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April 3 - April 24, 2019
Chantal  Collins's avatar

Chantal Collins

EcoChallenge Rhinebeck

" "While it may seem small, the ripple effect of small things is extraordinary!" My hope is that all RCSD students, staff, and their families will participate. "

POINTS TOTAL

  • 0 TODAY
  • 0 THIS WEEK
  • 2,745 TOTAL

participant impact

  • UP TO
    1.0
    documentary
    watched
  • UP TO
    4.0
    donations
    made
  • UP TO
    72
    gallons of water
    have been saved
  • UP TO
    22
    meatless or vegan meals
    consumed
  • UP TO
    21
    miles
    traveled by bike
  • UP TO
    125
    minutes
    spent learning
  • UP TO
    3.0
    people
    helped
  • UP TO
    377
    pounds of CO2
    have been saved
  • UP TO
    10
    public officials or leaders
    contacted

Chantal 's actions

Action Track: Social Justice

Advocate for Forest Protection

#38 Forest Protection

I will contact 3 congress people or representatives to advocate for public policy that protects forests and the enforcement of existing anti-logging laws.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Land Use

Forest-Friendly Foods 1

#5 Tropical Forests

I will spend at least 30 minutes researching the impact of my diet to see how it contributes to deforestation.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Food

Learn More about Silvopasture

#9 Silvopasture

I will spend at least 60 minutes watching videos and/or reading about the environmental benefits of silvopasture.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Food

Smaller Portions

#3 Reduced Food Waste

I will use smaller plates and/or serve smaller portions when dishing out food.

COMPLETED 18
DAILY ACTIONS

Food

Composting

#60 Composting, #3 Reduced Food Waste

I will start a compost bin where I live.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Materials

Recycle Everything I Can

#55 Household Recycling

I will recycle all materials that are accepted by local haulers or drop stations in my community.

COMPLETED 20
DAILY ACTIONS

Materials

Launch a Recycling Program

#56 Industrial Recycling

I will set up a recycling center at my workplace or school.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Transport

Use Muscle Power

#49 Cars

I will cut my car trip mileage by only taking necessary trips, and I will only use muscle-powered transportation for all other trips.

COMPLETED 14
DAILY ACTIONS

Materials

Fix Leaky Faucets

#46 Water Saving - Home

I will fix faucets or report leaky faucets to facilities that have been wasting up to 9 gallons (34 L) of water per faucet every day.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Women and Girls

Fund Family Planning

#7 Family Planning

I will donate to supply a community with reproductive health supplies.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Land Use

Buy Bamboo

#35 Bamboo

When they are available, I will purchase products made from bamboo instead of wood, plastic, or metal.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Materials

Go Paperless

#70 Recycled Paper

I will reduce the amount of paper mail that I receive by 0.11lbs (0.05kg) a day or 41lbs (18.6kg) a year by opting into paperless billing, ending unwanted subscriptions and opting out of junk mail.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Buildings and Cities

Go by Bike

#59 Bike Infrastructure

I will commute by bike 3 mile(s) per day and avoid sending up to 4.05 lbs of CO2 into Earth's atmosphere.

COMPLETED 7
DAILY ACTIONS

Food

Reduce Animal Products

#4 Plant-Rich Diet

I will enjoy 1 meatless or vegan meal(s) each day of the challenge.

COMPLETED 22
DAILY ACTIONS

Women and Girls

Help Girls Overcome Health Barriers

#6 Educating Girls

I will donate 3 Femme Kit(s) to help girls overcome health and sanitation barriers to being able to attend school.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Women and Girls

Research Barriers to Participation and Representation

#6 Educating Girls, #7 Family Planning, #62 Women Smallholders

I will spend at least 30 minutes learning more about the barriers to women's equal participation and representation around the world.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Electricity Generation

Communicate With My Elected Officials

#2 Wind Turbines (Onshore)

I will write or call 4 elected official(s) telling them not to support fossil fuel subsidies and instead support wind energy generation.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Electricity Generation

Watch a Video about Methane Digesters

#30 Methane Digesters (large), #64 Methane Digesters (small)

I will watch a video about methane digesters (also commonly known as anaerobic digesters).

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Transport

Purchase a Carbon Offset

#43 Airplanes

If I buy a plane ticket, I will purchase a carbon offset.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Action Track: Social Justice

Express My Support

#54 Walkable Cities

I will find out who in my city makes decisions that impact neighborhood walkability and express my support for better walking infrastructure.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

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?


  • Chantal  Collins's avatar
    Chantal Collins 4/24/2019 2:37 PM
    Not sure if there is any way we can log enough points to beat WDS but I'd rather come in second and have been true to the  challenges and made changes in behavior.  I am so glad our competition turned out to be  local and a great school as well!  Lets keep on competing until the end! 
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Women and Girls Research Barriers to Participation and Representation
    What are some of the barriers that exist to women's equal participation and/or representation in your community?

    Chantal  Collins's avatar
    Chantal Collins 4/24/2019 2:33 PM
    Although there are quiet a few women who own businesses and run for office, I don't see as many on our environmental committee or in administration roles.  I am not sure if it is lack of opportunity or lack of interest.

  • Chantal  Collins's avatar
    Chantal Collins 4/24/2019 10:52 AM
    Yeah Grrrrrl!  Presenting about EcoChallenge last night to the Board of Education at RCSD
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Land Use Forest-Friendly Foods 1
    How is your diet currently impacting deforestation? What can you do to decrease your negative impact and increase your positive impact?

    Chantal  Collins's avatar
    Chantal Collins 4/24/2019 10:17 AM
    I was shocked to se the impact that palm oil and coffee make.  I knew about palm oil but never applied this info to coffee tree growth.  
    I am definitely looking at labels and being a more thoughtful consumer

    • Leola Specht's avatar
      Leola Specht 4/24/2019 11:40 AM
      We learned last night that Brazil is undercutting the coffee market (literally with deforestation and economically but selling coffee super cheap), making it nearly impossible for coffee farmers in Central America who farm coffee sustainably to compete.  More thoughtful coffee choices are important.  Thanks for bringing this to our attention, Chantal.

    • Leola Specht's avatar
      Leola Specht 4/24/2019 11:39 AM
      We learned last night that Brazil is undercutting the coffee market (literally with deforestation and economically but selling coffee super cheap), making it nearly impossible for coffee farmers in Central America who farm coffee sustainably to compete.  More thoughtful coffee choices are important.  Thanks for bringing this to our attention, Chantal.

  • Chantal  Collins's avatar
    Chantal Collins 4/23/2019 6:24 PM
    Huge thank you's to Chloe, Kaia, and Mira for speaking to the Rhinebeck Board of Education tonight.  They spoke with passion and knowledge about the environmental club, the eco challenge and the recycling program they helped initiate!!
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Electricity Generation Communicate With My Elected Officials
    What inspires you to act on sustainable energy and other energy issues?

    Chantal  Collins's avatar
    Chantal Collins 4/23/2019 5:19 PM
    I am tired of our dependence on oil, tired of watching energy companies destroy our environment in order to drill for more while we must pay the price
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Food Learn More about Silvopasture
    Had you heard of the term "silvopasture" before now? After learning more about it, what do you think is the biggest advantage of silvopasture?

    Chantal  Collins's avatar
    Chantal Collins 4/23/2019 3:04 PM
    Absolutely loved the info on Silvopasture.  I had never heard of it and I ended up watching several documentaries on it as it was so interesting.  The Hudson Valley seems like it would be a good area to practice this type of farming.  To me, it seems like such a natural way to raise plants and animals side by side
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Electricity Generation Watch a Video about Methane Digesters
    What does your vision of a sustainable community look like? What would need to be changed in order for such vision to become reality?

    Chantal  Collins's avatar
    Chantal Collins 4/23/2019 2:45 PM
    We would need buy-in from the local stores and restaurants.  I feel like they would be willing if they were given a push or extra help.  Having more reusable vs recyclable materials available.  Having more bike paths and sidewalks could make a huge difference too as many parents drop kids off at school  (waiting in long lines with engines running)

  • Chantal  Collins's avatar
    Chantal Collins 4/23/2019 5:39 AM
    every little thing counts

  • Chantal  Collins's avatar
    Chantal Collins 4/23/2019 5:34 AM
    We are going down to the wire.  So excited to see how many people have learned new information and improved their environmental efforts.  less than 48hours to go to see the impact we have made!