- Parent 🐻
- 17-DAY STREAK
Melinda Woollen
POINTS TOTAL
- 0 TODAY
- 0 THIS WEEK
- 836 TOTAL
participant impact
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UP TO1.0carbon footprintcalculated
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UP TO1.0energy auditconducted
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UP TO658minutesbeing mindful
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UP TO1.0water footprintcalculated
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UP TO1,885minutesof additional sleep
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UP TO27more servingsof fruits and vegetables
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UP TO1.0hourvolunteered
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UP TO5.0sharing economiesexplored
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UP TO1.0environmental auditconducted
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UP TO316minutesspent outdoors
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UP TO228minutesspent learning
Melinda's actions
Share My Why
Share My Why
I will share my Ecochallenge story and why I'm taking action for the planet — and earn 15 points!
Share My Why
Take the Earth Month Ecochallenge Feedback Survey
I will take a short survey about my experience to help the Ecochallenge team improve future events, earn a chance to win a prize, and earn 15 points!
Health and Well-Being
Prioritize Getting Enough Sleep
Good sleep is essential for a healthy body and mind. I will prioritize getting 30 minutes of quality sleep each night and develop a bedtime routine that supports rest and relaxation.
Health and Well-Being
Meditate
Meditation helps build resilience and clarity. I will spend 30 minutes each day to meditate or create a moment of silence each day to reflect on things important to me.
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.
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 30 minutes learning about the seven core principles to minimize my impact while enjoying the outdoors.
Community and Connection
Visit or Learn About a Culturally Significant Site Near Me
Sites of cultural and spiritual significance hold deep meaning for many communities, particularly Indigenous peoples. I will learn about or visit a site near me that is significant to the history, culture, or environment of the area. I will approach my visit with respect by researching its importance and guidelines beforehand, reflecting on how we can preserve these spaces for future generations.
Land, Water, and Air
Learn About Water Justice
Access to clean water is a basic right, yet not everyone has it. I will spend 30 minutes learning about water justice issues and who is affected.
Wildlife
Learn How to Save the Bees
Bees and other pollinators are vital to ecosystems and agriculture. I will spending 30 minutes learning about local pollinators and why they are so important.
Empowering the Next Generation
Enjoy the Environment with Youth
Experiencing nature together builds appreciation and connection. I will spend 30 minutes enjoying an outdoor activity with a young person, such as hiking, visiting a park or nature center, or exploring a trail.
Community and Connection
Swap and Share with Others
Swapping and sharing resources reduces waste and builds community bonds. I will participate in 5 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.
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 3 community cleanup efforts in my neighborhood or local area.
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 30 minutes researching ways to travel responsibly to ensure my adventures support, rather than harm, wildlife and their habitats.
Community and Connection
Explore My Area
Discovering what’s nearby fosters a deeper connection to my community. I will explore 3 new places in my area, such as parks, historical sites, or local businesses.
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 2 community events to connect with others and learn more about my area.
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.
Empowering the Next Generation
Conduct an Audit with a Young Person
Learning by doing empowers youth. I will conduct an environmental audit — such as a home energy or waste audit — alongside a young person to teach them practical sustainability skills and see what I learn from them as well.
Land, Water, and Air
Conduct a Home Energy Audit
Reducing energy use helps protect the air and climate. I will complete an online energy audit of my home, office, or dorm room and identify my next steps for saving energy and reduce pollution.
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.
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.
Wildlife
Learn to Grow Plants Your Way
Growing plants can be rewarding and can create habitats big and small for wildlife. And, we can grow things almost anywhere! I will spend 30 minutes researching options for growing plants either inside or outside.
Health and Well-Being
Learn About Local Environmental Justice Concerns
Environmental issues often impact marginalized communities the most. I will spend 20 minutes researching environmental justice concerns in my region, who is affected by them, and local initiatives to address these concerns.
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.
Health and Well-Being
Enjoy Fruits and Veggies
Adding fruits and vegetables to our meals nourishes our body and the planet. I will prepare and enjoy 1 servings of a variety of colorful fruits and veggies.
Health and Well-Being
Learn About Emergency Preparedness
Being prepared can save lives during extreme weather. I will spend 15 minutes learning about the most common weather risks in my area and the steps I can take to stay safe, such as signing up for local alerts or identifying nearby shelters.
Participant Feed
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REFLECTION QUESTIONWildlifeWhat 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?
Melinda Woollen 4/17/2025 6:31 PMBeing careful to stay on designated paths and walkways to avoid disturbing delicate ecosystems, ensuring to clean up after yourself, using alternatives to campfires when possible. -
REFLECTION QUESTIONHealth and Well-BeingWhat did you do to prepare for extreme weather events? Share any tips or resources you found helpful in the feed!
Melinda Woollen 4/17/2025 6:23 PM- Parent 🐻
- 17-DAY STREAK
We created a family plan for what we will do in the event of extreme weather. -
REFLECTION QUESTIONWildlifeHow do pollinators impact your daily life, and what changes can you make to ensure they continue to thrive?
Melinda Woollen 4/15/2025 8:08 PM- Parent 🐻
- 17-DAY STREAK
They impact everyone due to their critical role as pollinators. The food we consume are often pollinated by bees and other similar pollinators. We can do our part by planting plants such as sunflowers or marigolds to place on our decks or patios, as well as preserving meadows. -
REFLECTION QUESTIONWildlifeWhat did you learn about how tourism impacts wildlife, and how can you make more conscious choices when planning a trip? How do you think your travel decisions can contribute to wildlife conservation and respectful interactions with nature?
Melinda Woollen 4/15/2025 7:55 PM- Parent 🐻
- 17-DAY STREAK
I did not know about the palm oil related to deforestation of rain forests prior to this class and I learned more about it reading about this subject. I didn't consider the impact travel and product use could both directly and indirectly impact wild life. -
REFLECTION QUESTIONWildlifeHow did it feel to plant something, and what kind of gardening did you do (indoors, hydroponic, outside in a garden, etc)? What did you plant and where? Feel free to share a photo to the feed!
Melinda Woollen 4/15/2025 7:33 PM- Parent 🐻
- 17-DAY STREAK
I adopted an indoor bulb, it was hyacinth which is one of my favorite flowers. Although they do not last long I will be replanting this for next season in my yard so I can enjoy its blooms every year.-
Gianna Marko 4/16/2025 2:28 PM- Book Lover 📚
- 14-DAY STREAK
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Janet Beach 4/16/2025 10:26 AM- TEAM CAPTAIN
- Educator 🧠
- 17-DAY STREAK
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REFLECTION QUESTION
Empowering the Next GenerationWhat did you and the young person learn from conducting the audit together, and how did it change their understanding of sustainability? Did anything change about your understanding of sustainability?
Melinda Woollen 4/15/2025 7:32 PM- Parent 🐻
- 17-DAY STREAK
We learned that we could recycle more than we are currently. Although our trash company provides a recycling bin for biweekly pick up we are not recycling as much as we could. -
REFLECTION QUESTIONHealth and Well-BeingWhat did you notice about your thoughts or emotions during or after meditation? Did you find it easy or challenging to meditate?
Melinda Woollen 4/15/2025 7:27 PM- Parent 🐻
- 17-DAY STREAK
It is calming and allows me to fall asleep easier. I have struggled for years to sleep, now I use meditative sleep music before falling asleep to help quiet my mind in order to fall asleep. -
REFLECTION QUESTIONWildlifeAre you a gardener or house plant lover? Why or why not? What do you need to elevate your plant care skills?
Melinda Woollen 4/15/2025 7:14 AM- Parent 🐻
- 17-DAY STREAK
I am not very good with house plants, however I have had several gardens over the years both in my actual yard as well as in large boxes that I've built. I would love to plant more native flowers and create a more ecofriendly environment for local animals and insects, but to take on such a large scale landscaping project is costly. I have done a little at a time, for example last year I planted 2 lilac bushes in my front yard.-
Janet Beach 4/15/2025 2:48 PM- TEAM CAPTAIN
- Educator 🧠
- 17-DAY STREAK
I'm much better with outdoor plants too. I have a wonderful prairie garden, but my indoor plants usually are only pots of herbs to cook with.
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REFLECTION QUESTIONLand, Water, and AirWhere in your life do you emit the most carbon? What change are you willing to make in your daily life to reduce this output?
Melinda Woollen 4/14/2025 1:21 PM- Parent 🐻
- 17-DAY STREAK
Travel is my highest carbon footprint area, followed closely by consumption. Household was actually not too bad. I can reduce my footprint by reducing food waste, beginning to compost and reducing my travel amounts. -
REFLECTION QUESTIONCommunity and ConnectionHow did you participate in the sharing economy? (Consider posting a photo!) What are the benefits of a sharing economy? How could a sharing economy change the dynamics you have with friends, family and/or neighbors?
Melinda Woollen 4/13/2025 2:33 PM- Parent 🐻
- 17-DAY STREAK
I belong to a Facebook group that is designed to give away and share items to avoid things unnecessarily ending up in the landfills. Everything is free in this group. Individuals post photos and descriptions of what they are giving away or what they are looking for in the group. I have requested items and have also posted and given away items many times.