Ecochallenge.org

Earth Day Ecochallenge

April 1 - April 30, 2020

Sophie Feinblatt

Asheville High School

POINTS TOTAL

0 TODAY
0 THIS WEEK
1,235 TOTAL

participant impact

UP TO

1.0

advocacy action

completed
UP TO

44

disposable cups

not sent to the landfill
UP TO

4.0

hours

volunteered
UP TO

44

meatless or vegan meals

consumed
UP TO

105

minutes

spent learning
UP TO

410

minutes

spent outdoors
UP TO

320

minutes

not spent in front of a screen
UP TO

72

plastic bottles

not sent to the landfill

Sophie's actions

Action Track: Earth Day Together!

Earth Day Action: Write a Love Letter, Poem, or Song to Earth

I will express my love and gratitude for our Earth by writing a love letter, poem, or song to Earth.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

People

Earth Day Action: Share Eco Tips

Through social media or on the Earth Day Ecochallenge feed, I will share my favorite environmentally friendly habit with my friends, even if it’s not an Earth Day action.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

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

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

Forests

Use a Reusable Mug

If possible, I will avoid sending 2 disposable cup(s) to the landfill each day by using a reusable mug.

COMPLETED 0
DAILY ACTIONS

Fresh Water

Use a Reusable Water Bottle

I will use a reusable bottle and stop purchasing bottled water, saving 3 disposable plastic bottle(s) a day.

COMPLETED 0
DAILY ACTIONS

Wildlife

Support Pollinators

At least 30% of crops and 90% of flowering plants rely on pollinators, including monarch butterflies, to produce fruit. I will spend 25 minutes researching which plants support local native pollinators and plant some in my yard.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Action Track: Building Resilience

Volunteer in my Community

I will volunteer 2 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

Food

Reduce Animal Products

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

COMPLETED 0
DAILY ACTIONS

Action Track: Building Resilience

Spend Time Outside

I will replace 20 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 11
DAILY ACTIONS

Wildlife

Research a Wild Animal

I will spend at least 20 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

Research Benefits of Biodiversity

I will spend at least 20 minutes researching how biodiversity positively impacts our world and how the loss of biodiversity harms it.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Oceans

Learn about Our Oceans

I will spend at least 20 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

Food

Learn the Truth About Expiration Dates

I will spend at least 20 minutes learning how to differentiate between sell by, use by, and best by dates.

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?

REFLECTION QUESTION
Action Track: Earth Day Together! Earth Day Action: Write a Love Letter, Poem, or Song to Earth

What are you grateful for about our planet? Share what you created or your general thoughts of love and gratitude with everyone else!

Sophie Feinblatt 4/22/2020 11:43 AM

Our planet has so many amazing things, it is what gives us life, it is that scent at the beach, the sound of waves, the weeds that pop up in small cracks int he sidewalk and even though annoying to pick out, shows us the resilience and power fullness of nature. the sound of rain on your roof, the laughter of children as they play outside, the feeling of relaxation and peace that comes from being out in nature and so much more.

Read More
Sophie Feinblatt 4/20/2020 6:17 AM

Recently my favorite environmentally friendly habit is instead of wasting money or indoor lighting during the daytime hours, and opting for some natural lighting and fresh air. This is especially nice when it is a warm or very sunny day or when it just rained.

Read More
REFLECTION QUESTION
People Earth Day Action: Share Eco Tips

What environmentally friendly habit have you most recently implemented? How do you ensure that you are successful in creating or changing a habit?

Sophie Feinblatt 4/20/2020 6:13 AM

Recently I have implemented opening my windows to let in some fresh air and light especially on days where it is warmer, sunny or rainy instead of wasting money on indoor lighting during daytime hours, and opting for some natural lighting. This has especially come true since we have been social distancing and since I am home so many more hours of the day doing school work and being inside. This habit specifically but others as well, I get to feel and see the difference it makes in my mood and motivation to be productive despite not having what ever the habit that I am trying to change.

Read More
REFLECTION QUESTION
Fresh Water Dishwasher Efficiency

How can your region/household prepare for changing water situations in order to become more resilient?

Sophie Feinblatt 4/17/2020 8:07 AM

Both my region and household can prepare for changing water situations by taking shorter showers, doing laundry less frequently, and being more aware about washing in order to become more resilient.

Read More
REFLECTION QUESTION
Forests Explore My Area

How can spending more time outdoors enhance your sense of place?

Sophie Feinblatt 4/16/2020 9:49 AM

Spending more time outdoors enhances my sense of place because I am able to see and hear the beautiful nature that surrounds my house and the area in which I live in. It is also a chance to just get outside and look around and explore the community and area that I am surround by 24 hours a day since we are currently at home all day.

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REFLECTION QUESTION
Fresh Water Use a Reusable Water Bottle

Using the links provided, investigate the bottling practices of water corporations. There have been many cases where the water rights of the local people have been violated or even completely disregarded when a corporation decides to bottle water from a particular water source. How can you advocate for those who have been harmed - both humans and wildlife - by this bottling process?

Sophie Feinblatt 4/13/2020 7:58 PM

The most effective and simple way that I can advocate for those humans and the wildlife who are being affected by spreading awareness in my community about what really happens during the bottling process. I can do this through social media, posters, by mouth, etc.

Read More
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?

Sophie Feinblatt 4/13/2020 7:46 AM

What might stand in my way is forgetting to bring a reusable cup whether it is because I just forgot because I started trying to change the habit or I was rushing out of the house and didn't have the time to preset and grab one. Knowing that I am making a difference is a helpful motivating factor to make the change.

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REFLECTION QUESTION
Wildlife Support Pollinators

Why is it important to take care of pollinators?

Sophie Feinblatt 4/13/2020 7:28 AM

Pollinators are vital to creating and maintaining the habitats and ecosystems that so many animals rely on for shelter and food. Worldwide, more than half of the oils and fats in our diet come from crops pollinated by animals. It is important for us to take care of the pollinators that keep our agriculture thriving, that in turn support those that rely on the fauna.

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REFLECTION QUESTION
Action Track: Building Resilience Volunteer in my Community

How does volunteering enhance your community and/or change your relationship with it?

Sophie Feinblatt 4/10/2020 6:16 AM

Volunteering enhances my relationship with my community because it gives me the opportunity to to practice and develop my social skills, since I am meeting regularly with a group of people with common interests. During this time of social distancing it is hard to find ways to help in my community but my family has by, making masks and creating a fundraiser for food that we can buy that then can go to the people who are so hardly working out in the front field.

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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?

Sophie Feinblatt 4/09/2020 10:40 AM

People in richer countries eat more meat than people in other places because of rising income and population. Around the world people have become richer due to the global average income which has tripled in a half of a century. When we compare consumption we see typically that the richer we are the more meat we eat. Diets heavy in meat increases the risk of obesity, cancer and heart disease. Additionally the livestock sector (raising cows, pigs and chickens) generates as much greenhouse gas emissions as all cars, trucks and automobiles combined, impacting the planet's "health."

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