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April 1 - April 30, 2020
Pattye Stragar's avatar

Pattye Stragar

Carnegie Mellon University

POINTS TOTAL

  • 0 TODAY
  • 0 THIS WEEK
  • 573 TOTAL

participant impact

  • UP TO
    3.0
    advocacy actions
    completed
  • UP TO
    257
    conversations
    with people
  • UP TO
    238
    gallons of water
    have been saved
  • UP TO
    50
    meatless or vegan meals
    consumed
  • UP TO
    300
    minutes
    spent learning
  • UP TO
    126
    minutes
    spent outdoors
  • UP TO
    4.8
    pounds
    food waste prevented
  • UP TO
    6.0
    pounds
    waste composted
  • UP TO
    10
    pounds of CO2
    have been saved

Pattye's actions

Food

Learn the Truth About Expiration Dates

I will spend at least 10 minutes learning how to differentiate between sell by, use by, and best by dates.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Food

Reduce Animal Products

I will enjoy 6 meatless meal(s) and/or 1 vegan meal(s) each day of the challenge.

COMPLETED 0
DAILY ACTIONS

Wildlife

Research a Wild Animal

I will spend at least 60 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

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

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Oceans

Learn about Our Oceans

I will spend at least 60 minutes learning about how our oceans support life on Earth by producing oxygen, regulating climate, and providing habitat, food, and jobs.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Oceans

Advocate For More Packaging Options

Plastic packaging can clog our water ways and the stomachs of sea creatures. I will advocate for alternatives to single-use packaging at local grocery stores, markets, at work, or on campus.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Forests

Explore My Area

I will explore at least one new hiking trail or nature walk in my area while following CDC guidelines for social distancing.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Food

Weekly Meal Planning

I will reduce food waste and save money by prepping for 1 meal(s) each day, only buying the ingredients I need.

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

Wildlife

Leave No Trace

I will respect and protect biotic communities by practicing the seven principles of Leave No Trace when doing nature activities alone or with family and friends.

COMPLETED 0
DAILY ACTIONS

Action Track: Building Resilience

Connect While Social Distancing

I will connect with at least 12 person/people a day through phone call or video chat to support mine and other’s mental and emotional health during this challenging time.

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?


  • Pattye Stragar's avatar
    Pattye Stragar 5/01/2020 6:19 AM
    I learned that by paying a little bit of attention to details you can make a difference.  Thank you for doing this.  It was fun!
    Pattye
  • 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?

    Pattye Stragar's avatar
    Pattye Stragar 4/09/2020 7:35 AM
    We are learning about mason bees.  We learned that they need mud and pollen to build their nests.  We are planting flowers so that bees and butterflies can pollinate.  We have hung our bee barn and are waiting for our bees.  We have watched countless You Tube videos to educate ourselves on what to do.
    Pattye
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Wildlife Leave No Trace
    Educator Stephanie Kaza advises her students to focus on what they care about most when addressing the enormity of ecological problems. Is there a specific area you feel particularly called to work on?

    Pattye Stragar's avatar
    Pattye Stragar 4/09/2020 7:30 AM
    I try to raise awareness about the UN sustainability goals by wearing my pin.  When asked I explain what the goals are and talk about how we can all help by participating even if it's in a small way.  I am a communicator, a mentor and an advocate.  This work is forever.  When I see garbage I pick it up.  I am a member of the staff council sustainability committee and green practices committee.  We use compostable products at the events we host and work to make those events zero waste.  Our Athletic Department is silver certified through the Scotty Goes Green program.  We all need to do our part.
    Pattye
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Oceans Advocate For More Packaging Options
    What concerns you the most about how we are affecting the planet? Consider both local and global actions.

    Pattye Stragar's avatar
    Pattye Stragar 4/09/2020 7:24 AM
    I have and use my own bags, containers, coffee cup and water bottle.  I make decisions based on packaging material when I can see the products I buy.
    Pattye
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Oceans Learn about Our Oceans
    What is one way in which oceans support your life on Earth? What is one way you can help take care of ocean health with your actions?

    Pattye Stragar's avatar
    Pattye Stragar 4/09/2020 7:21 AM
    My spirit animal is a dolphin.  I teach swimming lessons and believe everyone should learn to swim.  I teach all ages to swim and improve their strokes.  I believe that everyone should get to the ocean once a summer to smell the fresh air, hear the seagulls, walk along the beach and get in the water.  I always pick up any trash I find on the beach and throw it away.  We can and should all do our part to keep our oceans clean.
    Pattye
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Forests Explore My Area
    How can spending more time outdoors enhance your sense of place?

    Pattye Stragar's avatar
    Pattye Stragar 4/09/2020 7:17 AM
    My husband and I walk every day for at least an hour.  We noticed a path that dropped into the woods on our walking route.  We kept talking about taking the trail.  We found out the name was vinegar hollow trail.  It took us down into the woods and we crossed a stream twice.  Then we had to hike back up.  The elevation was 747' and it took us 2 hours to go 5 miles.
    Pattye
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Food Weekly Meal Planning
    An average American throws out about 240 lbs of food per year. The average family of four spends $1,500 a year on food that they throw out. Does this surprise you? Where would you rather use this money?

    Pattye Stragar's avatar
    Pattye Stragar 4/09/2020 7:15 AM
    We did a large grocery shopping trip on March 24th.  We are hoping that what we purchased will hold us through the isolation period.  All of us are being more mindful of food we are eating - are we hungry? Thirsty? Bored? Procrastinating?  We are minimizing any food we are throwing away being creative with the meals we are making.  We are only using the ingredients we have on hand.  Looking for different recipes to make or finding substitutions  if we don't have that in the house.
    Pattye
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Food Reduce Animal Products
    Why do people in richer countries eat more meat than people in other places? How does eating more meat affect our planet and other people?

    Pattye Stragar's avatar
    Pattye Stragar 4/09/2020 7:10 AM
    I prefer to minimize the amount of meat my family and I eat.
    Pattye
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Food Learn the Truth About Expiration Dates
    How does knowing the difference between use by, sell by, and best by dates empower you to make better decisions?

    Pattye Stragar's avatar
    Pattye Stragar 4/09/2020 7:06 AM
    I know that the sell by and best by dates are for freshness.  It does not bother me to use a product past it's expiration date.  I use my nose and taste for my expiration date.
    Pattye
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Action Track: Building Resilience Support Pollinators
    Why is it important to take care of pollinators?

    Pattye Stragar's avatar
    Pattye Stragar 4/09/2020 7:04 AM
    I bought a bee barn for my husband and we are learning about being bee keepers.  We have been watching You Tube videos and planted some flowers in our back yard.
    Pattye