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April 1 - April 30, 2020
Taylor Johnson's avatar

Taylor Johnson

Virginia Zoo's Socially-Distant Climate Change Resistance

POINTS TOTAL

  • 0 TODAY
  • 0 THIS WEEK
  • 677 TOTAL

participant impact

  • UP TO
    74
    disposable cups
    not sent to the landfill
  • UP TO
    90
    minutes
    spent learning
  • UP TO
    1,495
    minutes
    spent outdoors
  • UP TO
    1,495
    minutes
    not spent in front of a screen

Taylor's actions

Forests

Use a Reusable Mug

If possible, I will avoid sending 1 disposable cup(s) to the landfill each day by using a reusable mug.

COMPLETED 3
DAILY ACTIONS

Wildlife

Research a Wild Animal

I will spend at least 30 minutes learning about a wild animal I find interesting, including their life cycle, habitat, ecosystem functions, and interactions with humans (if any!).

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Fresh Water

Eco-friendly Gardening

I will plant native species, landscape with water-efficient plants, and use eco-friendly fertilizers.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Fresh Water

Water-Friendly Beauty Products

Avoid beauty products with micro beads or harsh chemicals that will feed into the ground and your water supply.

COMPLETED 0
DAILY ACTIONS

Action Track: Building Resilience

Spend Time Outside

I will replace 60 minute(s) each day typically spent inside (computer time, watching television, etc.) with quality time outside that follows CDC guidelines for preventing disease spread.

COMPLETED 0
DAILY ACTIONS

Action Track: Building Resilience

Support Pollinators

At least 30% of crops and 90% of flowering plants rely on pollinators, including monarch butterflies, to produce fruit. I will spend 45 minutes researching which plants support local native pollinators and plant some in my yard.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

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?


  • Taylor Johnson's avatar
    Taylor Johnson 4/30/2020 1:54 PM
    LAST DAY! Good job everyone, can't wait to see where we end up placing and how big our final impact was!
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Wildlife Research a Wild Animal
    What interesting facts did you learn about the animal you researched? What are some of your favorite things about this animal?

    Taylor Johnson's avatar
    Taylor Johnson 4/30/2020 1:53 PM
    I learned that okapi calves don't poop for the first month to two months of their lives. This helps protect them from predators until after they've gained strength and some independence. I love okapi because of their unique appearance and because they are elusive. When I first got Zoo Tycoon on PC in like 2001, they were the first animal I created an exhibit for because I had no idea what it was. I hope to visit a zoo with them in the future!
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Fresh Water Water-Friendly Beauty Products
    Beyond what does or doesn't come out of the tap at home, how do your choices affect freshwater locally and globally?

    Taylor Johnson's avatar
    Taylor Johnson 4/30/2020 1:47 PM
    The world doesn't nave an endless supply of water, and there's only so much filtering you can do, so eventually we will run out, so wasting water has a big impact on our supplies. There are several water companies that also steal water from towns across the world, leaving the local people without water, so you have to do your research to make sure you aren't supporting those companies. Also, the chemicals you use in your yard, or to clean something can run off into waterways, harming native species.
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Action Track: Building Resilience Spend Time Outside
    Rachel Carson said that we need the beauty and mysteries of the natural world for our spiritual and emotional development. Does that ring true for you? What are the implications for a culture that spends most of its time indoors?

    Taylor Johnson's avatar
    Taylor Johnson 4/30/2020 1:44 PM
    I love the outdoors! It's nice to step away from the modern world consumed by technology and the need for attention, and head into the mountains for a hike or to camp, or even just leave the house and go in the backyard to take in some sunlight. If you've seen the movie Wall-E, that's exactly what I picture the earth like in the future - fat people from not exercising, a planet in ruins and a lack of empathy for our world.
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Action Track: Building Resilience Support Pollinators
    Why is it important to take care of pollinators?

    Taylor Johnson's avatar
    Taylor Johnson 4/30/2020 1:40 PM
    They provide our food for us! These essential workers can't protect themselves from human actions such as pesticides and destruction of their nests, so their numbers are dropping drastically.

  • Taylor Johnson's avatar
    Taylor Johnson 4/27/2020 1:21 PM
    I got a food dehydrator for my birthday - I'm excited to start making snacks for hiking and camping that not only save space but reduce plastic usage! Plus I'll know what goes into the food!

  • Taylor Johnson's avatar
    Taylor Johnson 4/22/2020 9:56 AM
    Happy 50th Anniversary of Earth Day!

  • Taylor Johnson's avatar
    Taylor Johnson 4/08/2020 2:57 PM
    I now have almosttt everything ready to begin in my garden! Tomatoes and peppers, snap peas, cucumbers, carrots, radishes and even strawberries! So exciteeddddd

    • Mary Beth Waltman's avatar
      Mary Beth Waltman 4/11/2020 4:08 PM
      I love this! I planted green beans, Italian beans, Lima, okra, honeydew, potatoes, squash, zucchini, cucumbers, eggplant, bell peppers,  8 tomato plants, and lettuce today
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Fresh Water Eco-friendly Gardening
    What are the most prominent water concerns in your area? Examples include drought, flooding, pollution, access, security, and privatization.

    Taylor Johnson's avatar
    Taylor Johnson 4/03/2020 9:22 AM
    Flooding is a major issue in our area with too much infrastructure and pollution and not enough green space or laws to protect our waterways, beaches and neighborhoods. We are also a large hub for military fleets, and i can only imagine the negative affect these essential operations have on our bay.
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Forests Use a Reusable Mug
    Maybe you've heard how good it is to switch from a single use coffee cup to a reusable one, but it's just hard to make the switch. What stands in your way of making this a habit? By identifying the challenges, you can begin to work through them to have better success in taking this action. Knowing the difference you are making, how does it make you feel?

    Taylor Johnson's avatar
    Taylor Johnson 4/03/2020 9:20 AM
    This question isn't that hard for me, as I don't drink coffee. My fiancé does, but he prefers getting the whole beans from a local roaster, grinding them himself then using a reusable cup in the Keurig. So in this case, his personal preference on having fresher coffee made it easier to make the switch.