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April 1 - April 30, 2020
Katie Nahrwold's avatar

Katie Nahrwold

Joseph Sears School

"Educator dedicated to environmental education and raising awareness in schools and beyond. Advocate of outdoor learning and connecting with nature."

POINTS TOTAL

  • 0 TODAY
  • 0 THIS WEEK
  • 887 TOTAL

participant impact

  • UP TO
    1.0
    advocacy action
    completed
  • UP TO
    15
    hours
    volunteered
  • UP TO
    90
    minutes
    spent learning
  • UP TO
    93
    pieces of litter
    picked up
  • UP TO
    51
    plastic straws
    not sent to the landfill
  • UP TO
    26
    pounds
    waste composted

Katie's actions

Action Track: Building Resilience

Volunteer in my Community

I will volunteer 5 hour(s) in my community helping people who are most at need right now, including elderly and immunocompromised people, people without childcare, and people whose jobs have been affected by social distancing measures.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

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 60 minutes researching which plants support local native pollinators and plant some in my yard.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Oceans

Say No to Plastic Straws

An estimated 71% of seabirds and 30% of turtles have been found with plastics in their stomachs. When marine wildlife ingest plastic, they have a 50% mortality rate. By asking for no straw when placing a drink order, I will keep 1 plastic straw(s) of out of the ocean each day.

COMPLETED 0
DAILY ACTIONS

People

Keep My Community Clean

I will pick up 5 piece(s) of litter each day while following the CDC’s current guidelines for prevention of disease transfer.

COMPLETED 0
DAILY ACTIONS

Wildlife

Use Reusable Bags

Plastic bags can be mistaken for food by many wild animals. If at all possible, I will not accept any disposable bags when making purchases, including produce bags.

COMPLETED 0
DAILY ACTIONS

Fresh Water

Dishwasher Efficiency

I will scrape, rather than rinse, dishes before loading into the dishwasher and only run the dishwasher when it’s full.

COMPLETED 0
DAILY ACTIONS

Food

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 0
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
    Action Track: Building Resilience Support Pollinators
    Why is it important to take care of pollinators?

    Katie Nahrwold's avatar
    Katie Nahrwold 4/30/2020 2:09 PM
    Pollinators are critical to our environment. Not only to continue the reproduction of plants but allow our food sources to continue to grow. Plus, pollinator gardens are beautiful and the plants naturally protect our yards, soil and provide protection for not only pollinators but other animals and insects.
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Action Track: Building Resilience Volunteer in my Community
    How does volunteering enhance your community and/or change your relationship with it?

    Katie Nahrwold's avatar
    Katie Nahrwold 4/30/2020 2:08 PM
    As we help our community this month - especially in a time of need - it has allowed us to support others by packing food at the food depository, collecting food for pantry, donating blood, and making masks for family, friends and those in need.
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    People Keep My Community Clean
    How does the act of picking up litter connect you more to your community?

    Katie Nahrwold's avatar
    Katie Nahrwold 4/30/2020 2:06 PM
    My daughter was assigned trash pick up during earth week for her high school science class. We went to a local Jewel store and cleaned the parking lot filling 5 bags. Most was discarded protection items - masks, gloves, wipes. It was really sad but we felt so good when we were done.
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Fresh Water Dishwasher Efficiency
    How can your region/household prepare for changing water situations in order to become more resilient?

    Katie Nahrwold's avatar
    Katie Nahrwold 4/30/2020 2:05 PM
    This is such an interesting question - I think as we watch our great lakes be impacted by climate change it makes the issue of water more relevant.
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Wildlife Use Reusable Bags
    What do you do if you find yourself in the situation of needing a bag for items but don't have a reusable one with you? Carry things out in your hands? In a cart? Accept a disposable one? If you find yourself in this position often, what system could you put in place to try to create a successful habit of not using plastic bags?

    Katie Nahrwold's avatar
    Katie Nahrwold 4/30/2020 2:04 PM
    Even during Covid I avoid plastic bags. I have bagger put items in my cart without a plastic bag (Since they will not allow reusable now) and then I bag in reusable bag in the parking lot myself. Or some stores will allow you to use reusable if you bag yourself.
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Oceans Say No to Plastic Straws
    What single-use items (e.g. straws, coffee cups, vegetable bags, plastic bags) do you regularly use? What could be substituted instead?

    Katie Nahrwold's avatar
    Katie Nahrwold 4/30/2020 2:03 PM
    My kids drink a ton of smoothies so we use reusable straws every day and we keep them in our car in case we go out.
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Food 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?

    Katie Nahrwold's avatar
    Katie Nahrwold 4/30/2020 2:02 PM
    So much food waste is avoided entering landfills if composting. With the amount of banana smoothies my family makes - it is essential

  • Katie Nahrwold's avatar
    Katie Nahrwold 3/23/2020 8:36 AM
    Looking forward to starting this challenge. With all the walks I am taking, I did a warm up with a trash pick up ... interesting finds!