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 | | Making Apple Ice Cream for Apple Days |
Coordinator's Note:
By Rachel Landis
This past week, the Environmental Center's four Student Project Teams - Local Food Security, Campus Sustainability, Real Food Challenge, and Zero Waste Initiatives - began their year's work. For each team, this work is loosely defined, potent, and - for college freshman, sophmores, etc - can be fairly overwhelming. At the EC, we don't have job descriptions. Rather, each team is provided with these simple instructions: Identify an environmental/social justice challenge within your project area and work backwards to create lasting, meaningful solutions. Student often balk at this charge. They cite a lack of experience, problems that are far too big and complex ... but then they look at what their EC predecessors have done and ultimately awaken to a deep knowing: this is their world to change ... and the power is theirs to do so.
What follows next with each of these students underscores the vital importance of the Environmental Center's work. Though our students eagerly accept their role to address the shifts associated with climate change and other complex issues, they need the tools, the training, and the hope to be able to do so. The EC strives to fill that gap. At the EC, we help our student staff fill their too-big charge by equipping them with tools such as Power Mapping, messaging training, and strategic planning ... and then test their learning through application in on-the-ground projects and reflection. At the end of the day, our world is a slightly better place and our student have the tools at hand and confidence to know that they are - and will continue to be agents of change.
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Upcoming EC Events & Opportunities
October 4-5th: Apple Days Harvest and Pressing
Apple days are here!! The Growing Partners of Southwest Colorado (of whom the EC is a founding and continuing member) will host their annual Apple Days Festival on October 4th and 5th this year. The festival provides an opportunity for the community to gather and celebrate the TONS of apples that grow in our area through apple pressing, pie eating, music, games, and
homemade Environmental Center apple ice cream!
We have apple harvesting opportunities available on Saturday, October 4th from 8:30-12:00 and again from 12:30-4:00p.m. We also invite you to volunteer Sunday, October 5th. We have two-hour shifts available in everything from apple pressing to children's activities and pie-eating contest officiating. To learn more about each shift or register to volunteer, please visit the Fort Lewis College Environmental Center's website and fill out our Apple Days Volunteer Form.
We are still in need of apple trees for harvest! If you have trees that you would like to have harvested, please fill out our Apple Tree Registration form. For more information, contact Rachel at [email protected] or (970) 247-7091.
Coming SOON- DamNation:Thursday, October 23rd
The 13th Annual REEL Environmental Film Experience will showcase the award-winning documentary, DamNation at the Smiley building. Ben Knight, film director and Telluride local, will be on hand to supplement the film and tell the story of why vibrant, free-flowing rivers are a necessity...and how YOU can help. In true REEL style, this night will feature an amazing film, great food & drink, the opportunity to take action...and, of course, a massive amount of fun!
Thursday, October 23rd, Smiley Building. Doors open at 5:00 and screening begins at 6:00. Tickets are $12 (includes movie/food) and are available at Maria's Bookshop or at the door. All proceeds will benefit the FLC Environmental Center.
For more information, contact the Environmental Center at 970-247-7091 or go to our website www.fortlewis.edu/environmentalcenter
October 25 & 26th: Utah River Rendezvous Service Project & Rafting Trip
The FLC Leadership Center and Environmental Center have partnered with Moab-based non-profit, Plateau Restoration to host a weekend of fun and environmental restoration work on October 25th & 26th.
For more information, contact Patrick Fredricks in the FLC Leadership Center at (970) 247-7517 or [email protected].
Community Events & Opportunities
Wednesday October 1: Women in Space!
From Star Trek to the US astronaut teams, "Women in Space" presents the women who changed the "boys club" paradigm of the US space program. Bring your aspiring young scientists (especially girls, but boys welcome of course as "the other half" of the equation) for Q & A with Dr. Laura Peticolas of the UC-Berkeley's Space Science Lab and local scientists and educators.
6pm, Powerhouse Science Center,1333 Camino Del Rio
Thursday, October 2: Genetically Modified Foods: Panacea or Poison?
Good Dirt Radio presents "Genetically Modified Foods: Panacea or Poison" a documentary film that examines the contentious issues surrounding genetically modified food. The film will be followed by a Q&A session as well as an overview of Proposition 105, Colorado's mandatory labeling of GMOs initiative.
6:30pm Durango Public Library, free with a suggested donation. Contact Jules Masterjohn for more information 970/422-8566.
Friday October 3: Land, Water, People: A Workshop on Nonviolent Action and the Politics of Power
An interactive event to engage community members in developing strategies for change. The workshop is hosted by Jamila Raqib, Executive Director of the Albert Einstein Institute, a nonprofit organization founded in 1983 to advance the study and use of strategic nonviolent action in conflicts throughout the world.
The workshop is Friday October 3, 2014 from 9am-12pm in the Vallecito room at Fort Lewis College. For more information please contact Erik Juergensmeyer at 970247-7098 or [email protected]
Saturday October 4th: 2014 Household Hazardous Waste Event
The City of Durango and La Plata County will hold the 2014 Household Hazardous Waste event from 8am-1pm on Saturday, October 4th at the La Plata County Fairgrounds,...... Read on
Tuesday, October 7:A Celebration of 50 Years of Colorado Wilderness multimedia presentation
Join Colorado photographer John Fielder and friends in celebration of Colorado's most iconic and treasured wild places! Plus, learn more about what you can do to help protect our remaining wild lands right here in the Southwest.
Powerhouse Science Center,1333 Camino Del Rio, 6pm
For more information contact Michal Rosenoer,Conservation Colorado, [email protected]
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Announcements:
EC Thank Yous
The EC would like to thank Chris Calwell for his generous donation of environmental literature to the EC library! The EC would also like to thank Michael Rosenoer with Conservation Colorado and Patrick Fredricks with the FLC Leadership Program for volunteering their time to provide immensely valuable training to our student staff during our annual Fall retreat. The EC and workshop paticipants also want to send a big thanks to Austin Breunig for leading the charge on our hops harvest and brewing workshop!
FLC Crop Mob: Crop mob is primarily a group of young, landless, and wannabe farmers who come together to build and empower communities by working side by side. The FLC Environmental Center will rounding up volunteers to make weekly trips out to area farms where you will help with harvest, sheer sheep, who knows!?! In exchange, you will be working to actively build a healthy community, get to know our amazing area farmers, and get your pockets stuffed full of free, local food.
To sign up to receive Crop Mob alerts (dates, etc) and register, visit the FLC Environmental Center or contact Crop Mob Coordinator, Danielle Duni at [email protected]
Campus Garden Grown Lunches!: As part of Fort Lewis College's Real Food Challenge and in celebration of Eat Local Month, our campus' San Juan Dining Facilities will feature produce grown by students in our organic, on-campus garden and the Old Fort Farm each day during lunch. San Juan Dining is located within the FLC Student Union and is open to the public for lunch between 11:30-1:00p.m. with a la carte pricing
Find out what is for lunch by visiting the EC Facebook Page: Environmental Center at Fort Lewis College or check out the Campus Garden Grown board located in San Juan Dining.
EC Garden- Get Your Hands Dirty!
Come out to the garden to do some work if you want to or just to check out what we have going on out there. This is a great opportunity to learn more about gardening or to share any knowledge you may have and make our garden better! Clay will be in the garden each week through the end of harvest season during the following times. No sign up is necessary, just show up to the garden when you can! Tuesdays 11-12:30, Wednesdays 12-2, Thursdays 11-12:30.
For more information contact Clay Tomcak [email protected]
State and National Campaign Internships & Volunteer Opportunities
State Representative Mike McLaughlin's office is looking to hire a group of interns to assist with day-to-day campaign operations re-election campaign. Additionally, they are looking for community volunteers to help with all aspects of the campaign. To learn more, contact Matthew Sheldon at Matthew Sheldon at [email protected] Senator Tom Udall's office is also looking for campaign volunteers working in three areas: canvassing, phone banking, and voter registration.
Colorado Victory 2014 is seeking energetic and talented individuals to join the Colorado Democratic Coordinated Campaign's Summer Fellows Program. Positions are available for part-time fellows (20+ hours/week) and full-time fellows (40+ hours/week).
For more information about the Fellowship or volunteer opportunities, contact Ben at [email protected] or 970-759-9346.
The Democratic Party is requesting assistance posting yard signs and with community canvassing. If interested in assisting, please contact Kathleen Adams at (970) 764-4756 or
[email protected]
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