Earth Month Ecochallenge 2023: Sustainable Development Goals

April 1 - April 30, 2023

Valerie Unger

Seattle Childrens- Alyssa Burnett Center

"Encouraging myself and teammates to determine a personally valuable cause and take action for a healthier planet. "

Points Total

0 Today
0 This Week
516 Total

Participant Impact

up to

57

miles

not traveled by car
up to

57

miles

traveled by carpool
up to

23

pounds of CO2

have been saved
up to

330

minutes

being mindful
up to

1,200

minutes

not spent in front of a screen
up to

1.0

donations

made
up to

1.0

advocacy actions

completed
up to

1.0

community events

hosted or attended
up to

3.0

documentaries

watched
up to

1,580

minutes

spent outdoors
up to

300

minutes

spent learning

Valerie's Actions

Education & Livelihood

Try Carpooling

SDG 11

I will commute by carpool 30 mile(s) per day and avoid sending up to (___) lbs of CO2 into Earth's atmosphere.

COMPLETED 3
DAILY ACTIONS

Education & Livelihood

Stay on the Ground

SDG 11

Instead of traveling by plane, I will find an alternative way to accomplish the goals of an upcoming trip (i.e. telepresence, vacation locally). As an example, a plane from New York to Los Angeles (~2,450 miles) generates about 65 tons of carbon dioxide.

Uncompleted
One-Time Action

Education & Livelihood

Thank Educators

SDG 4

I will write to a school, community learning center, or education leader I admire to express my thanks for their sustainability work and find out how I can get involved.

COMPLETED 1
DAILY ACTION

Climate & Ecosystems

Explore My Area

SDG 14, 15

Each day, I will spend 10 minutes exploring a new area around my neighborhood (e.g., park, water body, nearby trail, community garden, green space, etc.).

COMPLETED 6
DAILY ACTIONS

Education & Livelihood

Organize a Book Club

SDG 4

I will organize a book club to read about climate change and sustainability.

Completed
One-Time Action

Education & Livelihood

Watch a Documentary About Education or Work

SDG 4

I will watch 1 documentaries about education or work.

Completed
One-Time Action

Health & Equity

Watch a Documentary About Equity, Gender, Health, or Peace

SDG 3, 5, 10, 16

I will watch 1 documentaries about equity, gender, health, or peace.

Completed
One-Time Action

Health & Equity

Make Cleaning Products

SDG 3

I will make a few homemade cleaning products.

Uncompleted
One-Time Action

Health & Equity

Spend Time Outside

SDG 3

I will replace 20 minute(s) per day typically spent inside (computer time, watching television, etc.) with quality time outside exercising, enjoying the sunrise/sunset, gardening, journaling, or practicing gratitude for nature.

COMPLETED 15
DAILY ACTIONS

Health & Equity

Practice Mindfulness

SDG 3

I will spend 5 minutes each day practicing mindfulness.

COMPLETED 5
DAILY ACTIONS

Health & Equity

Donate Food

SDG 3, 10

I will find out what food programs are in my area and donate food and/or other items that they request.

Completed
One-Time Action

Economy & Communities

Choose LED Bulbs

SDG 7

I will replace 4 incandescent light bulb(s) with Energy Star-certified LED bulbs, saving up to $14 per fixture per year.

Uncompleted
One-Time Action

Economy & Communities

Choose Clean/Renewable Energy

SDG 7

I will contact my energy company to find out how to sign up for my utility company's clean/renewable energy option.

Uncompleted
One-Time Action

Health & Equity

Support Indigenous & First Nations Communities

SDG 10

I will spend 30 learning about the past and present indigenous communities in my regions and what I can do to be supportive.

Completed
One-Time Action

Climate & Ecosystems

Watch a Documentary About Climate Change or Nature

SDG 13, 14, 15

I will watch 1 documentaries about climate change.

Completed
One-Time Action

Feed

Reflection Question
Education & Livelihood Watch a Documentary About Education or Work

What did you watch, and what was the most important thing you learned in the documentaries you watched? How does what you learned connect to your understanding of climate change and Earth Month?

Valerie Unger 4/23/2023 10:37 PM

I went to a Nat Geo live speaker series today and it was amazing. Alize Carrere spoke about climate change and how different communities in different countries are adapting to current conditions to save their livelihoods and our planet. I recommend everyone check out her docuseries on pbs called 'Adaptation' which I started after hearing her presentation today.

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Valerie Unger 4/22/2023 10:22 AM

I was able to learn the distinction between the Puget Sound and the Salish Sea. I learned about the Duwamish tribe and the longhouse & cultural center they have in Seattle. I learned about ways to support the Duwamish people, including renting out space, donating, purchasing from their online store, how to support them reclaiming their status as a federally recognized tribe, conservation efforts and advocacy.

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Reflection Question
Climate & Ecosystems Watch a Documentary About Climate Change or Nature

What did you watch, and what was the most important thing you learned in the documentary(ies) you watched? How does what you learned connect to your understanding of climate change and Earth Month?

Valerie Unger 4/22/2023 9:47 AM

Each month a friend and I attend 'whale school' which is a lecture based class on the Salish Sea, the orcas that we love, and the environmental connection that all living things have that influences each other.

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Valerie Unger 4/22/2023 9:43 AM

Our team held an awesome event yesterday in honor of Earth Day today. We went to our local forest and did a guided 'forest bathing' mindfulness walk. It was so lovely to walk through the woods with no destination in mind.

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Reflection Question
Health & Equity Practice Mindfulness

What was it like to practice mindfulness? If this is a practice for you already, what was something new you understood in practicing during Earth Month?

Valerie Unger 4/15/2023 7:37 PM

I have been able to let go of my to-do list this weekend and just ‘be’. I was able to practice mindfulness by keeping my hands busy with a beading project.

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Valerie Unger 4/15/2023 7:36 PM

I was able to explore my surroundings in ocean shores this weekend by paying close attention to the environment at the beach- the wind blowing the sand, the deers walking by, and an eagle having its dinner by the water.

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Valerie Unger 4/12/2023 1:22 PM

My goals are going well. I am proud of my team for devoting time and effort towards this cause. It is encouraging me to spend as much time outside as I can.

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Reflection Question
Health & Equity Watch a Documentary About Equity, Gender, Health, or Peace

What did you watch, and what was the most important thing you learned in the documentaries you watched? How does what you learned connect to your understanding of climate change and Earth Month?

Valerie Unger 4/12/2023 1:19 PM

I watched What Happened on First Street. One of the most important things I learned was to continue the conversations from 2020 about how to combat systemic racism. I also learned that the youth are our future, but they are also our 'now'.

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Reflection Question
Climate & Ecosystems Explore My Area

How can spending more time outdoors enhance your sense of place? Was there a new place in your region that was exciting to learn about and visit?

Valerie Unger 4/09/2023 5:28 PM

I took time to explore my own neighborhood today and walked a route i haven't walked in over a year.

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Reflection Question
Health & Equity Spend Time Outside

What are the implications for a culture that spends most of its time inside and on screens?

Valerie Unger 4/04/2023 1:19 PM

I think we are at risk of losing connection to nature by spending too much time inside and on our screens. I am guilty of it too. When I go outside for a full day hike, my body feels good to be moving and my mind feels cleansed.

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