Earth Month Ecochallenge 2026

Ecochallenge.org

April 1 - April 30, 2026

Ryan's points

0 TODAY
0 THIS WEEK
407 TOTAL

participant impact

UP TO

100

gallons of water

saved
UP TO

5.0

conversations

with people
UP TO

270

minutes

spent outdoors

Ryan's actions

Water

Save Water When Washing Dishes

Dishwashers can save water — if used wisely. I will only run the dishwasher when it’s full and skip the pre-rinse to reduce water and energy use. If I don't have a dishwasher, I will turn off the tap as often as possible while washing dishes.

COMPLETED 5
DAILY ACTIONS

Water

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!

COMPLETED 5
DAILY ACTIONS

What is resilience?

Explore Resilience in Nature

Resilience is all around us in the natural world. I will spend 10 minutes outdoors looking for examples of resilience—such as plants regrowing, animals adapting, or seasonal cycles—and reflect on what they teach about thriving through change.

COMPLETED 5
DAILY ACTIONS

Community

Connect with Someone

Strong communities are built on connection and trust. I will reach out to 2 others—friends, colleagues, or neighbors—to check in, have a meaningful conversation, offer support, or to meet someone new near me.

COMPLETED 4
DAILY ACTIONS

Participant Feed

REFLECTION QUESTION
What is resilience?

What examples of resilience did you notice outdoors? How did spending time in nature shape your understanding of resilience?
Ryan Califf 4/26/2026 3:34 PM

I like to spend time in the morning outside as well as going on walks. Since this is Spring, I notice that the days getting much longer than the previous winter as well as the uprising of bugs and plant growth in the daytime showing resilience after another winter has past.

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REFLECTION QUESTION
Water

How did shortening your showers affect your awareness of water conservation? What other water-saving practices can you adopt in your daily routine?
Ryan Califf 4/26/2026 3:32 PM

I know taking shorter showers helps conserve water, but I still don't know how much I'm using since I don't track it. Water saving practices can include using less sink water when washing dishes, laundry, and shower time.

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REFLECTION QUESTION
Water

How did changing your dishwashing habits make you more mindful of water use? What other small changes can you make to conserve water in your household?
Ryan Califf 4/26/2026 3:31 PM

I've been using paper plates due to house repairs as well as taking shorter showers, so I save lots of water there. Since all the water I use goes down the drain I don't really know how much I use daily.

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REFLECTION QUESTION
Community

How did reaching out strengthen your connection with friends, colleagues, or neighbors? In what ways do these personal connections build resilience in your community?
Ryan Califf 4/26/2026 3:29 PM

I connect with family when I can and see the importance of socialization. I read that isolation is the same as smoking 15 cigarettes a day for health. Connecting with people builds resilience in a community because it defines the community itself and enables us to help each other out.

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- Paola Diaz 4/26/2026 4:09 PM
  
  Adventurer 🏔
  We all need from someone time to time and you do not know how much you can share with others until you do and realize your time and knowledge can actually change other people's lives
  
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Ryan Califf 4/19/2026 12:58 PM

I swapped out mozzarella sticks with power greens this week, as well as having my usual apples. Power greens don't taste as good as mozzarella sticks but they don't clog arteries and I'm bored with mozzarella sticks anyway. I also drink plenty of water, didn't write much this week outside of school. I'm much more of a religious bookworm than a writer. I also cut out refined carbs like rice but I still have baked potatoes.

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Ryan Califf 4/18/2026 6:25 PM

Got power greens and apples from the store today, which I will be having into next week. Didn't really write anything because I'm much more of a reader than a writer. Last thing I did for new actions this week was reduce refined carbs, but I read in a history textbook last term that potatoes are highly nutritious so I still eat those.

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Ryan Califf 4/17/2026 3:54 PM

I had a late start to new actions this week but did do a lot of the previous actions from last week.

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- Glenda Harrison 4/17/2026 5:33 PM
  - TEAM CAPTAIN
  - Earth Advocate 📣
  Every action counts! Thanks for joining in!
  
  Read More
Ryan Califf 4/11/2026 1:25 PM

I just got back from my walk but got bit by a Rottweiler on the hip. I also held silence for at least 45 minutes today and slept 9 hours. As for the dog bite, I washed it and still deciding what to do.

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Ryan Califf 4/10/2026 2:28 PM

I didn't go on a walk yet today because I went most days this week so I'm still kind of sore. I spent time with meditation/prayer and reading, and I get plenty of sleep. I actually sleep too much but at least I' getting enough to function throughout the day. But yeah, sometimes I feel like I sleep too much life away.

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