Hello Campus Race to Zero Waste 2022 Participants,

I hope everyone is doing well. We are headed into the last week (Week 8) of the competition this Sunday!

FEATURED INFO in this Email: (more details bellow)

• Share VIDEOS AND PHOTOS from your competitions, #CR2ZW2022
• Week 7 ends tomorrow, Saturday, March 19, 2022
• Week 8 begins Sunday, March 20, 2022, Review Period begins
• March 23 Webinar: Learn about the Food Recovery Network and how to start a chapter on your campus
• April 5 Webinar: New Plastics Reduction Partner Certification Program
• Graduate Student Fellowship Opportunities ($6,000 Fellowship Stipend)
• EcoCareers 2022 – 30% Discount on Campus Sponsorships for CR2ZW Partners

Upcoming deadlines, and other key information and resources:

• Share VIDEOS AND PHOTOS from your competitions! Use hashtag #CR2ZW2022 when posting your photos and videos to Facebook, Twitter, Instagram or TikTok.
   
• Week 7 reporting is due Wednesday, March 23. Check out the 2021-2022 calendar for upcoming deadlines. To report for Week 7, go to ReTRAC log-in at https://connect.re-trac.com/login and click on Week 7 report. Be sure to click Complete and Save at the bottom of the report.
  
  • Zero Waste Main Category Participants – There are separate reports in ReTRAC to complete if you are participating in the main, 8-week Zero Waste category (tracking trash, recycling, food organics and materials for reuse); This category doesn’t not have a real-time weekly ranking report due to the “materials for reuse reporting.”
    
    • Step 1: Fill out “Zero Waste Building Description and Identification Survey” to share information about the three buildings that are participating.
    • Step 2: There are weekly Zero Waste reports (similar to the weekly reports for Diversion, Per Capita Recycling and Food Organics) to be filled out each week.
    • Step 3: The “Zero Waste Building Waste Audit/Waste Minimization Survey” should be completed by the end of the competition/review period. The waste audit has been waived for 2022, so please do not complete that section of the survey. Please complete the “Waste Minimization Activities” section only.

Note: The guidance above is for the main, 8-week Zero Waste category only. The Race to Zero Waste – One Building Challenge is a special category, requiring one-month tracking; reporting due by end of the competition/review period.

• Week 8 begins Sunday, March 20 through Saturday, March 26. Reporting for Week 8 is due, Wednesday, March 30, 2022.
• The Review Period for all competition participants begins Monday, March 28 through Monday, April 11. More details to come in next week’s email communication.
• March 23 Webinar – Learn about the Food Recovery Network and how to start a chapter on your campus. During this special info session, you will learn more about how FRN can support your passion for tackling waste on your campus and making your community more sustainable. FRN staff and chapter leaders themselves will share all the details on what FRN is up to, how to start a chapter on your campus, and the different ways you can be involved - from recovering surplus food and beyond. There will be plenty of time to answer any and all questions and FRN will share their top tips for getting started. Register: https://bit.ly/CR2ZW_FRN_infosession
• April 5 Webinar – Learn about New Plastics Reduction Partner Certification Program – The National Wildlife Federation and the Campus Race to Zero Waste are excited to announce the launch of a new certification program for colleges and universities taking action to reduce the purchase and use of plastics on campus.  There are three levels of certification available: Bronze, Silver and Green. Campuses will be asked to report on actions in the following categories: Building Awareness, Support Behavior Change, Assess and Implement Operational Change and Demonstrate Institutional Leadership. This is a FREE program to participate in. Participation in this program is eligible for AASHE STARS innovation credit. Learn more at Plastics Reduction Partner. National Wildlife Federation is a proud member of the #BreakFreeFromPlastic Movement. Register for April 5 Webinar to learn more about this new program.
• Graduate Student Fellowship Opportunities ($6,000 Stipend): PLEASE SHARE WITH YOUR CAMPUS NETWORK - National Wildlife Federation Graduate Student Fellows help to inform and strengthen NWF Education and Engagement programs through dedicated research projects. Monetary fellowship grants are awarded to graduate students working with NWF staff on research that helps to expand the content and development of a variety of efforts across NWF's Education and Engagement programs. Fellows join a national network of current and alumni fellows, many of whom have gone on to lead new businesses, agencies, and programs for sustainability all across the U.S. NWF is currently accepting applications for the six graduate student Fellowship Positions. Learn more and share this opportunity with your network. Applications are due April 22, 2022.
• EcoCareers 2022, April 6-7 -  The 2022 EcoCareers Conference will feature keynotes and panels about academic pathways and careers in health and wellness, environmental justice, urban planning, environmental education, and more. On top of that, NWF will have interactive project and career planning workshops for students of all levels on both days of the conference. Please join us for this two-day online event on April 6th and 7th, 2022 to hear from leading sustainability sector experts! These professionals will be sharing their insights, advice, and inspirational stories and represent industry and business leaders, governmental and non-governmental organizations, and successful entrepreneurs. Register for the 2022 EcoCareers Conference as an individual student, faculty or staff. Registration is FREE for members of the NWF EcoLeaders Online Community (joining EcoLeaders is also FREE).

Please contact me with any questions.

Thanks, take care,

Kristy

Kristy Jones

Director, Higher Education Programs

Campus Race to Zero Waste Manager, www.CampusRacetoZeroWaste.org

National Wildlife Federation

703-438-6262