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  1. Invitation to Attend Student-Athlete Only Earth Day Celebration

    Associated Project(s): 

    The following event invite was sent to LeAnn Bird at DIA:

    We invite you, your teammates, and fellow climate-curious athletes to a special Athletes-Only EcoAthletes Community Chat on Thursday the 22nd, Earth Day! During the chat, world-famous chief scientist at The Nature Conservancy and one of the best climate communicators out there, Dr. Katharine Hayhoe, will share some thoughts with our group. Then we plan to share EcoAthletes' exciting new path forward, which features our centralized focus on a new Resource Hub. It will equip you and the rest of our climate-active Champions to lead climate action...We've been hard at work on this and can't wait to share! By attending, you'll have the chance to be entered to win exciting prizes and gain opportunities to meet aligned potential sponsors, professional mentors and like minded athletes.

    REGISTER HERE for the event on Earth Day, April 22nd, at 10:15am ET!

    https://us3.campaign-archive.com/?e=__test_email__&u=025a0fa19b0e671467d82f681&id=9e93bbf113 

  2. Weekly Update: Basic Maintenance 101, Friday Ride

    All, Still not steadily busy as the temps started to dip. We’ll see what this week brings.
    We had our Basic Maintenance 101 class on Wednesday night. Sam held the class and we had 5 people signed up but only 1 showed. Friday Ride was a no-show except for a DI reporter who wanted to cover the event.
    This week is business as usual and our Friday Ride again. I’ll scavenge some freewheels and tires/tubes off some of the junk bikes in storage at some point, too. We are desperately low on used freewheels and can’t really get any new ones due to the sustained supply shortages.

    The numbers:

    Visitors: 22
    Sales: $664.50

    Bikes (refurb): 3 for $410
    Tires/tubes: 7 for $26

    Thanks!

    Jacob Benjamin
    WManager, Campus Bike Center

  3. Res002 Biodiversity Plan - Transmitted

    Following the completion of iWG assessment for Res002 Biodiversity Plan, the recommendation was transmitted to Dr. Nickols-Richardson, Director of Extension, on April 12, 2021. 

    See iWG assessment of Res002 Biodiversity Plan attached. 

    See iCAP team recommendation Res002 Biodiversity Plan.

     

  4. Free Native Bee Homes from The Bee Conservancy

    Associated Project(s): 

    The Bee Conservancy, an environmental NPO, is handing out hundreds of free native bee homes across the U.S. and Canada in hopes of boosting native bee populations.

    As part of its Sponsor-A-Hive program, the group is offering 500 native bee homes to community-focused organizations that support food growth, education, or ecological conservation. (Two hundred were awarded in fall and 300 are being awarded this spring.) Eligible groups include community gardens, nature centers, schools, tribal organizations, parks, and zoos. According to Guillermo Fernandez, founder and executive director of The Bee Conservancy, "We’re looking for organizations that share our passion to nurture local bee populations, create habitat for them, and support their communities and local food systems."

    Applications are open until the end of April 2021!

     

    Read more about The Bee Conservancy native bee home giveaway in the TreeHugger article.

  5. ZW004 Reusable Dining Containers Program - Submitted

    The Zero Waste iCAP Team made the ZW004 "Reusable Dining Containers Program" recommendation on 4/2/21:

    "Where possible and applicable, campus restaurants and foodservices should adopt the use of a reusable containers instead of disposable or compostable containers for take-out food. At a minimum, this should become an option for customers."

  6. ZW003 GreenerOffice Delivery Service Enrollment - Submitted

    The Zero Waste iCAP team made the ZW002 "Campuswide Office Depot GreenerOffice Delivery Service Enrollment" recommendation on 4/2/21:

    Campus-wide Office Depot® GreenerOffice™ Delivery Service Enrollment would provide a recyclable and/or reusable delivery option for departmental purchase orders made through Office Depot. Deliveries will be made in paper bags, made of 40% post-consumer recycled content. Paper bags are reusable and recyclable. Paper bags will be transported in reusable plastic totes, made of 60% post-consumer recycled plastic, so deliveries will remain protected during transportation. These reusable totes would be picked up by Office Depot on the next delivery, such that the program is self-sustainable.

  7. ZW002 Join NERC Government Recycling Demand Champions - Submitted

    The Zero Waste iCAP Team made the following recommendation ZW002 Join Northeastern Recycling Council Government Recycling Demand Champions on 4/2/21: 

    University of Illinois to join the NERC Government Demand Champion Program.

    1. Free technical assistance in training, recognition, and tools to support efforts in the program. This will help us find more Post-consumer recycled (PCR) products by engaging with existing or identifying new vendors, provide training opportunities to department buyers, and/or provide the SWATeam with innovative engagement tools to increase buy-in across campus.
    2. Aligns with State of Illinois Procurement Code (ILCS 500/45-15 & ILCS 500/45-20)
    3. First University to join the program
    4. National recognition for sustainability commitment
    5. Support a circular economy
  8. LW003 Certified Greener Building Certification - Submitted

    The Land and Water iCAP team submitted the following Certified Greener Building Certification recommendation on 4/2/21:

    "The Land and Water iCAP Team recommends the creation of a Certified Greener Building Program to add to the portfolio of Greener Campus Programs under iSEE. The existing Greener Campus Programs target nearly every facet of campus life from University employees to student experiences. A Greener Building Certification would provide an opportunity for collaboration between building liaisons and the people and groups that utilize campus buildings. A set of requirements and voluntary actions must be developed to achieve the certification. Based on the success of the existing Certified Greener Campus programs, students, faculty, and staff alike are very likely to take advantage of the certification opportunity and embed these actions as part of building operations. These actions will also promote life-long sustainable habits. A Greener Building Certification would establish a sustainability standard and increase our culture of sustainability on campus."

  9. LW002 Vet Med Parking Lot Re-Design - Submitted

    The Land and Water iCAP team submitted the following LW002 Vet Med Parking Lot Re-Design recommendation on 4/2/21:

    "This recommendation calls for a redesign of the Vet-Med parking lot F27 to reduce runoff and prevent flooding of the Dairy Farm. Project design recommendations would include adding stormwater infrastructure such as bioswales and raingardens within the redesigned parking lot, as well as to the west of the parking lot where much of the runoff from the asphalt currently flows. A student project, which placed first in the Central States Water Environmental Association Student Design Competition: Environmental Category addresses this issue, but the team recommends hiring a Professional Services Consultant team, consisting of a professional engineer and landscape architect for the design. It is possible that the firm may be willing to donate the design, which would reduce the cost."
     

    Attached Files: 
  10. Weekly meeting with Audrey Freeman: Tasks for the week of April 12th

    Associated Project(s): 

    The Telecommuting & Commuter Program intern met with supervisor Sarthak Prasad on Friday, April 9th, 2021 to discuss updates on the program and goals for the upcoming week. Over the past few days, they continued to research telecommuting programs at other Illinois universities (UIC, UIS, ISU) and various Ivy League institutions. In addition, the Transportation SWATeam reviewed the questionnaire for the IHR department and other universities. Once Audrey and Sarthak finish receiving feedback, they will revise and finalize the questionnaire and send out the document to the IHR department. They will also collect the necessary information to contact the employees responsible for telecommuting at the Big 10 Schools, the University of Illinois at Springfield and Chicago, as well as Harvard and Yale. Once they gain the contact information, they will draft emails to each of the specified schools and create a google form in case the school is not able to meet over the phone or via zoom.

    Attached Files: 
  11. Careers in Sustainability Panel Discussion 4/9/21

    The Career Center hosted a Careers in Sustainability panel which included the following panelists: Roxina Kanchwala (Eco.Logic), John Sinclair (Wisconsin DNR), Andrew Rehn (Prairie Rivers Network), and Savannah Donovan (Urbana Parks District). 57 people were in attendance! Several resources were shared to the group: 

    https://climateinterpreter.org/about/projects/nnocci

    https://skepticalscience.com/ 

    https://www.cleanenergyleaders.org/

    https://grist.org/energy/greentrolling-a-maniacal-plan-to-bring-down-big-oil/

    https://climatecommunication.yale.edu/

    The recording is found here: https://uofi.app.box.com/s/m73kwaloh46tr9pphhwgqm4treblvku0 

  12. Adapthaus inauguration coming soon!

  13. 4/9 Zero Waste SWATeam Meeting

    Meeting minutes for the 4/9 Zero Waste SWATeam meeting are attached. The agenda is as follows:

    • Updates
    • Roundtable Discussion
      • Removal of virgin paper from F&S stores/catalogues 
      • Elimination of thermal paper receipts
      • Assessment of third-party vendors footprint (single-use plastics, recyclable materials, etc) in the Union.
      • Student Waste Management Educational initiative.
      • Single-use plastics in vending machines.
      • Reuse of Surplus Goods
      • Battery Recycling
  14. Red Oak Rain Garden Monthly Newsletter: April 2021

    Associated Project(s): 

    Each month, the Red Oak Rain Garden (RORG) Team produces an e-newsletter to keep supporters updated on everything that is happening in the garden. In the April 2021 e-newsletter, the team highlighted RORG's hosted workshops & presentations, partnerships for grants, social media highlights, and more!

    To read their April 2021 newsletter, please see the attached file below.

  15. Trash Cleanup 4/7/21

    Associated Project(s): 

    The trash pickup on 4/7/21 was a great success, and a lot of fun too! Thirty people showed up and picked up 80 lbs of trash/recycling that would have otherwise likely made its way into Boneyard Creek! Most groups helped track and characterize the waste. The categories and data are attached.

    Check out our recap video here!

    We made it on the Earth Day Network map: https://cleanup.earthday.org/pages/find-a-cleanup

    Attached Files: 
  16. 2020 Bloom Calendar - Red Oak Rain Garden

    Associated Project(s): 

    Sad that Mulch Madness is over? You can still watch (most of) those amazing plants 'play' this year in the garden using my 2020 Bloom Calendar as a guide! The champion Virginia Bluebells, which weren't installed until last fall, are in full bloom NOW!

    Check out the Red Oak Rain Garden Facebook Page here: https://www.facebook.com/RainGardenUIUC 

    Attached Files: 
  17. Example program at Ball State

    Now, while you are pursuing the Sustainability Excellence (SEA) credentialing, you can earn Ball State University's online graduate certificate in sustainability at the same time.

    The certificate consists of 12-credit and is offered entirely online. Each course is conveniently offered as a one-credit experience, taking just five weeks to complete. The skills and knowledge to be gained can be applied within the various employment opportunities arising from every degree completion. Cost varies on your state of residence and the number of courses you plan to take each semester. 

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