We enjoy seeing what green campaigns schools are organizing throughout the year. Fall is a good time to start planning one or more whole-school campaigns to get your year off to an inspiring start. It was fantastic to see many schools taking part in International Walk to School Day (October 4), Waste Reduction Week (October 17-21) and World Food Day (October 16).
Remember, if a campaign clearly links environmental learning and action, you can claim it under the Environmental Stewardship section of your certification application. Ask your board representative if you have any questions about which campaigns should be claimed where.
Here are three upcoming campaigns to consider:
Don’t be an energy ghoul this Halloween! (October 31)
Think your household appliances and electronics stop using energy as soon as you turn them off? Unfortunately, that is not the case. Phantom power refers to the electricity unnecessarily consumed when appliances and electronics are plugged in, but turned off. Find out more about this spooky energy-sucking power from the Ontario Ministry of Energy.
Why not organize a Phantom Power campaign during Halloween week at your school? One simple way to say BOO to phantom power is to plug multiple devices into a power bar, then turn it off when these devices are no longer in use. Here are three other ideas to celebrate a green Halloween next week:
- Host an eco-superhero dress-up contest! Check out this story for creative eco costume ideas, like an Energy Light-saver, Super Commuter, or Energy Vampire.
- Celebrate the seasonal bounty: Visit a local farm, give out a variety of locally grown apples, or carve pumpkins and toast the seeds for a healthy treat.
- Nature-based art: Organize a walk at a local park or trail and make Halloween-themed art using found materials like twigs, leaves, and pinecones.
Climate Leadership Contest (Nov 7-18)
COP22 starts on November 7; that means there is just over a week left until our Climate Leadership Contest begins! The Contest invites schools to take climate action during or after COP22 (which runs from November 7-18) for the chance to be entered into a $500 prize draw. Schools can choose any action that makes a positive impact on reducing greenhouse gas emissions at home, at school, and/or in their community. Check out COP22’s I’m Eco-Friendly page for a host of ideas.
Schools, want to take part? Here’s how:
- Register for the contest anytime before November 18th at 11.59PM.
- Plan a climate action for your school during COP22 (November 7-18) or during the remainder of the school year. See our examples of great climate change campaigns from the Ontario EcoSchools community.
- Share your school’s climate action along with a photo via Twitter, Facebook or email.
Please visit the Contest Rules and Regulations page for all the details.
Buy Nothing Day (November 25)
One of the most effective ways to reduce one’s ecological footprint is to cut down on purchases. Buy Nothing Day was started by Adbusters 23 years ago as an annual occasion to take a critical look at our consumerist culture. Fittingly, it takes place on “Black Friday”, the Friday after American Thanksgiving, which often becomes a day in which accumulating things is encouraged.
Buy Nothing Day is a prime opportunity to reflect on our consumption patterns and identify where we can reduce. That doesn’t mean eliminating all ‘stuff’ from one’s life! There are many ways to acquire the things we truly need without buying them new – such as hosting swaps, getting creative with upcycling, and supporting your local book/tool/gadget-lending library.
Get a refresher on what Buy Nothing Day is all about and how you can get your school together to take action in our 4 School Campaigns for Buy Nothing Day story. You can also read about how one school organized a Buy Nothing Day Swap to find new homes for old treasures. Organizing a classroom or schoolwide swap is an excellent way to bring awareness to alternatives to a consumption-oriented lifestyle.
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