Ecochallenge.org

The People's Ecochallenge

October 6 - October 27, 2021

Caitlin Kessler

Red-ucers

"Throughtful approaches to better myself and to better my community."

POINTS TOTAL

0 TODAY
0 THIS WEEK
824 TOTAL

participant impact

UP TO

2.0

advocacy actions

completed
UP TO

2.0

hours

volunteered
UP TO

36

miles

not traveled by car
UP TO

36

miles

traveled by bike
UP TO

197

minutes

spent exercising
UP TO

40

minutes

spent learning
UP TO

331

minutes

spent outdoors
UP TO

68

plastic bottles

not sent to the landfill
UP TO

39

pounds of CO2

have been saved

Caitlin's actions

Health

Happiness

Do at Home

I will write down three things every day that I am grateful for, or send one email every day thanking or praising someone.

COMPLETED 12
DAILY ACTIONS

Community

Volunteer in My Community

Do at Home

I will volunteer 2 hour(s) in my community during the challenge.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Simplicity

Core Values

Do at Home

We may find more meaning and joy in life when our actions are aligned with our personal values. I will determine what my top 3-5 core values are so that I can better align my actions with them.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Nature

Explore My Area

I will explore at least one new hiking trail or nature walk in my area.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Action Track: Healing and Renewal

Family Game Hour

Do at Home

I will spend quality time with family and friends by playing low-tech game(s) and/or through the spirit of imagination.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Waste

Use a Reusable Water Bottle

Do at Home

I will keep 4 disposable plastic bottle(s) from entering the waste stream by using a reusable water bottle.

COMPLETED 15
DAILY ACTIONS

Water

Calculate My Water Footprint

Do at Home

I will calculate my Water Footprint to learn about my tap water use and "virtual water" use.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Health

Support Pollution Reduction

Do at Home

I will spend at least 30 minutes learning about water and air quality issues in my area, how they are impacting human and environmental health, and how I can help.

UNCOMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Health

Audit Toxic Cleaning Products in my Home

Do at Home

I will spend 25 minutes researching toxic chemicals found in cleaning supplies and personal care products and remove them from my home.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Community

Join My Neighborhood Association

Do at Home

I will join my neighborhood association or another local group of decision makers.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Transportation

Go by Bike

I will commute by bike 8 mile(s) each day and avoid sending up to (___) lbs of CO2 into Earth's atmosphere.

COMPLETED 4
DAILY ACTIONS

Nature

Enjoy the Sunrise/Sunset

Do at Home

I will enjoy the sunrise and/or sunset each day.

COMPLETED 13
DAILY ACTIONS

Nature

Go for a Daily Walk

Do at Home

I will take a 15-minute walk outside each day.

COMPLETED 12
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: Healing and Renewal Family Game Hour

How does being playful with others enrich your life?

Caitlin Kessler 10/26/2021 6:29 PM

You get to know people in your life better and what makes them tick/what sparks joy. It helps strengthen or build relationships! Sometimes I can be a bit too competitive, so I need to remind myself that this time is about having fun, not trying to win… though sometimes it’s difficult!

Read More
REFLECTION QUESTION
Community Volunteer in My Community

What is one thing you can do to help your community become more sustainable?

Caitlin Kessler 10/25/2021 7:56 AM

I think there is a lot of power in the people, and volunteering in our community is one way to ensure a community lasts and is, therefor, sustainable. We need to help each other out.

Read More
Caitlin Kessler 10/25/2021 7:48 AM

Happy Monday, Red-ucers! Last (half) week of EcoChallenge! Keep crushing it!!

Read More
Caitlin Kessler 10/22/2021 3:03 PM

We are doing so well, Red-ucers!! Keep it up throughout the weekend and beyond. Excited to see all the results from these last few weeks of focused eco-friendliness!

Read More
REFLECTION QUESTION
Health Happiness

How does/can practicing gratitude keep you centered and motivated to work for a better world?

Caitlin Kessler 10/22/2021 2:59 PM

It helps me keep things in perspective and be grateful for some of the simpler things I'm blessed to have in my life. Because of this, I'm motivated to carry forward this positive attitude and, in a "pay it forward" method, take care of our community through volunteering.

Read More
REFLECTION QUESTION
Community Join My Neighborhood Association

How can your community support inclusive decision making?

Caitlin Kessler 10/22/2021 2:54 PM

More in -person or virtual discussions with neighbors is key to make sure thoughts are being expressed and decisions are therefor made with consideration to the values people hold in their own neighborhood. I've also seen a lot more surveys popping up, which is great if people actually take time to fill them out.

Read More
REFLECTION QUESTION
Simplicity Core Values

What are your top 3-5 core values? How did you narrow it down to those as being your core values?

Caitlin Kessler 10/16/2021 12:51 PM

It was very difficult to narrow down my core values, but once I created the list, I felt like it was truly me and what I need to focus on every single day.
- Gratitude
- Kindness
- Growth

I could have chosen more, but these three values encompass many values high on my list, such as compassion, openness, creativity, friendships, loyalty, challenge, and integrity. I will continue to remember these values in how I choose to live my life and interact with others.

Read More
REFLECTION QUESTION
Water Calculate My Water Footprint

How does your view on water consumption change after completing this action?

Caitlin Kessler 10/15/2021 4:15 PM

I definitely want to to lower our household footprint, and I think that starts with our garden and yard. Our diets are also a very large contributor - who knew! I had no idea how much we were truly using until I used this website. Time for change.

Read More
REFLECTION QUESTION
Transportation Go by Bike

How do your transportation choices affect your engagement in your community? Does your experience differ while walking, riding transit, biking, or driving?

Caitlin Kessler 10/15/2021 3:50 PM

I am definitely wayyy friendlier when I walk and bike around my community. I don't feel as rushed or isolated! Also, I notice more room for improvement with city infrastructure, so I am more likely to fill out a neighborhood or city survey with helpful insight on areas that need attention.

Read More
REFLECTION QUESTION
Nature Enjoy the Sunrise/Sunset

Father Thomas Berry says, "... our primary purpose is celebration. Celebration of the dawn and the sunset and the different seasons of the year is a religious ritual, a way in which humans can establish their integral relationship with the universe, with the planet Earth." What is your response to Berry's assertion?

Caitlin Kessler 10/08/2021 12:24 PM

I love it! I believe we should celebrate and make it a prioirty to be grateful to be alive and able to watch the seasons change. I am not sure it's our primary purpose, but celebration is a large part of life.

Read More