

Erica Bonanno
"Striving to reduce our carbon footprint and resource consumption"
POINTS TOTAL
- 0 TODAY
- 0 THIS WEEK
- 1,549 TOTAL
participant impact
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UP TO3.0lightbulbsreplaced
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UP TO600gallons of watersaved
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UP TO1.0donationmade
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UP TO5.0productsreplaced with sustainable alternatives
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UP TO1.0community eventhosted or attended
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UP TO20ideasshared
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UP TO1.0advocacy actioncompleted
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UP TO4.0sharing economiesexplored
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UP TO14beautification projectssupported
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UP TO16steps takento protect pollinators
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UP TO80minutesspent learning
Erica's actions
Share My Why
Take the Earth Month Ecochallenge Feedback Survey
I will take a short survey about my experience to help the Ecochallenge team improve future events, earn a chance to win a prize, and earn 15 points!
Wildlife
Protect Pollinators with a Plant or Mini-Habitat
Pollinators need a little help from their friends like us! I will take 3 steps to protect pollinators, such as planting a pollinator-friendly plant, installing a pollinator hotel, or by leaving leaf litter for pollinators to call home.
Health and Well-Being
Share a Health or Well-being Resource
Sharing knowledge helps others nurture their well-being. Through social media, in the Ecochallenge feed, or in conversations, I will share 1 health or well-being resources with friends, family, or my community to promote a healthier, more resilient world.
Wildlife
Learn to be a Responsible Tourist
Being a responsible tourist means not disturbing wildlife and choosing eco-friendly tour operators and destinations that prioritize wildlife conservation and respect animal welfare. I will spend 10 minutes researching ways to travel responsibly to ensure my adventures support, rather than harm, wildlife and their habitats.
Health and Well-Being
Reduce Refined Sugar
Cutting back on refined sugar can improve energy, mood, and overall health. I will limit my intake of sugary snacks and drinks by reducing refined sugar in meals or snacks each day.
Land, Water, and Air
Take Shorter Showers
Conserving water helps protect this precious resource. I will shorten my showers to 5 minutes to save water and reduce energy use - each time saving up to 20 gallons (75 L) of water!
Wildlife
Plant (or Adopt) a Plant
Landscaping with native plants, gardening, and having plants inside can have benefits for nature and our health. I will plant or adopt a new plant or grow one from seeds and post a photo of it to the feed.
Sustainable Innovation
Choose a Product Made with Sustainable Materials
Every choice matters. I will purchase or switch to products made from sustainable or recycled materials to support innovation and reduce environmental impact.
Land, Water, and Air
Collect Rain Water
Rainwater collection reduces water waste and supports gardens. I will install a rain barrel or collect rainwater to use for 1 outdoor tasks, such as watering plants or cleaning.
Land, Water, and Air
Join a Cleanup Effort
Working together to clean up public spaces helps the environment and builds community. I will participate in 1 community cleanup efforts in my neighborhood or local area.
Wildlife
Remove Invasive Species
Removing invasive species (species that are not naturally found in my area and can outcompete native plants) can help beautify nature around me and protect local biodiversity. I will learn about invasive plants in my area and, if possible, support or participate in at least one effort to beautify nature near me by removing invasive species.
Community and Connection
Swap and Share with Others
Swapping and sharing resources reduces waste and builds community bonds. I will participate in 3 swaps or sharing activities, like borrowing items, attending or hosting a swap meet, or giving away items I no longer need to support a sharing economy with friends, family, colleagues or neighbors.
Empowering the Next Generation
Support a Youth-Led Project
Youth-led projects drive innovation and change. I will support youth-led environmental projects by offering time, resources, or encouragement and share how I supported youth on the Ecochallenge feed.
Community and Connection
Visit or Learn About a Culturally Significant Site Near Me
Sites of cultural and spiritual significance hold deep meaning for many communities, particularly Indigenous peoples. I will learn about or visit a site near me that is significant to the history, culture, or environment of the area. I will approach my visit with respect by researching its importance and guidelines beforehand, reflecting on how we can preserve these spaces for future generations.
Community and Connection
Host a Gathering
Bringing people together helps strengthen bonds. I will organize and host a gathering, such as a potluck, coffee meet up, or shared meal, for friends, family, colleagues, or neighbors to foster connection and community spirit.
Wildlife
Learn the 7 Principles of Leave No Trace
Leave No Trace means enjoying nature responsibly by minimizing our impact and leaving the environment as we found it, or better. I will spend 15 minutes learning about the seven core principles to minimize my impact while enjoying the outdoors.
Health and Well-Being
Go Get a Check Up
Regular health check-ups help prevent problems before they start. I will schedule or attend a medical, dental, or mental health check-up to take care of my well-being.
Health and Well-Being
Replace a Product
Small changes can make a big difference for health and sustainability. Using what I learned from auditing ingredients in the products I use, I will replace 4 toxic or harmful products I use with safer, eco-friendly alternatives.
Wildlife
Donate to Support Wildlife
There are many amazing projects supporting wildlife and their habitats. I will choose a project or organization to support that helps species and habitats I care about and make a donation.
Sustainable Innovation
Replace Old Bulbs with LED Bulbs
Energy-efficient lighting is a bright idea. I will replace 3 incandescent light bulbs with Energy Star-certified LED bulbs, saving up to $14 per fixture per year.
Community and Connection
Offer a Skill or Service
Sharing our talents can benefit those around us. I will offer my skills or services to support my community, such as helping someone with a task, tutoring, repairing something, or volunteering my expertise.
Sustainable Innovation
Advocate For Better Food Packaging
When companies and governments make large-scale changes to their products and practices, it makes sustainability more accessible to the masses, in turn creating further demand for sustainable products, and the cycle continues. I will advocate for improved, sustainable food packaging through petitions, letters, or by supporting brands that prioritize eco-friendly packaging - and share my advocacy actions on the feed.
Health and Well-Being
Audit Toxic Products in my Home
Many common products contain harmful chemicals. I will spend 15 minutes researching chemicals found in products I use, and I will make a list of products I'd like to replace with safer options.
Health and Well-Being
Prepare for Extreme Weather
Extreme weather events like hurricanes, wildfires, and floods can disrupt lives and upend our communities. I will take proactive steps to prepare for extreme weather by safeguarding my home and creating or updating an emergency plan and kit with essential supplies, evacuation routes, and contact information.
Wildlife
Learn How to Save the Bees
Bees and other pollinators are vital to ecosystems and agriculture. I will spending 10 minutes learning about local pollinators and why they are so important.
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?
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Erica Bonanno 4/30/2025 11:33 AMIf you walk a mile along an average US highway, you will see, on average, about 1,457 pieces of litter.
According to Keep America Beautiful, if every American picked up 152 pieces of litter at the same time, we would have a litter-free nation. -
Erica Bonanno 4/29/2025 12:46 PMThe world’s oldest trees are 4,600 year old Bristlecone pines in the USA.
The Great Basin Bristlecone Pine has been deemed the oldest tree in existence, reaching an age of over 5,000 years old. The Bristlecone pines’ success in living a long life can be attributed to the harsh conditions it lives in. Very cold temperatures associated with high winds, in addition to a slow growth rate, create dense wood, meaning some years they grow so slowly, they don’t add a ring of growth. -
REFLECTION QUESTIONEmpowering the Next GenerationWhat impressed you most about the youth-led project you supported, and how did your involvement help?
Erica Bonanno 4/28/2025 7:10 PMWorking with my daughter's girl scout troop has been so rewarding in so many ways! Seeing our future leaders coming up with ideas and leading, is so refreshing! -
REFLECTION QUESTIONCommunity and ConnectionHow did you participate in the sharing economy? (Consider posting a photo!) What are the benefits of a sharing economy? How could a sharing economy change the dynamics you have with friends, family and/or neighbors?
Erica Bonanno 4/28/2025 7:08 PMMy town has a local buy nothing page that citizens of the area are able to offer up or ask for something they may need. It's so nice to give to someone who needs what you do not any longer and not have it go to waste in your home or a landfill!-
Sunil Jadhav 4/28/2025 7:30 PM- Educator 🧠
- 17-DAY STREAK
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Erica Bonanno 4/28/2025 11:21 AMRecycling one glass bottle saves enough energy to power a normal light bulb for about four hours. While glass does not decompose easily, recycling it might be more beneficial to the environment. The recycling of one glass bottle not only saves energy but the energy saved can also power a normal light bulb for about four hours. -
Erica Bonanno 4/27/2025 6:45 AMA glass bottle can take up to 1 million years to decompose.Glass takes a very, very long time to break down. It can take a glass bottle more than a million years to decompose in the environment, possibly even more if it’s in a landfill. This means that glass manufactured and used 5000 years ago may still be present in the environment. Because its life cycle is so long, and because glass doesn’t leach any chemicals, it’s better to repurpose and reuse it over and over again before recycling it. -
Erica Bonanno 4/26/2025 10:00 AM
Every three months, Americans throw enough aluminum in the landfills to build our nation’s entire commercial air fleet.Recycling one aluminum can save enough energy to run a TV for three hours. During the time it takes you to read this sentence, 50,000 12-ounce aluminum cans are made. -
Erica Bonanno 4/25/2025 8:46 AMThe combined weight of ants on the planet is higher than all human beings. The world has over 7 billion people, and 100 trillion ants. -
REFLECTION QUESTIONWildlifeWhat did you learn about how tourism impacts wildlife, and how can you make more conscious choices when planning a trip? How do you think your travel decisions can contribute to wildlife conservation and respectful interactions with nature?
Erica Bonanno 4/24/2025 6:41 PMOne of the main reasons beaches need to be dark at night is because bright lights can disorient turtles that come to nest on the beach. When we visit wildlife areas, our actions can disturb wildlife. To be a better tourist and minimize wildlife disruption, respect their space, avoid feeding them, and choose ethical activities.-
Christine Lee 4/24/2025 6:54 PM- Parent 🐻
- 17-DAY STREAK
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Erica Bonanno 4/24/2025 6:37 PMSeventy-eight percent of marine mammals are at risk of accidental deaths, such as getting caught in fishing nets. Plastic bags and other plastic garbage that ends up in the ocean kill over 1,000,000 sea animals every year.