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Shannon Coulter-Low's avatar

Shannon Coulter-Low

JAC Sustainability

"Sustain the ones who sustain you and the earth will last forever.” ― Robin Wall Kimmerer, Braiding Sweetgrass"

POINTS TOTAL

  • 0 TODAY
  • 71 THIS WEEK
  • 386 TOTAL

participant impact

  • UP TO
    2.0
    meatless or vegan meals
    consumed
  • UP TO
    1.0
    expression of gratitude
    shared
  • UP TO
    210
    minutes
    spent exercising
  • UP TO
    0.0
    random acts of kindness
    completed
  • UP TO
    45
    minutes
    spent learning

Shannon's actions

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

Land, Water, and Air

Produce No Waste for a Day

The impacts of our waste are far reaching. I will create zero waste for an entire day and share my reflections and learnings on the feed.

COMPLETED 2
DAILY ACTIONS

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.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Wildlife

Enjoy a Meatless Meal

Producing 1 kg of beef emits as much greenhouse gas as driving 150 miles, meanwhile, 1 kg of veggies or grains leaves a much lighter footprint! This week, I’ll shrink my climate impact by having 2 meatless meals and/or 1 vegan meals each day.

COMPLETED 2
DAILY ACTIONS

Community and Connection

Explore the Feed and Connect with Others

I will spend 5 minutes reading the Ecochallenge feed each day and giving high fives or commenting on posts by people who I don't know, but whose content inspires or interests me.

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

Health and Well-Being

Exercise Daily

Daily movement supports our physical and mental health. I will spend 30 minutes each day exercising in a way that feels good to me, such as walking, running, stretching, or dancing.

COMPLETED 4
DAILY ACTIONS

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.

UNCOMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

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 15 minutes researching ways to travel responsibly to ensure my adventures support, rather than harm, wildlife and their habitats.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Empowering the Next Generation

Host a Bio-blitz

A bio-blitz helps youth engage with local biodiversity. I will organize or participate in a bio-blitz with young people to identify and document the plants, animals, and insects in our area.

UNCOMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Land, Water, and Air

Earth Day in the Agora

Come by the Agora on April 22nd and visit the different booths and activities. Bring your own mug for some free fairtrade hot chocolate.

UNCOMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Wildlife

Native Bee Workshop

On April 23 from 11:30-1:00pm in AME-120, learn about all the “other” bees who have been living in the shadow of the honey bee for far too long. WHAT YOU WILL LEARN: -Introduction to the wonderful world of wild bees -Gain skills on how to identify wild bees -Learn what you can do to help them thrive on campus & in your own backyard

UNCOMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Health and Well-Being

De-Stress Fest

Join us in the Agora on April 23-24 for our famous de-stress fest. Animal therapy, massage chairs, sound room and more!

UNCOMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Sustainable Innovation

Recycling Workshop

Learn about the new provincial recycling rules and get useful tips for sorting materials at home. Presentation offered by Société VIA April 17th in AME-606 12:30-1:30pm

UNCOMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Community and Connection

Plant Workshop

Come to AME-606 on April 10th for a plant sharing workshop with Josee Lanouette. Learn about how to care for common house plants and share your own tips with others. 12:30-1:30pm

COMPLETED
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 1
DAILY ACTION

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
    Wildlife
    What is one way you can reduce your impact on nature the next time you spend time outdoors, and how might that action help preserve the environment for others?

    Shannon Coulter-Low's avatar
    Shannon Coulter-Low 4/08/2025 2:01 PM
    • TEAM CAPTAIN
    • 10-DAY STREAK
    I knew about the ''leave no trace'' principle, but I did not know there were so many elements to it. Seven, in fact! I always pick up my trash before I leave a campsite, but one thing I will be more careful of now is how I travel off-trail to minimize my impact on surfaces. For example, between campsites or off trail when hiking. I would have thought using an pre-existing informal footpath was best, but apparently you should use different paths each time to reduce impact.
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Land, Water, and Air
    What was hard about having a Zero Waste Day? What did you learn about yourself and your habits?

    Shannon Coulter-Low's avatar
    Shannon Coulter-Low 4/03/2025 1:20 PM
    • TEAM CAPTAIN
    • 10-DAY STREAK
    Today I stayed in for the day, so it was easier to not produce any waste. The only thing I threw in the garbage was a muffin wrapper made of parchment paper, which is not compostable. I think that the more we go out (to work, school, social activities, etc.), the more likely we are to buy things with disposable packaging that have been designed to be convenient for our lives "on the go."

    • Maurene O’Farrell's avatar
      Maurene O’Farrell 4/03/2025 4:50 PM
      • Adventurer 🏔
      • 16-DAY STREAK
      I find the more organized and prepared we are for our schedules and events, the less waste we tend to produce (i.e. packing a lunch)

    • Lisa Brenskelle's avatar
      Lisa Brenskelle 4/03/2025 4:05 PM
      • TEAM CAPTAIN
      • 15-DAY STREAK
      Very true - on the go tends to create more waste unless we plan/prepare very carefully.
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Wildlife
    How was your experience intentionally trying to eat less meat?

    Shannon Coulter-Low's avatar
    Shannon Coulter-Low 4/02/2025 11:31 AM
    • TEAM CAPTAIN
    • 10-DAY STREAK
    Yesterday I very unexpectedly got to enjoy a vegetarian meal. Even better, it was Indian food, which I love. I often find vegetarian food to be more flavourful and satisfying than meat. At home, although we do eat meat about 60% of the time, we often eat very small portions, dividing what would usually be served to feed 2 people in to 2 separate dinners.

    • Melissa Tomecz's avatar
      Melissa Tomecz 4/02/2025 6:35 PM
      • Pet Parent 🐾
      • 16-DAY STREAK
      Us too! My husband couldn't do without some meat, but there a quite a few meals that we have that end up being vegetarian or vegan. And he loves them.

  • Shannon Coulter-Low's avatar
    Shannon Coulter-Low 4/01/2025 8:47 AM
    • TEAM CAPTAIN
    • 10-DAY STREAK
    Hello everyone! I am excited to participate in this year's Eco-Challenge. I included some things that I have been meaning to do for a while, and I hope this will be a good incentive for me to get them done, for example, preparing for extreme weather. I look forward to learning about all of your amazing activities this month!