Take the EcoChallenge

It’s EcoChallenge Time! Northwest Earth Institute (NWEI), our sister organization, is launching their EcoChallenge for 2010. The EcoChallenge is a yearly event that creates awareness of the ways we can generate positive impact on the world around us. NWEI also created the EcoChallenge as a fundraiser for their educational programs. The participants collect pledges from supporters and sponsors of participating companies. 100% of money goes towards NWEI’s programs and is tax deductible.

The EcoChallenge has several different categories to choose from: Water Conservation, Energy Efficiency, Sustainable Food Options, Alternative Transportation, and Trash Reduction.

The EcoChallenge begins October 1st and continues until October 15th – giving you plenty of time to think of a realistic challenge, create a team, and start to get competitive with friends and family. Have fun with the EcoChallenge and become more aware of your positive impact on the world at the same time.

For more information about the EcoChallenge check out the links and follow USEE’s progress on Facebook and Twitter (@UtahEnviroEd).

Are you participating in the EcoChallenge? Let us know what you are doing to make a difference in the comments section.

Welcome Susan! USEE's newest intern.

Susan is the latest edition the the USEE staff, as our Program & Events Intern. Despite having been here only a few days, Susan is already contributing great ideas and getting excited about our upcoming Annual Bash. We are very happy to have Susan on our team, and anticipate great things to come from her. Welcome Susan!




Hi, my name is Susan Johnstone. I am an Environmental Studies and English major at the University of Utah, and I am exited to be involved with USEE as the new Program & Events Intern. I look forward to getting to know the teachers, students, and USEE community in general. I am a hiker, camper, reader, creative thinker, and baker of really good pies. After graduating in December, I plan to go on to a master’s degree program in teaching or writing, making and sharing connections about the natural world through literature.

Welcome Amanda! USEE's newest intern.

Amanda is a senior at the University of Utah working on her Communications degree. She isn’t your typical USEE staff member; a fast-paced city girl at heart, she is eager to learn more about all things “earthy”. Amanda hopes to gain more knowledge about outdoor recreation and activities, eating healthy, and everything that USEE has to offer. As a staff here at USEE we hope to gain insight from her perspective as someone not from the EE world. Amanda is spear-heading USEE's social media efforts; actively working on growing our Facebook page, as well as creating and maintaining a Twitter account (@UtahEnviroEd) and has already made great progress. Amanda has been working as a social media freelancer for a local political candidate as well as her employer. Between work, school and internships Amanda spends her free time reading or with friends and family.

Happy Trails

Dear Utah Environmental Education Community,

After nearly 3 years of working with you all, today is my last day as the Programs Coordinator at the Utah Society for Environmental Education. Next week I am moving to Toronto, Canada, to continue my education where I will be attending York University for the next two years to obtain my master’s degree in Environmental Studies with an emphasis in Business and Sustainability.

As I make my preparations for leaving this awesome state, which has always been my home, I look forward to the opportunities awaiting me in Canada. I have grown so much since I started at USEE as a hopeful intern. I have greatly enjoyed getting to know the EE community in Utah and I thank you so much for the opportunity to work with you all.

I have loved working with USEE members, the staff and board, and volunteers tremendously. Thank you all for this wonderful experience!

Cheers,

Nicole Thomas

Run the River with USEE!

A Listening Session with Ken Salazar

In early August, a few of our staff member had the opportunity to attend the America's Great Outdoors Listening Session held in Downtown Salt Lake City. Representatives from the Obama Administration, such as Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar, Chair Nancy Sutley from the President's Council on Environmental Quality, and Bureau of Land Management Director Bob Abbey were there to listen to the comments, concerns, ideas, and suggestions of citizens and interest groups in Utah. Salt Lake City Mayor Ralph Becker and State Governor Gary Herbert were also there to show their support.

This event was a result of a presidential initiative signed in April of this year, the goal of which is “to identify new opportunities to work with Americans on a modern approach to conservation that begins at the ground level, and to reinvigorate the national conversation about our outdoors.”

The day started with a general session, where we were privileged to hear from Abbey, Becker, Herbert, Sutley, and Salazar. We also viewed "America's Great Outdoors," an introductory film available for online viewing here. After the film, the floor was then opened up to the audience for questions. A variety of interests were represented in this period, from OHV drivers to hikers, young activists to mothers, and from local politicians to nonprofit workers.

After the general session, the audience was divided into eight rooms for more involved conversations. Groups were asked to answer four questions:

• Challenges- What obstacles exist to achieving your goals for conservation, recreation, or reconnecting people to the outdoors?
• What Works- Please share your thoughts and ideas on effective strategies for conservation, recreation and reconnecting people to the outdoors
• Federal Government Role- How can the federal government be a more effective partner in helping to achieve conservation, recreation or reconnecting people to the outdoors?
• Tools: What additional tools and resources would help your efforts be even more successful?

We noticed a few recurring themes in the discussion yesterday.

1. Education: many people mentioned a need for better education about opportunities to recreate outdoors, as well as education on how to recreate responsibly.
2. Involving Youth: it was brought up multiple times that getting children outside and involved with the outdoors is a critical part of maintaining and conserving our "Great Outdoors."
3. Streamlining Government Processes: one story was told about a 15 year process to gain approval to mark a trail in Moab with signs. Many expressed frustration with the lengthy application and approval processes that are part of outdoor recreation.
4. Fairness: a controversial issue that came up in the session was about OHVs (Off Highway Vehicles). The main point that we came away with was that we need to eliminate the "us vs. them" attitude, and work together to create fair opportunities for outdoor recreation. BLM Director Bob Abbey stated that the future of OHV roads and trails is up to the OHV users themselves. If they act irresponsibly on BLM lands, those lands will no longer be available for their use. As individuals, we see this as a statement that could be applied to hikers, skiers, and bikers as well. Our privilege to enjoy the outdoors should be dependent on our stewardship. Another interesting fact that Abbey brought up is that for ever 1 million acres of BLM land, there is only one enforcement officer.
5. Grass-Roots involvement: As people who live, work, and play in Utah, we know the ins and outs of the issues here. We know what works, we know what does not work. Chair Nancy Sutley continually stressed the importance that this effort be grass-roots, and not a top-down approach.
6. Compromise: With so many interests, it became very apparent at the session that accomplishing anything is going to take compromise and cooperation. Many expressed interest in working with government agencies and local nonprofits to achieve optimum results.

All of the comments and ideas submitted yesterday will go in a report to the President. This listening session was just one of many that have happened and will happen across the country. You can read more about the events here, here, here, and here.

Didn't have a chance to attend the session or offer your ideas? You can go online and submit your ideas here! It isn't too often that our federal government asks for community input, so take advantage of this opportunity to make your ideas known today!