Take the environmental challenge; join ‘No Impact Week’

Students, faculty and staff at Fredonia are invited to take part in “No Impact Week,” a challenge to undergo a “carbon cleanse” by reducing their environmental impact in a different area each day, Sunday through Sunday, April 21 to 28.

The week-long project, based on the “No Impact Man” documentary, is designed to boost motivation and interest in sustainability, to build community and create positive change for both the world and in one’s own daily life. Those interested can register onine at: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1YqL1QYoi8IjfmCLzoxTSRvPCYahAnYDFMo9yfRORqM4/edit to receive helpful daily e-mails.

All events are free and open to the campus community.

Another option is to join the “Fredonia No Impact Week” Facebook group to share one’s experiences and read tips offered by others. Access to the informative "how to" manual will also be available. How much to participate each day is up to the individual.

Individual categories in No Impact Week include: consumption, trash, transportation, food, energy and water. The short No Impact Week Manual provides simple but significant tips for living each day with no impact.

Other events include:

• American Democracy Project (ADP) Monthly Table Topic, “Environmental Issues,” Wednesday, April 24, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., and Thursday, April 25, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., McEwen Hall.

Individuals can submit a postcard to the Governor's office and Legislative offices on any environmental topic of interest. Fredonia's ADP Committee is working to prepare the next generation of informed, engaged citizens by sponsoring Monthly Table Topics to engage students in a particular topic. Students, faculty and staff can express their opinions on postcards that will be sent to their New York state legislators. Postcards filled out on one of those two days will be mailed on the same day.

Earth Expo events will be staged on Saturday, April 27, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at various locations:

• Greystone Nature Preserve: environmental speakers, raffles, nature walk led by Professor Emeritus Terry Mosher, bat chat with Jon Townsend and Siri Thai food truck. Games and activities include: pine cone bird feeders, planting seeds, bluebird nest boxes, bowling, worm bin, PLARN (plastic knitted into coasters), exhibitors and vendors.
• Allegheny State Park: participants include ASPCA Jamestown, Blue Bird Society, Chautauqua County Soil and Water Conservation District, Chautauqua Watershed Conservancy, Greystone Nature Preserve, Lake Erie Bird Club, Little Creature, Nature Sanctuary Society of WNY, Northern Chautauqua Canine Rescue, Norwex, Paul’s Rocket Stoves, Roger Tory Peterson Institute of Natural History, Siri Thai food truck, Solar Liberty, Spider Herbs and Sweat Flag Herbs.
• Beach Clean-up, Saturday, April 27, from noon to 2 p.m., Point Gratiot Park.
• Climate Action Workshop, Saturday, April 27, at 4 p.m., Fredonia First Presbyterian Church, 219 Central Ave. Members of the community can share ideas for action to address climate change and plastics pollution by reducing individual consumption and seeking collective solutions to reduce consumption in the community and the region. Students and families are welcome. Participants in No Impact Week are invited to come share their experiences and ideas for reducing consumption. Sponsored by Climate Education Initiative, led by Julia Wilson and Minda Rae Amiran.
• Spring Fest, Sunday, April 28, 11 a.m., campus amphitheater, hosted by Fredonia's Habitat for Humanity, offering a spring day full of live music performances, arts and crafts, lots of food, games, raffle baskets and more. All proceeds will go to Aid for Africa for Trees for the Future. Trees for the Future is a grassroots program that helps people living on degraded land to improve their lives through environmentally sound development projects.