Eco Experience
with Eco Chick
In this issue:
-->4J/EWEB Education Partnership Program Message
- Never too early for Earth Day...Earth Day Every Day, People!
- EEA Seminar Data Art
- Eco Chick Support and Classroom Visits
-->Monthly Matters
- Winter Energy Saving Tips
- Show the Love...Green Hearts project
- Love Your Garden
- February 14th-17th Great Back Yard Bird Count
- February 28th Skip the Straw Day
-->Resources
- Nat Geo's Climate Change Collection
- EPA's Climate Change Education Resources
- OSU Extension's Garden Calendar
-->Opportunities
- OSU's Grow this! Gardening Challenge
- C-Geo Fest
- SPLASH! grant
-->Reads
- Yale's Climate books for Black History Month
- What if we get it right? by Ayana Elizabeth Johnson
- Cascade of Solutions/Regeneration Project
- All We Can Save
- Love Your Person (and the planet)
-->4J/EEP powered sites
-->Newsletter Archive
Hey People...February is for loving the planet and each other!
As things around the planet feel a little chaotic right now and there are many unknowns, let's lift those around us and remain strong. Through a hope and solution lens, one can find a glimmer of light in each day, a source of joy that brings a smile to the face and warmth to the heart. Get outside and take in the beauty of the season. Take time to be quiet and rest. And, share your love with those around you. When we join together in community, the outlook becomes brighter for all.
Be well,
Tana aka Eco Chick
Never too early for Earth Day...Earth Day Every Day, People!
Exciting news!
This spring across Eugene 4J, we will be launching a month long, district wide Eco Challenge that will help all staff and students gain a better understanding of our district's climate action goals and encourage SHiFTs in habits in the four goal areas: water conservation, food waste, transportation and reduce/ reuse strategies. Each week will have one of the goal areas as a theme.There will be many ways for individuals, staffs and buildings to play. The aim is to launch the week before Spring Break for World Water Day and continue after break with the other themes.
Stay tuned for more information later this month for implementation!
Graphic: https://elearninginfographics.com/10-ways-to-make-everyday-earth-day/
Put the A in STEAM EEA Seminar
Our team had such a great time leading the EEA Seminar Put the A in STEAM Climate Data Art. It was great to share some of the learning we have been doing this past year and share resources for bringing data art to classrooms. It was so fun to create climate weavings and quipus with teachers-so much joy in the room! If you are interested in doing some climate data art with your students...use the Eco Chick classroom visit form to schedule. Eco Chick Visit Form
Check out the slide deck below for some great resources and a window into what we presented.
Eco Chick Classroom Visits
Our team would love to work with you and your students on climate, energy and conservation projects!
Here are some of our offerings:
K-12 Green Your School-waste reduction activity
K-12 Green Your School-Eco Club help
Love Food Not Waste Cafeteria support
The 3 Water Systems of Eugene
Watershed Activity
K-4 Wonder Wander
K-8 Give me an A...STEAM!
Salmon related game or activity
Climate Storytelling Activity
Aware and Prepared Activity
Consultation on planned projects
Please fill out the Eco Chick Visit Form. Our program serves K-12 students and your information will help us tailor our presentation/activity to your specific classroom learning needs.
We look forward to working with you and your students! 🌎🌏🌍
Winter Energy Saving Tips
The cold dark months tell a lot about our homes and spaces. Leaks and drafts can really bring the electric bill up, just as turning up the thermostat does. Here are a few tips and tricks to make the most of your resources.
1. Let the sun shine in during the day
2. But close the curtains at night
3. Eliminate air leaks and drafts
4. Close doors and vents in unused rooms
5. Stay warm with clothes and blankets
6. Reset your water heater thermostat
7. Keep the air circulating
8. Use space heaters
9. Choose LED lights for your home and decorations
10. After using the oven, leave the door ajar
11. Lower the temperature in your home
12. Turn the thermostat down when you go to sleep
13. Get a smart thermostat
For details on the list above, check out the links below.
February is Show the Love for the Planet Month!
Green hearts are powerful.
Use green hearts to spark conversations about what you love
and want to protect from the climate crisis.
Green hearts add up to be a powerful symbol of change that is impossible to ignore. This year, use your green heart to share the story of what motivates you to #ShowTheLove by taking action to protect nature and tackle climate change.
Green heart crafting is a great way to get students talking about how climate change is affecting the people, places and things they love. They can write on their hearts what things they want to protect, or what they will do to reduce their contribution to climate change - such as riding their bike or walking to school.
There are so many ways their green hearts can help start conversations about climate change with their friends and family. They could attach a pin to the back and wear their hearts with pride, hang them from a tree, or make a display in your school or community center.
Stories are powerful. Every action we take together is a story that can inspire others and spark more actions. Throughout 2025 let's bring these stories of hopeful action together to demonstrate we are a community of green hearts.
Love Your Garden this Month!
February is a great month to give your garden a little love.
Here are a few little things you can do:
-Planning
-Start Seeds
-Mulch veggies and fruits
-Maintenance and Clean-up...but leave the leaves.
-Pest Management and Control
-Houseplants and Indoor Gardening
February 14th-17th The Great Back Yard Bird Count
The Great Backyard Bird Count (GBBC) is a free, fun, and easy event that engages bird watchers of all ages in counting birds to create a real-time snapshot of bird populations. Participants are asked to count birds for as little as 15 minutes (or as long as they wish) on one or more days of the four-day event and report their sightings online at birdcount.org. Anyone can take part in the Great Backyard Bird Count, from beginning bird watchers to experts, and you can participate from your backyard, or anywhere in the world.
Check out the links below for more information.
Audubon Great Backyard Bird Count
Cornell Lab Ways to participate.
February 28th Skip the Straw Day
In 2017, a group of teenage activists called the Coral Keepers established National Skip the Straw Day to recur every fourth Friday in February. Amid frequent and intense conversations about the state of the planet and the potentially fatal effects of plastic waste for creatures in the world’s largest oceans, these high school students from Whitehall, Michigan decided to establish the day in order to educate others about the many biodegradable alternatives to these small but potent cylindrical sippers.
Here are some resources to get your students involved:
OSU's Grow This Challenge
Get ready for another great year of gardening with the Grow This! Oregon Garden Challenge
The 2025 Grow This! Oregon Garden Challenge is here. This year while supplies last, Oregonians who sign up and request seeds will be mailed seeds free of charge:
- Households: sunflower, lettuce and pea pod Oregon farmer-grown seeds!
- Teachers (Pre-K through high school): a Classroom Seed-Starting Kit with supplies for up to 30 students, including Oregon grown seeds (romaine lettuce, sunflowers and summer squash)
- Programs and groups working with children and teens: a Mini Seed-Starting Kit with supplies for starting seeds with up to 15 children or teens, including Oregon grown seeds (romaine lettuce, sunflowers and summer squash)
Sign-ups begin February 3rd
Everyone is invited to grow along with us and learn as you grow:
- Call and leave a phone message with the Food Hero Team with any gardening or Grow This! questions at 541-737-1017. We will get back to you right away!
- Email any questions to Food.Hero@oregonstate.edu
- Sign up opens February 3rd! https://foodhero.org/growthis
C-Geo Fest March 8th
Join C-GEO at Western Oregon University March 8th. We will be partnered with the Oregon Council for the Social Studies. This year’s conference will include a special emphasis on teaching about Climate Change. Additional presentation topics include geo-tech sessions, Tribal History/Shared History, ethnic studies strands, and much more.
Five PDU’s will be available for those who attend the entire day.
Registration is FREE. Lunch is included for those who pre-register by February 22nd.
Note: In our registration form, be sure to also visit the OCSS link for a special K-12 social studies teachers opportunity to receive a $100 stipend from OCSS for attending GeoFest.
To Register go to https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/Geofest25
2024/25 City of Eugene SPLASH! Mini-Grants for classrooms
SPLASH!-Stormwater Pollution Learn and Share is a partnership with the City of Eugene designed to educate students about the importance of "Only Rain Down the Drain" in our stormwater system.
Take advantage of this grant opportunity by doing stormwater related activities, teaching students with the SPLASH! site/curricular link, as well as raising salmon. This opportunity will be sunsetting soon!
24/25 SPLASH! Grant Application
Check out SPLASH! site for resources. Or, schedule a classroom visit for the 3 Water Systems of Eugene.
SPLASH! Stormwater Pollution Learn and Share site
4J/EWEB Education Partnership Program site
Salmon Education-The Salmon Spot
TOSA-Climate. Energy. Conservation
Email: shepard_t@4j.lane.edu
Website: https://bit.ly/4J-eep
Phone: 541.790.5533