Carmen Goos

"I'm an avid lover of the environment and species on the planet. I'm here to learn how I can use best practices to have a positive impact on the enviornment"

POINTS TOTAL

0 TODAY
0 THIS WEEK
145 TOTAL

participant impact

UP TO

1.0

single-use bag

not sent to the landfill
UP TO

40

gallons of water

saved
UP TO

50

minutes

spent learning

Carmen'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 10 minutes learning what the native plants and wildlife are in my region.

COMPLETED 1
DAILY ACTION

Land, Water, and Air

Collect Rain Water

Rainwater collection reduces water waste and supports gardens. I will install a rain barrel or collect rainwater to use for 2 outdoor tasks, such as watering plants or cleaning.

UNCOMPLETED
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 10 minutes learning about water justice issues and who is affected.

UNCOMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Land, Water, and Air

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 2
DAILY ACTIONS

Wildlife

Learn How to Save the Bees

Bees and other pollinators are vital to ecosystems and agriculture. I will spending 10 minutes learning about local pollinators and why they are so important.

UNCOMPLETED
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 1
DAILY ACTION

Sustainable Innovation

Learn about the Magic of Seaweed

Seaweed is a powerful ally for the planet. I will spend 10 minutes learning how seaweed can improve ocean health, capture carbon, support sustainable food systems, and inspire eco-friendly products.

COMPLETED 1
DAILY ACTION

Land, Water, and Air

Calculate My Carbon Impact

Knowing our carbon footprint is the first step to reducing it. I will calculate my carbon impact and identify lifestyle changes that could reduce the carbon footprint and impacts on the environment. I will share my commitments to lowering my impact on the feed.

UNCOMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Participant Feed

Carmen Goos 4/22/2025 7:18 AM
Happy Earth Day! I thought I would share a quote by one of my favorite inspirational people. "You cannot go through a single day without having an impact on the world around you" - Jane Gooddall. Today my goal is to keep learning about my impact on the world and how I can better our environment around us to help reduce the damages. For me this is done by education, advocacy, and collaboration with others around me.

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Carmen Goos 4/02/2025 11:28 AM
I spent about 20 minutes learning about water conservation. There was a simulator that told you what your water footprint is. Even though my water footprint was below the average 1800 gallons of water per day, I was shocked to see how much water I'm using everyday! The tips they gave on how to conserve water are great reminders of how mindful we can be because we do have a huge impact. I learned that Iowa ranks 30th out of 50 states for how much water we use per day.

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- Suzanne Jaeger 4/02/2025 1:40 PM
  I was inspired by your post to find out my own water footprint. I was also surprised by how much water our household uses even though we are very mindful of our consumption. We can always do better.
  
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Carmen Goos 4/02/2025 10:48 AM
Learn about the Magic of Seaweed - I actually learned a lot of information I spent in the 10 minutes surrounding seaweed. Frankly when I was younger seaweed used to scare me due to the texture, feeling, and how long it can be. Today I learned how seaweed actually provides benefits to so many people. Seaweed is a 16.7 billion dollar market providing food and extras to so many people. Seaweed grows up to two feet a day! Seaweed can lead us to net zero emissions because it has the ability to mitigate climate change by replacing carbon intense products. Seaweed plays a vital role to so many land and sea species through food and ecosystems they live in.

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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?
Carmen Goos 4/01/2025 12:17 PM
How many native species can I identify here in Cedar Rapids when I'm out and about? What community organizations do we have? What would happen if those species are disrupted, especially with the growing urbanization?

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- Carmen Goos 4/02/2025 7:15 AM
  Thank you for reaching out. Yesterday I was researching Bur Oak trees. I've been learning that this is a common tree species here in Iowa. I haven't learned much yet, but was reading what happens to wildlife if those trees die or are cut down for urban cities. Will add more as I learn :)
  
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- Joseph Burrier 4/02/2025 6:56 AM
  It hasnt been long, but have you had a chance to research any native species that you noticed?
  
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