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Marisa Atkins's avatar

Marisa Atkins

Washington College

POINTS TOTAL

  • 0 TODAY
  • 0 THIS WEEK
  • 1,538 TOTAL

participant impact

  • UP TO
    3.0
    advocacy actions
    completed
  • UP TO
    21
    disposable cups
    not sent to the landfill
  • UP TO
    1.0
    documentary
    watched
  • UP TO
    10
    donations
    made
  • UP TO
    10
    lightbulbs
    replaced
  • UP TO
    10
    miles
    not traveled by car
  • UP TO
    1,200
    minutes
    spent exercising
  • UP TO
    690
    minutes
    spent learning
  • UP TO
    1,230
    minutes
    spent outdoors
  • UP TO
    84
    plastic bottles
    not sent to the landfill
  • UP TO
    20
    plastic containers
    not sent to the landfill
  • UP TO
    21
    pounds
    waste composted
  • UP TO
    241
    pounds of CO2
    have been saved
  • UP TO
    3.0
    public officials or leaders
    contacted
  • UP TO
    19
    more servings
    of fruits and vegetables

Marisa's actions

Nature

Support Local Pollinators

At least 30% of crops and 90% of flowering plants rely on pollinators to produce fruit. I will spend 120 minutes researching which plants support local native pollinators and plant some in my yard or local community garden.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Nature

Forage for My Food

I will use the resource below to find where I can forage for my own food locally.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Community

Raise Money For a Nonprofit

I will raise money to support Ecochallenge.org or another nonprofit.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Community

Express My Support

I will find out who in my state makes decisions that impact the environment and express my support for more environmental actions.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Energy

Learn About Renewable Energy

I will spend 60 minutes learning more about renewable energy alternatives (i.e. solar, wind, biomass) in my region.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Energy

Upgrade My Windows

I will upgrade the windows or weatherstripping in my home or office to reduce air leaks and save on energy costs.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Energy

Replace Manual Thermostats

I will replace manual thermostats with programmable ones.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Energy

Choose LED Bulbs

I will replace 10 incandescent lightbulb(s) with Energy Star-certified LED bulbs, saving up to $14 per fixture per year.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Transportation

Work from Home

I will work from home 30 day(s) to avoid my commute's carbon output.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Health

Audit Toxic Cleaning Products in my Home

I will spend 60 minutes researching toxic chemicals found in cleaning supplies and personal care products and remove them from my home or dorm room.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Health

Go get a check up

I will make an appointment for my annual physical.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Food

Try a New Way to Prep

I will try a new method of food preparation, such as canning, pickling, or baking bread.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Waste

Find Local Recycling Depots

I will spend at least 30 minutes finding out where to recycle the recyclable items that I can't put in my curbside bin.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Food

Watch a Documentary about Food Sovereignty

I will watch 1 documentary(ies) about food sovereignty: the right of local peoples to control their own food systems including markets, ecological resources, food cultures and production methods.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Simplicity

Needs Vs. Wants

I will adopt a "Needs Vs. Wants" approach and only buy things I need.

COMPLETED 0
DAILY ACTIONS

Nature

Go for a Daily Walk

I will take a 30-minute walk outside each day.

COMPLETED 0
DAILY ACTIONS

Nature

Practice Gratitude for Earth

I will spend 30 minute(s) each day outside, practicing gratitude (prayer, meditation, journaling, etc.) for Earth and the nature surrounding me.

COMPLETED 0
DAILY ACTIONS

Health

Exercise Daily

Exercise is a great stress blaster! I will exercise for 30 minute(s) each day.

COMPLETED 0
DAILY ACTIONS

Health

More Fruits and Veggies

I will eat a heart healthy diet by adding 1 cup(s) of fruits and vegetables each day to achieve at least 4 cups per day.

COMPLETED 0
DAILY ACTIONS

Food

Plant an Herb Garden

I will plant an herb garden in my home, workplace, or dorm room.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Waste

Recycle Everything I Can

Contamination prevents what is recyclable from being recycled. I will research and recycle all materials that are accepted by local haulers or drop stations in my community, making sure to not contaminate recyclables with non-recyclables.

COMPLETED 0
DAILY ACTIONS

Waste

Compost Food Waste

I will avoid sending up to .69 lbs (.31 kg) of food waste to the landfill each day by composting my food or learning how to.

COMPLETED 0
DAILY ACTIONS

Waste

Reduce Single-Use Disposables

Historically, marginalized and low-income communities live closer to landfills, contributing to a multitude of health problems. I will find out how I can limit single-use items and do my best to limit the waste I generate.

COMPLETED 0
DAILY ACTIONS

Waste

Use a Reusable Mug

I will avoid sending 1 disposable cup(s) to the landfill each day by using a reusable mug.

COMPLETED 0
DAILY ACTIONS

Waste

Use a Reusable Water Bottle

I will keep 4 disposable plastic bottle(s) from entering the waste stream by using a reusable water bottle.

COMPLETED 0
DAILY ACTIONS

Participant Feed

Reflection, encouragement, and relationship building are all important aspects of getting a new habit to stick.
Share thoughts, encourage others, and reinforce positive new habits on the Feed.

To get started, share “your why.” Why did you join the challenge and choose the actions you did?


  • Marisa Atkins's avatar
    Marisa Atkins 4/26/2020 7:23 PM
    Post to the feed for 5 points. Each reflection question is worth 15 points!

  • Marisa Atkins's avatar
    Marisa Atkins 4/26/2020 7:23 PM
    Keep working everyone we are so close!

  • Marisa Atkins's avatar
    Marisa Atkins 4/26/2020 6:34 PM
    Hi everyone! We are only 1,000 points behind Dickinson! The challenge ends TONIGHT. So answer your reflection questions, add some challenges if you can, and let's get past them. 
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Waste Find Local Recycling Depots
    Our ability to recycle certain things ebbs and flows based upon many factors. Luckily there are places that accept uncommon things to recycle or dispose of in a less harmful way. What did you find when looking for places to recycle items that can't be recycled in your curbside bin?

    Marisa Atkins's avatar
    Marisa Atkins 4/26/2020 5:39 PM
    I actually found that asking the people around you is the best way to find these places to recycle uncommon items. My coworkers have been very helpful with that!
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Transportation Work from Home
    It takes the average worker in the United States 26 minutes to travel to work. One way to fix long commutes would be to make cities more affordable. An even simpler option: promote the use of telework. Are you in an industry that would allow you to work from home? What are some obstacles you might find yourself facing while working from home?

    Marisa Atkins's avatar
    Marisa Atkins 4/26/2020 5:39 PM
    Though teleworking is great sometimes, that biggest obstacle is the face to face interaction that can be so important to work. Our offices also house many of our work essentials that people might not have at home, from internet to computers to printers. 
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Nature Support Local Pollinators
    Why is it important to take care of pollinators?

    Marisa Atkins's avatar
    Marisa Atkins 4/26/2020 5:36 PM
    To maintain habitats and ecosystems around them, as well as to maintain food sources that they pollinate. 
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Nature Forage for My Food
    People are motivated to forage for many different reasons: as a source for food, a means of income, to connect with nature, to participate in cultural tradition, transmitting specific ecological knowledge, or as a means of stewarding local and native plant populations. What is your chief motivation for foraging?

    Marisa Atkins's avatar
    Marisa Atkins 4/26/2020 5:35 PM
    My chief motivation was to connect with nature. It is amazing once you realize all of the "weeds" in your own yard that are actually a great source of food. 
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Health Go get a check up
    How do you practice self care?

    Marisa Atkins's avatar
    Marisa Atkins 4/26/2020 5:33 PM
    I practice self care by making sure to take the time to utilize a healthy skin care routine. I also try to focus on exercise and meditation for self care. 
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Health Audit Toxic Cleaning Products in my Home
    To what extent do you believe that environmental factors contribute to your own health or issues with health?

    Marisa Atkins's avatar
    Marisa Atkins 4/26/2020 5:32 PM
    I have realized in the last year just how toxic cleaning products can be to your own health. It's fairly simple, if you're afraid to breathe while you're cleaning your bathroom, your products are probably toxic to you and the environment. 
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Food Try a New Way to Prep
    Canning and pickling food is a great way to have delicious summer fruits and vegetables all year round. Just make sure to follow the canning and pickling guidelines from the USDA. What are some foods that you would like to preserve and enjoy later in the year?

    Marisa Atkins's avatar
    Marisa Atkins 4/26/2020 5:31 PM
    I am looking to try to make jellies and jams, and also to utilize vegetable scraps to make soups