no longer need or want can go for a second life. Below is a list of ideas and places your items can be donated.
- Storing and Reusing-SHiFT! try to reuse materials and supplies as much as possible! Reuse is one of the biggest resource savers.
- Swap and Share , do a clothing swap with friends, create a free pile of awesomeness, ; anything leftover donated
- MECCA-school supplies, art supplies...more
- St. Vincent dePaul or other donation facility-most things you no longer want...household items, games, books, toys, etc and they take styrofoam packaging!!
- BRING- furniture items, garden items, miscellaneous
- Next Step-broken or working electronic items, cords, etc
- Recycling in the commingle bins. See graphic below for latest Sanipac guidelines. **Remember-everything has to be CLEAN to be recycled.
- Be waste wise- Waste diversion tool, Lane County Recycling Guide (Spanish) Lane County Waste Management
- Glenwood Transfer Station-a one stop drop of sorts. Know before You Go
- True Trash-broken/unusable items, unwanted laminated items, glued/glittered/etc things, anything that doesn't fit in the categories above
We can waste less resources and put a stop to "wishful recycling", by understanding what can and can't go into the commingle bins, as well as reusing, exchanging and donating items.
Always remember, no matter what you choose to do, when in doubt, find out or throw it out.
And, perhaps, try your hand at making your own cleaning products. Simple ingredients from your kitchen can turn into healthier options for your household cleaning needs. Heavily scented and chemically derived cleaners are harmful to all living things. Rethinking our cleaning products can be one of the healthiest things we can do for our lifestyles. See the links below.
If you're not into making your own, try We Refill It, a local company that specializes in zero waste products for your household. You can pick up or receive free delivery for orders over $45.
Good Housekeeping-How to make simple cleaning sprays
Homesteading Family-Homemade All-purpose spray cleaner
Keeper of the Home-All natural cleaning recipes
Martha Stewart-21 Natural Cleaner Recipes for Every Part of Your Home
Earth Hour March 22nd!
Earth Hour 3/22/2025 from 8:30-9:30 pm
Earth Hour --- A Lights Off Moment --- Unplug for the Planet
Switch OFF-spend one hour doing something-anything-positive for our planet.
The purpose of this hour on this day is to unite people all across the globe in their effort to save the planet.
This day was created by the World Wide Fund For Nature (WWF) and encourages people to turn off their non-essential electric components, as well as their lights. The WWF hopes that if people practice this holiday for that one hour per year, they will think about their energy consumption more and make the effort to use less energy.
Eugene Staycation ideas!
Staycations are magical...especially when you live in a beautiful place like Eugene, Oregon! Spring is a fun way to see and do things you wouldn't usually get to do when you go away for break.
Here are some ideas to get you out and about:
15 Best things to do in Eugene
Adult Activities guide-so many great classes!!
Love writing? Word Crafters
Step Into Series-poetry, stories, plays and comics in the stairwells in the 10th/Oak Overpark
Lane Events Calendar-"never miss out again"
OSU Extension Service-home garden and landscape resources
Garden Season is beginning!
Here are a couple of helpful resources to get you going with native plants:
Oregon Department of Forestry Native Trees and Plants of Oregon booklet
Earth Day 2025-Our Planet, Our Power
EARTH DAY, EVERY DAY!
This year is the 55th anniversary of Earth day. The theme for Earth Day 2025 is OUR POWER, OUR PLANET, inviting everyone around the globe to unite behind renewable energy, and to triple the global generation of clean electricity by 2030.
How? By joining in Earth Action Day, encouraging all to take action—educate, advocate, and mobilize. Pledge an Earth Action on social media. Attend/plan/register a local event. Integrate Earth Day lessons into your curricula. There are so many ways to play!
And few other fun resources:
2025 Subject to Climate Earth Day Resource Guide
Earth Reminder: Earth Day Activities
Nat Geo Kids: History of Earth Day
ACT now Climate Action Super Heroes
-->Check out the Eugene 4J Celebrate's Earth Day page and Earth Action Week for resources.
Earth Month Actions
4J Climate Justice Students invite people like you and me to make small shifts to make a big impact to help Planet Earth. Shift to a new green habit!
There are many ways to reduce our carbon footprint-meatless meals, rethinking waste, conserving water, reducing and reusing items, getting outside and more!
All living things are connected and we all share Earth as our home. When we make shifts to greener habits, it makes the world a healthier place to live. Below are links to thematic days to give small shifts a try.
Take the pledge and commit to a new green habit! ---> Take the Pledge!
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