Skip to main content

Modal Title

Modal Description

Welcome to Earth Month Ecochallenge 2025: Conservation!

Watch the short video below to learn the basics.
You'll be an Earth Month Ecochallenge 2025: Conservation expert in no time!

Ecochallenge.org
Earth Month Ecochallenge 2025: Conservation
April 1 - April 30, 2025
Jacqueline Dragich's avatar

Jacqueline Dragich

U.S. Bank

POINTS TOTAL

  • 35 TODAY
  • 170 THIS WEEK
  • 537 TOTAL

participant impact

  • UP TO
    7.0
    steps taken
    to protect pollinators
  • UP TO
    20
    single-use bags
    not sent to the landfill
  • UP TO
    1.0
    donation
    made
  • UP TO
    1.0
    community event
    hosted or attended
  • UP TO
    142
    minutes
    spent learning

Jacqueline's actions

Land, Water, and Air

Choose Eco-Friendly Wood and Paper Products

Trees provide food and habitat for local wildlife species, shade our streets and homes, and help keep our air and water clean by capturing pollutants. I will learn about certification labels and buy wood and paper products certified as sustainable or recycled to protect forests and reduce environmental harm.

COMPLETED 5
DAILY ACTIONS

Wildlife

Protect Pollinators with a Plant or Mini-Habitat

Pollinators need a little help from their friends like us! I will take 5 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.

COMPLETED 3
DAILY 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 5
DAILY ACTIONS

Wildlife

Learn How to Save the Bees

Bees and other pollinators are vital to ecosystems and agriculture. I will spending 60 minutes learning about local pollinators and why they are so important.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

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.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Wildlife

Use Reusable Bags

Plastic bags do not always end up in landfills and if they aren't properly disposed of. In nature, they can be mistaken for food by many wild animals and harm wildlife. When I go shopping, I will be sure to bring my own bags to reduce waste and the chance that plastic bags could find their way into wildlife habitats.

COMPLETED 2
DAILY ACTIONS

Wildlife

Log Species to Help Scientists

The more we know about the wildlife around us, the better we can protect species. I will download a wildlife monitoring app and log 5 animal or plant species I discover.

COMPLETED 0
DAILY ACTIONS

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.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Land, Water, and Air

Learn About Water Justice

Access to clean water is a basic right, yet not everyone has it. I will spend 15 minutes learning about water justice issues and who is affected.

UNCOMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

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 5 community cleanup efforts in my neighborhood or local area.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME 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
    How do pollinators impact your daily life, and what changes can you make to ensure they continue to thrive?
    Jacqueline Dragich's avatar
    Jacqueline Dragich 4/18/2025 8:44 AM
    Keep all brush and leaf debris piles up and tread lightly until at least 5 consecutive days of 50 degrees, typically around Memorial day in my neck of the woods at least. MN zone 4a which used to be zone 4b but because we are warming we have officially moved zones, mind-blowing!
    Read More
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Land, Water, and Air
    What was the most unexpected piece of trash that was picked up during your local cleanup effort? How does working with others to clean up your community make you feel?
    Jacqueline Dragich's avatar
    Jacqueline Dragich 4/15/2025 7:43 AM
    While our event is scheduled next week on Earth Day 4/22. I'll be participating at a sponsored U.S. Bank event, and we will be cleaning up at Adopt-a-Hwy event. I also cleaned up several drains along my way to the park. Had a playdate with a couple others from daycare over the weekend and to my surprise the girls (3 & 4 yr olds) kept bringing me plastic pieces from the very very large open park (the park could really use some native plants...perhaps I'll toss some seed bombs next time i'm there). I ended up collecting 15 bottle caps...where are all the bottles to those caps...pretty neat to see how fast the toddlers picked up on what i was doing without saying a word to them.
    Read More
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Land, Water, and Air
    What benefits do forests offer you personally? What certifications or labels will you look for when purchasing wood and paper products, and why?
    Jacqueline Dragich's avatar
    Jacqueline Dragich 4/10/2025 6:26 AM
    I never knew about the FSC label. If it weren't for this Ecochallenge who knows how long it would have been until I discovered it, if at all. I saved the link and already started looking for FSC Certified products. Give it all to me, what else don't I know! From the Plastic Challenge 2 years ago, I learned that plastic symbol was called Chasing Arrows. I also learned that just because the symbol is there doesn't mean you should just toss it into the recycling bin, its what its made out of. These challenges are extremely valuable and so important!
    Read More
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Wildlife
    What project or organization did you choose to support, and why did it resonate with you? What are some ways you can continue to support wildlife conservation beyond financial contributions?
    Jacqueline Dragich's avatar
    Jacqueline Dragich 4/09/2025 7:11 AM
    I donated to The Wildlife Rehabilitation Center of Minnesota. The WRC provides quality medical care and rehabilitation for all injured, sick and orphaned wild animals and shares its knowledge with the people who care about them. I've brought them several birds over the seasons, including a blue bird that was a victim of a territorial Robin bird (broke my heart, still does and no he didn't make it:( ).
    Read More
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Wildlife
    How difficult was this challenge for you? What made it easy or difficult?
    Jacqueline Dragich's avatar
    Jacqueline Dragich 4/07/2025 6:40 AM
    This was and is a difficult one for me. I use paper bags but grab some plastic bags too. I reuse both my paper (for catch all when doing artwork) and my plastic bags (dog/cat, couple waste baskets) sometimes multiple times. I just always forget the reusable bags at home. I tried leaving them in my car, that didn't work either. This is one I'd like to try harder at for a takeaway through to next years challenge.
    Read More
  • 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?
    Jacqueline Dragich's avatar
    Jacqueline Dragich 4/04/2025 8:05 AM
    My native plants will support my native bees and native invertebrates. I drop/throw/toss native seed bombs when I walk trails or areas that definitely need some love. Especially in my neighborhood where there is only pine trees and its owned by the city. Its better for my pollinators and my pollinator garden to have a plethora of food along their path hence why I've planted along paths. I've watched the monarchs fly to in the cool season and they fly right along Hanson Blvd which is South. I've watched them for years so I decided to plant milkweed(s) along the way in places I know there is no insecticides plus if there is, I will take the eggs home and keep them under nets in my garden. Kinda rambled...
    Read More
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Wildlife
    What’s one thing you can do in your yard, community, or daily routine to create a safer environment for pollinators? Be sure to share any photos of your actions to protect pollinators in the feed!
    Jacqueline Dragich's avatar
    Jacqueline Dragich 4/02/2025 7:32 AM
    I keep all the stems and leaves from the previous (MN) season in my pocket prairie and around my house standing until late May/early June. It's vital to not crush the little guys that are still hibernating and that we depend on. Additionally, since it isn't that pretty, I have a sign that says it's Wildlife Habitat. Plus, all the tree limbs that have fallen over winter I've piled up to create a nesting habitat over winter and continue until late June and start all over again!
    Read More