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Plan Ahead: Gear up and get active for February

Welcome to 2019, EcoTeams! February is packed with opportunities to run campaigns and get the whole school involved in green initiatives. You can claim many of these activities in your certification application – don’t forget to review the 2018-19 Certification Guides for full criteria and to see where the activity fits best.

World Wetlands Day: February 2

Celebrate wetlands on February 2 each year – the day that marks the adoption of the Convention on Wetlands on February 2, 1971. Wetlands are crucial to resilient communities: they provide habitat to wildlife, absorb and filter rainwater (the “kidneys” of ecosystems), and help us deal with extreme weather events. In addition to those essential natural services, wetlands are beautiful places that have a diversity of flora and fauna.

  • WorldWetlandsDay.org has fantastic learning materials, social media kits, stories about wetlands and climate change, and can help you find events in your community.
  • Is your school community located near a wetland? Consider running a clean up campaign which can be claimed in the Environmental Stewardship section – see the Certification Guides for full criteria.

Winter Walk Day: February 6

Winter Walk Day is all about getting outdoors to enjoy fresh air and winter scenery. Typically held on the first Wednesday of February each year, schools across Canada celebrate walking or wheeling to school: it’s healthy, environmentally friendly, and great for getting to know the neighbourhood.

  • For best practices on running an active transportation campaign, download our Active Transportation Campaign Kit. Remember to claim school-wide campaigns in your online application.

National Sweater Day: February 7

This is one of the most popular campaigns for schools – consider participating the first Thursday in February. National Sweater Day raises awareness and saves energy through turning down the school thermostat by a couple of degrees while students and teachers bundle up in cozy sweaters.

  • Check out WWF Canada for more Sweater Day resources.
  • If you have custodial staff on your EcoTeam, ask if they can help you track energy savings and share results at an assembly.

The Great Backyard Bird Count: February 15-18

The Great Backyard Bird Count is a prime example of citizen science in action. Every year, bird enthusiasts record the types and numbers of birds they see in their backyards, parks, and communities and submit their data online. This practice helps scientists keep track of species and their migration patterns.

  • Why take part? You’ll contribute to capturing a real-time snapshot of where birds are! Anyone can participate, from beginners to experts – and you can commit as much or as little time as you like.
  • Dive into the data from the 2018 GBBC and see how an individual’s data can help paint a bigger picture of species’ habits across North America.

Want to go further? Extend any or all of the above initiatives throughout the month to amplify your impact and learning opportunities.

Please share your February actions with us on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram. We’d love to hear from you!