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Ada Contreras's avatar

Ada Contreras

PDD

"🌏 ᕙ( •̀ ᗜ •́ )ᕗ"

POINTS TOTAL

  • 0 TODAY
  • 0 THIS WEEK
  • 207 TOTAL

participant impact

  • UP TO
    2.0
    miles
    not traveled by car
  • UP TO
    1.3
    pounds of CO2
    have been saved
  • UP TO
    1.0
    piece of litter
    picked up
  • UP TO
    3.0
    expressions of gratitude
    shared
  • UP TO
    2.0
    random acts of kindness
    completed
  • UP TO
    120
    minutes
    spent outdoors
  • UP TO
    15
    minutes
    spent learning

Ada's actions

Wildlife

Learn about Native Species

The world is full of unique species that all play an important role in nature. I will spend 15 minutes learning what the native plants and wildlife are in my region.

COMPLETED 2
DAILY ACTIONS

Community and Connection

Keep My Community Clean

A clean community benefits everyone. Each day I am outside, I will pick up 5 pieces of litter to keep my community clean.

COMPLETED 1
DAILY ACTION

Land, Water, and Air

Understand My Water Footprint

Each of us has a water footprint, directly linked to our daily activities as well as the water required in the production of things we use each day. Understanding our water use is important for a healthy planet. I will calculate my water footprint and look for a few ways I can reduce consumption or waste, then share what I learned on the feed.

UNCOMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Community and Connection

Express Gratitude and Random Acts of Kindness

Small acts of kindness and gratitude can brighten someone's day and create a positive ripple effect. I will express gratitude to 1 people or perform 1 random acts of kindness to spread joy and connection.

COMPLETED 2
DAILY ACTIONS

Community and Connection

Swap and Share with Others

Swapping and sharing resources reduces waste and builds community bonds. I will participate in 1 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.

UNCOMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

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.

UNCOMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Sustainable Innovation

Explore Alternative Transportation Options

I will explore alternatives to using a car — such as walking, biking, carpooling, micro-mobility options, or public transit to reduce my carbon footprint. I will use alternative transit 1 miles per day.

COMPLETED 1
DAILY ACTION

Health and Well-Being

Enjoy the Outdoors for 30 Minutes

Studies have shown that when we spend consistent time in nature, our health improves, our creativity increases, and our connection to the planet gets stronger. Each day of the Ecochallenge, I will spend 30 minutes outside, then share my observations, reflections, and learnings on the feed.

COMPLETED 4
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
    Community and Connection
    How did expressing gratitude or performing acts of kindness impact you and the recipient? Did anything surprise you about your experience?

    Ada Contreras's avatar
    Ada Contreras 4/30/2025 9:31 AM
    This wasn't something I did, but maybe it was a domino effect? On my drive home from school yesterday, I noticed a car with a sticker on the back of it that said, "I hope something good happens to you today." Now, I'm not a big car sticker person nor do I pay attention to the stickers on the back of people's cars because sometimes I just think it's silly, but this sticker got me thinking. I thought about how if I changed my perspective, maybe that sticker was really made to find me in that moment? What were the chances I would be right behind this person on the road at that particular time? It felt nice to hear, even if it was just a sticker on a stranger's car. Being on the receiving end of an act of kindness made me realize that small things add up. I will always carry this little moment with me in my memory :) I hope something good happens to you all today!

  • Ada Contreras's avatar
    Ada Contreras 4/21/2025 9:03 AM
    This weekend I went on a long walk with my dogs and found... BORAGE!! I mentioned in a different post that I planted borage seeds in my garden and was excited to see them bloom. Well this weekend I found borage in an open field at a public park! I had never seen these here before, but I haven't always been looking. I ate a few flowers and leaves to see if it did indeed taste like cucumber (not an exact match but close enough with its own twist) and took some photos of the flowers. It was an exciting weekend :) Check out this cute picture I took of a bee enjoying the borage!
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Health and Well-Being
    What did you observe or experience while spending time outside, and how did it affect you? How does connecting with nature enhance your physical and mental well-being?

    Ada Contreras's avatar
    Ada Contreras 4/16/2025 9:34 AM
    Hi everyone! The weather has been SO amazing recently that it's only fair I talk about it, right? Oregon can be hard at times because we don't get all the sun we want, but on the days we do it's incredible! I have two younger sisters who were young by the time I moved out of our family home, and I'm a little surprised every time I hang out with them and realize just how much they've grown. This weekend, I spent both my days playing badminton, going on picnics, getting ice cream and going on walks around UO's campus with them. It's been so fun, and being outside has really elevated my levels of serotonin. I have a busy schedule, and school has been picking up this week, so I've been feeling extra stressed lately. I felt all those worries wash away upon laying in the grass in full sun. Being outside has helped me recognize when to take things slow and enjoy the ride.
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Wildlife
    What native species did you learn about in your area, and how do they contribute to your local ecosystem or community? How might your community change if these native species disappeared?

    Ada Contreras's avatar
    Ada Contreras 4/09/2025 10:45 AM
    hi all! I have an update to share. Weeks ago, during my environmental ed class, I won a prize for an activity we did, and I chose a little pack of borage seeds. It's been sitting in my backpack for a while now, and I finally got to planting them last week. Borage is an edible flowering herb that's blue and has leaves that taste like cucumbers. While it's not native to Oregon, it's highly beneficial to bees and promotes pollinators :) I spread the seeds in a garden bed in my backyard and have been checking in almost daily to see if I see any progress. I'm thinking I could use the flowers to make a pretty salad... I'm excited just thinking bout it. Here's a picture of what borage looks like:

    • DHEERAJ PAL's avatar
      DHEERAJ PAL 4/30/2025 5:09 AM
      • Plant-Based Foodie 🥬
      ......Cooooooool....,...........

    • Zoe Kim's avatar
      Zoe Kim 4/09/2025 10:58 AM
      • Artist 🎨
      • 16-DAY STREAK
      So cool! Cant wait to see pics of your plants!

  • Ada Contreras's avatar
    Ada Contreras 4/01/2025 8:39 PM
    Happy earth month to all!! Immediately prior to the month, I travelled in the state of Oaxaca and it has transformed my perspective of what it means to be sustainable. They do sustainability different out there, but they don’t call it “sustainability.” It’s just kinda the way life is. I found it inspiring! I wanted to share here to set the stage for how I’ll be tackling our ecochallenge. I ’m excited to share my thoughts and efforts :-) I’ve added a picture from my travels. This is Hierve el Agua, a nature preserve in Oaxaca. If you couldn’t already tell.. I had an amazing time 😄

  • Ada Contreras's avatar
    Ada Contreras 3/07/2025 1:44 PM
    I just calculated my carbon footprint! For the month of April, I'm going to try to walk or take public transit more often and eat more vegetarian meals :-) Will keep everyone posted!

    • Garian Cika's avatar
      Garian Cika 4/01/2025 4:25 PM
      • Adventurer 🏔
      • 3-DAY STREAK
      Ada, this is an inspiring idea!