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Social Threads Weave a Community
How do we connect? Why do we connect? Here at the Environmental Center, one of our core tenets is to foster community. Community building is fascinating in that it is both a means
and an end. In order to achieve the environmental and social changes we strive for, we must build strong community ties. And at the same time, a strong, resilient, and sustainable community is one of the end goals of all our efforts. Creating and maintaining this social fabric takes concerted effort, and it's a charge we take to heart alongside many like-minded organizations in our area.
In his book,
Bowling Alone, Robert D. Putnam warns of a collapse of
social capital - the value of our community and connections. The sentiments in the book are mirrored in the national reminiscence of a time when we put more time and thought into ourselves and our relationships. We're more connected than ever before through the internet and social media, but at the same time there is a deep fear that these types of connections are superficial at best and
destructive at worst. But fear not! Community is by no means dead, it simply needs some care and attention.
The tapestry is always changing. Threads come and go, and we are always connecting in new ways. The important part is for us all to keep weaving.
Sincerely,
Marty Pool
Assistant Coordinator, Environmental Center
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Environmental Center and Campus Happenings
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Ski for the EC on Sunday 2/25 at Purgatory!
Compete against your friends to see who can rack up the most laps on our amazing home mountain. The winner will walk away with the trophy of a lifetime, notoriety for their regional ski prowess, and amazing prizes. Snowboards allowed too ;)
To help with the fundraising side of things, you get to become a Sponsored Athlete (we know you always wanted to be one)! Round up sponsorships from your friends, family, faculty, you name it, and ask them to pledge a certain dollar amount donation to the EC for each lap that you ski. The more sponsors you have, the better! At the end of the night, the EC will tally your laps and follow up with your sponsor(s).
To Sponsor an Athlete, click here and fill out our super quick form.
$1 a lap, $5 a lap, $20 a lap . . . pick your pleasure! All contributions are tax deductible.
Payments are not collected through this form, we will follow up with you after the event!
When:
Sunday, February 25th 10 a.m. - 2 p.m.
Where:Purgatory Ski Resort
Cost: Registration is free.
Purgatory is offering a discounted lift ticket for event participants at $45. Lift tickets are free for anyone who has a combined total sponsorship of $20 per lap . . . and yes, your Purg Season Pass will get you on the lifts and entered into the event for free!
For More Information visit
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5th Annual Sustainability Summit
Featuring Free Dinner and Keynote Speaker, Sam Daley-Harris:
Are Silence & Shouting our Only Two Options?
The 5th annual Sustainability Summit promises an evening of inspiration, celebration, enlightenment, and community connections for campus and regional sustainability. Featuring keynote speaker Sam Daley-Harris, founder of RESULTS and Civic Courage, plus a FREE dinner of 'Real' food to help feed your excitement.
Come one, come all - sustainability newcomers, dedicated citizens looking for more, experts in the field, students, staff, faculty, community members!
We're also excited to announce Keynote Speaker,
Sam Daley-Harris
who will open your eyes to the power you wield as citizens! We'll provide education and strategies for ways to bold differences toward a more sustainable college, community, state, nation, and world.
When: Tuesday, Febrary 20 from 5:30 - 8:30 p.m.
Where: Fort Lewis College Student Union Ballroom
Cost: Free!
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Nominate a Sustainability Superhero!
The Environmental Center would like to celebrate leaders in sustainability both on campus and in our greater community! We're asking for people to nominate inspiring friends and colleagues who are proudly carrying the sustainability torch. Nominations will be reviewed by the Campus Sustainability Council.
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More EC and FLC Campus Happenings
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We are hiring our summertime Local Food Fellows!
Hey FLC students: Want to get paid to learn how to grow food? Want to make amazing connections with the incredible people working on Local Food Security in La Plata County? Consider applying for the Environmental Center's Local Food Fellowship! You will enroll in Dr. Hilimire's Ecological Agriculture summer course (listed below) and manage the Environmental Center campus garden, orchard, and greenhouse! No prior experience needed (though if you've got it, great!). We're just looking for applicants with a strong desire to learn . . . and a love of being outdoors getting your hands dirty.
Wage: $10.20/hour for 15 hours/week May-September
To Apply:
Applications are due 2/23 at 8a.m.
A complete job description and application instructions can be found here.
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Ecological Agriculture Summer Course Opportunity
Learn how to grow your own food and earn college credit at the same time!
ENVS 319: Ecological Agriculture is a four-week summer course. Students will take field trips to local farms, study in the campus garden, and analyze agricultural sustainability through the lens of ecology.
April 30 - May 23, MTW 8:40 a.m. - 12:10 p.m.
For more information, contact: Kathy Hilimire, ENVS,
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Bring your (Green) Business Idea to 2018 Hawk Tank!
Fort Lewis College is now accepting teams for the 2018 Hawk Tank Business Plan Competition. Current students and recent alumni who have an idea to start a new business have the opportunity to earn up to $5,000. All majors are welcome!
Participating teams will be guided through educational workshops to help them create a plan to make their business idea viable. Teams will be matched with mentors who are local leaders in the Durango business community. Several teams from the 2016 and 2017 competitions have opened their business. Examples include: Fields to Plate Produce, Nitrum Dynamic Paint, and the EC's own Charlie Shew with Rendezvous Doughnuts.
Entries don't have to be green or sustainability related, but we here at the EC sure encourage entrepreneurs to work to tackle environmental and social problems!
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Sustainability Initiative Grant
The Sustainability Initiative Grant accepts applications every February
for projects that advance a more sustainable campus.
Who can apply:
Anyone with a project to improve Fort Lewis College campus sustainability. Students, faculty, and staff are all eligible.
Deadline:
February 25 at 5p.m.
Award amount:
Applicants may apply for funds up to $2,000.
Application process:
Please complete this
application
. Send completed applications with the subject line: "SIG Application" to
[email protected]
by February 25th at 5p.m.
For more information, check out the SIG website here! |
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Just a Few Be Local Coupon Books Left
We know there's plenty of places you can pick one of these up, but if you get it from the EC, you also get the benefit of supporting the work we do, in addition to all those amazing dealz!
Cost: $25 each - a portion of the proceeds go to the Environmental Center
Purchase Options: Remember, it's first come first serve, so act fast!
Books can be purchased in-person in our office with cash or check, or
online.
All purchases can be picked up at the EC office, Student Union room 145.
Questions or more information, contact Marty Pool, EC Assistant Coordinator, at [email protected]
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The Latest Student Perspective from the Environmental Center Blog
Every other Monday night, the FLC philosophy club hosts talks/discussions from different speakers on a wide range of topics which have included "is democracy actually a good way to run . . . Continue Reading
Read more blog entries here!
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Community Events & Opportunities
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Local
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Events and Happenings in our Local Community
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| It's Time to Sign-Up for Your 2018 CSA Plot |
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Sign-up Deadline TODAY to Volunteer at New Durango Goodwill Grand Opening
Discover Goodwill is opening the doors to our new retail center in Durango, Colorado and we need high-energy, customer-focused volunteers to help make its launch a spectacular success.
Note: Volunteers must be at least 16 years of age. Business casual dress required.
When: Sat, Feb. 17, 8:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m. - shifts are available
Where: 1230 Escalante Drive, Durango
Benefits: Volunteers will receive 15% shopping discount and lunch
To Sign-Up: Contact Grace Vigil at (719) 785-9229
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FREE FILM - Saving Snow
When: Mon, Feb. 26, 6:00-8:00 p.m.
Where: Durango Public Library
Cost: FREE!
Saving Snow is a feature documentary on how ski towns are coping with warmer winters. It was made to educate audiences about the impacts of climate change on the winter economy and build support for mitigation and adaptation efforts across the country.
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Durango Transit is Now Tied to Google Maps!
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Participate in the Winter Business Commuter Challenge!
Enter your organization in the
Winter Business Commuter Challenge! The Business Commuter Challenge is a friendly competition among local businesses to see who can walk, wheel, bike, e-bike, bus or carpool the most during the entire week (Monday - Friday) leading up to
Winter Bike to Work Day on Friday, February 23.
Please do not include recreational bike rides, hikes or runs for exercise.
You can sign up for the Winter Business Commuter Challenge by calling (970) 375-4955 or emailing your organization's name and total number of employees to [email protected]
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Opportunities
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Jobs, Scholarships, Internships, and more!
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Summer 2018 Internship at The Garden Project
Spend your summer assisting The Garden Project to create healthy and productive school gardens. Most of the activities will be maintaining the gardens, but there will be opportunities for helping out at our summer camps and possibly managing volunteers.
This internship opportunity lines up with Fort Lewis College's Summer Semester.
How To Apply: Send completed application (below) and resume to Marissa Hunt at
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High Country Conservation Center Summit CSA Internship
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Apply to intern this summer at the Summit CSA farm in
Frisco, Colorado.
Interns farm 100-125 hours, complete a project, and are awarded a scholarship upon program completion.
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Research and Extension Experience for Undergrads at CSU
Spend Summer 2018 in a
USDA-NIFA Research and Extension Experience for Undergraduates
(REEU) exploring your scientific interests and work with leading scientists at Colorado State University (CSU).
The USDA NIFA Integrative Agroecology and Sustainability REEU provides research placements for
college-level sophomores and juniors
to participate in work addressing complex challenges to global food security and
environmental change.
When:
June 3 - July 27, 2018
Where:
Colorado State University (CSU)
More application information at: https://tinyurl.com/CSUREEU2018
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Apply to Be a Citizens' Climate Campus Leader!
Do you want to do something about global warming? Are you passionate about creating social change? Do you want to develop the skills to be an effective leader, communicator, and organizer, no matter what professional field you enter? Citizen's Climate Education is seeking students who want to be change makers to join the #PutaPriceonIt campaign and activate young people on climate change.
Find out more information and
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Interns Wanted at Two Bears Farm in Animas Valley
Two Bears is a sustainable farm being built from the ground up, using inter-cropping systems and livestock to maintain and improve the land. Two Bears Farm has a large orchard and grows several crops, including industrial hemp. We also raise Navajo Churro sheep, chickens, ducks, and heritage breed pigs. An important component of our holistic farm is the interaction of agriculture, conservation, and wildlife.
The interns will learn the basics of crop farming, livestock raising, farm maintenance, sales and marketing of farm products, and the business planning essential to a successful endeavor. The ideal intern candidates will be motivated, energetic, able to think on their feet, and willing to put their in class learning into on the ground work. The work here will give the student a sense of what the homestead life would have been like.
For more information and to apply, contact Scott Perez at [email protected]
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Udall Scholarship for Outdoor and Environmental leaders
The Udall Foundation offers a prestigious scholarship for students seeking careers in environmental fields. Applicants should be leading change on their campus or in their community.
Up to $7,000 is awarded to 50 sophomores and juniors pursuing careers related to Tribal policy, Native health care, and the environment. Scholars get to attend the Udall Scholar Orientation in August, meeting alumni and community leaders for exceptional networking opportunities, and gain lifetime membership in a growing and active alumni network. For more information, visit us at udall.gov.
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Further Resources and Opportunities
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2018 Summer Sustainability Fellowship at University of New Hampshire (UNH)
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UNH Sustainability Fellowships pair outstanding graduate and undergraduate students with competitive, challenging, multi-disciplinary projects based with organizations and communities across New England that propel us towards a sustainable, resilient future. The program runs 10 weeks, starting the first week of June. Fellows receive mentorship and unique networking opportunities, as well as generous compensation.
When: May 29 - Aug. 10, 2018
Where: Project-dependent (see project list for specific locations). Fellows will be placed with partners throughout New England. For some of the projects, state or regional travel may be required.
Compensation: $6,000
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