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Jason Gan 4/28/2025 10:10 AM- Exercise Lover 🤸
- 18-DAY STREAK
Katherine Gesell
POINTS TOTAL
- 0 TODAY
- 0 THIS WEEK
- 391 TOTAL
participant impact
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UP TO9.0single-use bagsnot sent to the landfill
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UP TO2.0productsreplaced with sustainable alternatives
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UP TO3.0hoursvolunteered
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UP TO2.0community eventshosted or attended
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UP TO87minutesspent learning
Katherine's actions
Land, Water, and Air
Learn About Water Justice
Access to clean water is a basic right, yet not everyone has it. I will spend 20 minutes learning about water justice issues and who is affected.
Land, Water, and Air
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.
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.
Community and Connection
Explore the Feed and Connect with Others
I will spend 10 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.
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.
Community and Connection
Attend a Local Event
Local events such as farmers' markets, festivals, or community meetings like town halls are great ways to feel part of a community. I will attend 1 community events to connect with others and learn more about my area.
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.
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.
Wildlife
Learn How to Save the Bees
Bees and other pollinators are vital to ecosystems and agriculture. I will spending 20 minutes learning about local pollinators and why they are so important.
Health and Well-Being
Audit Toxic Products in my Home
Many common products contain harmful chemicals. I will spend 30 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
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 2 toxic or harmful products I use with safer, eco-friendly alternatives.
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.
Participant Feed
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REFLECTION QUESTIONCommunity and ConnectionWho inspired you on the feed, and why? Did you meet anyone new, learn anything exciting, or discover a new perspective?
Katherine Gesell 4/28/2025 10:03 AMSomeone who inspired me was a girl who was finding out her home energy audit. She inspired me because she said it took a lot of effort to get the gas company to send her the information but she did eventually get in and she began to realize there are many changes she could make to lessen their gas bill. -
REFLECTION QUESTIONCommunity and ConnectionWhat skill or service did you offer, and how did it impact someone in your community? How did sharing your expertise or time help you feel more connected to others?
Katherine Gesell 4/28/2025 9:54 AMI offered to tutor my friend in math. She has been struggling in our math class and had an important test coming up, I offered to help her and she ended up getting a b on the test. Sharing my expertise made me feel good, I felt more connected to my community and school and I gained a deeper understanding of the math. -
REFLECTION QUESTIONCommunity and ConnectionWhat did you enjoy or learn from attending a local event in your community? How did participating in this event deepen your connection to your local area?
Katherine Gesell 4/28/2025 9:50 AMI attended my local farmers market last Sunday. I enjoyed walking up to all the booths and learning about what they sell and the process of making it. This activity deepened my connection to the community because it helped me to discover more local stores in my area and meet people who live near me as well. -
REFLECTION QUESTIONLand, Water, and AirHow 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?
Katherine Gesell 4/24/2025 11:26 AMChanging my dishwasher habitats made me realize how much we run our dishwasher when it's still not full. I began to become more mindful of my water use all over the house. Other small changes I can make around the household is use the leftover water in cups at the end of the day to water plants outside instead of dumping it out. -
REFLECTION QUESTIONLand, Water, and AirWhat water justice issues did you learn about, and who is most affected in your community? How can you contribute to creating equitable access to clean water in your area?
Katherine Gesell 4/24/2025 11:20 AMI learned about transboundary pollution from Mexico and infrastructure issues impacting water quality in San Diego. People close to the boarder are at risk of not getting clean water due to contamination from Mexico. I can contribute to water equality by raising awkwardness in San Diego. -
REFLECTION QUESTIONLand, Water, and AirWhat 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?
Katherine Gesell 4/24/2025 11:15 AMThe most unexpected piece of trash that I found was clothing. Clothing isn't something I normally see laying around in the streets and isn't disposable like single use plastic. Working with others makes me feel like I am a larger part of my community, I don't feel very connected so this clean up definitely helped.-
Abeesh Paul 4/24/2025 11:16 AM- Climate Advocate 🌱
- 17-DAY STREAK
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REFLECTION QUESTIONHealth and Well-BeingBefore you started this challenge, did you think you were 'addicted' to sugar? How do you feel now? What was the most challenging part of reducing refined sugar, and how did you overcome it?
Katherine Gesell 4/16/2025 11:58 AMBefore I started this challenge I knew I liked sugar and ate it but I didn't realize how much refined sugar and how 'addicted I am'. How that I have started cutting back it has been difficult, I have been having cravings and some mood swings. I have overcome it by eating lots of fruit, I also think the challenge will get easier. -
REFLECTION QUESTIONHealth and Well-BeingWhat product did you replace, and why was it important to you? How do you feel about making a small change for a healthier, more sustainable home?
Katherine Gesell 4/16/2025 11:36 AMThe two products I replaced were my toothpaste and mouthwash. I did some research on them and they have chemicals that aren't good for you so I switched to more natural products. I feel good about making this small change. -
REFLECTION QUESTIONHealth and Well-BeingWhat surprised you most about the products you use in your home?
Katherine Gesell 4/16/2025 11:17 AMWhat surprised me the most about the products in my home was the harmful chemicals in period products. It is so shocking to me that the items every woman puts in her body are harmful. I started researching period products that are more natural and have switched to them, although they are more expensive.-
Bobby Smith 4/16/2025 11:32 AM- Pet Parent 🐾
- 10-DAY STREAK
I recently had the water tested at my house. I am on city water supply and it was terrible. There was more chlorine in the tap water my pool. I have since installed a whole house purification system along with a drinking station that comes out of an extra faucet in my kitchen. This has greatly reduced the amount of single use plastic water bottles that I use.
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REFLECTION QUESTIONWildlifeHow difficult was this challenge for you? What made it easy or difficult?
Katherine Gesell 4/10/2025 12:25 PMThis challenge was a little difficult for me because I have a lot of single use plastic in my house hold. The snacks I have in my pantry currently are single use plastic so that made it difficult to use less plastic since it was the snacks I eat at school. Although we have lots of Tupperware so I started putting my snack in them instead of using Ziploc bags.-
Jess Rosen 4/10/2025 12:28 PM- Plant Parent 🪴
- 17-DAY STREAK
Well done!! Its harder than you think to minimize single use plastics. Once you start focusing on where you they're in your life and routine, you can find other solutions for those functions. One of my favorite product is reusable plastic wrap (cotton cloth and bees wax) - works so well and last a while :)
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