Eco-Reps Manual 2014-15

Training Manual

2014-2015

CSE|Eco-Reps Manual 2014 2

Table of Contents

Eco-Reps Program Strategy………………..…………………………………………………………….….3

What is an Eco-Rep?......................................................................................................................4

Eco-Rep Responsibilities…………………………………..………….………….…………...…….5

Residential Living……………………………………………………………………………………………..6

Working with ACs

Working with RAs

Clarifying Residential Responsibilities…………….…………………………………...…………7

Educating for Change……………………………………………………………………………………...8-9

Tips to be a Successful Eco-Rep…………………………………………………………………………...10

How to Plan a Successful Eco-Reps Event……………………………………………………..…..…11-12

Event Ideas…………………………………………………………………………………………...13

How Do I Do That?…………………………………………………………….……………………….....…14

Get More Information about Sustainability

Order New Posters

Report to CSE or Facilities

Steps for Conducting a Bin Audit………………………………………………………………………….15

Maintaining the Compost Bins……………………………………………………………………….…....16

A Few Definitions………………………………………………………………………………….……......17

Dickinson Definitions……………………………………………………………………………….18

Sustainability Organizations…………………………………………………………………………...19-21

Sustainable Transportation Options…………………………………………………………………..22-23

Contacts………………………………………………………………………………………………………24

Eco-Reps Contract……………………………………………………………………………………...…..25


Eco-Reps Program Strategy Vision: A sustainable Dickinson College residential community shaped by empowered leaders.

Mission: The Eco-Reps program strives to create a community of leaders in sustainability who in turn work to empower students to make sustainable change in their lives and in their communities through peer education, programming, and outreach.

Program Goals:

1. Help students gain a stronger understanding of sustainability, the Center for Sustainability Education (CSE), and sustainability opportunities at Dickinson.

2. Create a more sustainable residential community at Dickinson through peer education. 3. Offer a supportive community for Eco-Reps to improve their accountability related to

creating a more sustainable Dickinson. 4. Educate Eco-Reps about how to empower community members to live more sustainably

and be proactive agents of change. 5. Develop student leaders that can effectively design and promote events, campaigns, and

programming for their peers. 6. Make resources that exist for promoting sustainability at Dickinson more accessible. 7. Educate students about how certain choices affect their environments, including natural

resources and their community.

Eco-Reps Will:

1. Serve as peer educators for sustainability. 2. Be encouraged to reflect on personal growth and communicate successes and struggles as

a way to spread learning experiences and evolve the goals of the program. 3. Provide a connection between the Office of Campus Life and CSE. 4. Provide a connection between CSE and the residential communities at Dickinson.


What is an Eco-Rep at Dickinson College?

Leader. Educator. Visionary. Change-Maker.

Compost-Keeper. Recycler. Advocate.

Eco-Reps volunteer as peer mentors for sustainability education in the residence halls. Eco-Reps work with their residential communities on activities and will gather information and requests from their student constituents on how that resident can live more sustainably. Eco-Reps are assigned to a residence hall and should serve for at least a year at a time.

Our Eco-Reps can be any class, any major, and come from any background. We support selecting a diverse group of students to serve, and new opportunities open every semester. We attempt to place Eco-Reps in the buildings where they live or in residences where they have lived in the past.

Eco-Reps are directed by the student supervisor, an intern at the Center for Sustainability Education. The Center for Sustainability Education promotes learning and action by members of the Dickinson College community for creating a sustainable world. Our vision is for every Dickinson graduate to have the competencies and dispositions to help make the world a better place – a world that is socially just, economically vibrant, and environmentally sustainable.


Dickinson Eco-Reps Responsibilities 2-3 Hours per Week

Meetings: Mandatory meetings will last for approximately 30-45 minutes every other week. Meetings give Eco-Reps and the Eco-Reps Supervisor the ability to talk face-to-face about issues and ideas regarding the program. Meetings also help to keep everyone accountable for their responsibilities as assigned by CSE staff.

Programming: Plan and host one educational event or campaign in your assigned residence hall. Hall Audits: An audit of your residence hall must be completed every two weeks and turned in at the Eco-Reps meeting. Completing hall audits keeps Eco-Reps accountable and keeps CSE informed about the status of sustainability-related programs and projects. Hall Audits include the following:

• Bin Audits: Do bin audits biweekly in your assigned residence to make sure that waste diversion is being maximized.

• Maintaining Bulletin Boards: Change the bulletin board once each semester and repair any damaged materials as needed. Post sustainability related opportunities and promotions as directed by CSE.

• Repairs: Report any maintenance concerns to Facilities (recycling bin replacements, leaky faucets, etc.) Instructions on how to report repairs can be found later in this manual.

• Maintain Compost: Take compost to the common receptacle each week, wash bins, and look to see if it is being used correctly! Report any concerns to the Eco-Reps Supervisor.

• Maintain Plastic Bag Recycling: Check the area during biweekly bin audits and take any bags to the central collection station in the bottom of the HUB.

Be an Available Resource: You are an expert on sustainable living! It is important to be an available resource in the residence hall to answer questions about living practices. Try posting your availability so your residents know when they will be able to find you in the residence hall.


Residential Living You are not working alone. The Area Coordinators (ACs), Community Advisors (CA’s), Resident Advisors (RAs), and housekeeping staff are all working to create a positive and intellectually challenging experience for the residents.

As an Eco-Rep, you are encouraged to support your residential partners as you work together throughout the year. Showing your support for the other residential roles will help you get the support you need from them when promoting a program or trying to coordinate goals. However, working together can be difficult without clarifying each person’s responsibilities in the residence halls. Since there are several overlaps between your role as an Eco-Rep and the roles of your residential partners, it is important to note the differences in these positions before beginning to work together in order to prevent any confusion.

Working with the ACs

The Area Coordinators (ACs) have been trained in community building and conflict management. They can be used as a resource if Eco-Reps are having trouble working with a particular area or one of their residential partners. Since ACs will be spending a lot of time within the residence halls, they will also have some good insight into how the residents are responding to the Eco-Reps program and how to proceed if any facilities concerns arise. Logistically, the ACs will be working with the Eco-Reps to help provide access to the residence halls and to help schedule space for programming within them.

Working with the RAs

The Resident Advisors (RAs) have been trained in community building and conflict management. Their role includes holding floor meetings to share important information, facilitating roommate agreements, handling conflicts, planning events for their residents, and making sure that everyone has a positive and welcoming environment within the residence hall. Of all the residential staff, RAs know their residents best. They may have some good insight into how the residents are responding to the Eco-Reps program and events. In planning your events, you may want to work with the RAs in your building to collectively plan an event or have them help you promote your event to their residents.

It may also be helpful to attend floor meetings to get to know the residents in your building, explain the Eco-Reps program in person, and promote your events.


Clarifying Residential Responsibilities Roles:

Responsibilities Programming Mentoring Composting Recycling

Eco-Rep

Plan and execute all Eco-Reps sponsored

programming, including advertising for the event.

Eco-Reps are peer mentors on topics

related to sustainability.

Take out the compost when

needed. Educate residents about how to compost

properly and the benefits of

composting. Communicate

issues relating to compost to your

Eco-Reps Supervisor.

Educate residents

about how to recycle

properly and the benefits of

recycling. Maintain

recycling, landfill, and

compost signage in

residences.

Resident Advisor (RA)

Plan and execute all RA sponsored programming, including advertising for the event in collaboration

with RA staff team. Programming by the RA team is strongest during the first six weeks of the

semester. Support Eco-Reps programs as

available.

RAs are upper-class students who serve as academic, intellectual, and social role models

for other students. They work to create a

mentoring environment on their

floor.

x x

Area Coordinator

(AC)

ACs are professional staff members and the overall managers of an assigned residential area. They are

responsible for the residential room

reservation of common space.

ACs supervise the RA staff. They are a great

resource for brainstorming about community needs.

x x

Housekeeping Staff x x X*

Take out recycling and

trash.

*Attention! The housekeeping staff is in no way responsible for taking care of the compost. It is the responsibility of the Eco-Rep to make sure that the compost is well attended, by checking and emptying the bucket weekly. If the

compost receptacle is damaged or stolen, the community will be billed $50.


Educating for Change We are all creatures of habit. Changing our habits is difficult and it takes time—even when we know the change will be for the better! How many times have you told yourself to exercise more or procrastinate less? Now, imagine trying to change other people’s habits! Here are some tips to help you effectively communicate with your residents about behavior change. Remember to stay positive and be patient!

Target your Audience

Ask yourself, what motivates this person? If you don’t know, try to find out. Your audience will respond better to messages that speak to their values. For example, the argument for combatting climate change to ensure a good life for future generations might motivate a caring mother more than images of animals in danger of extinction. On the other hand, fiscal arguments may work best to help others understand.

If you are talking to a group of people, try appealing to shared values and goals of the community. Ask them to define why creating a sustainable community is important.

Lastly, be flexible! Don’t assume a tactic that worked for one person, or even a few people, will work for others.

Connect with your Audience

Your audience will be more willing to listen to people they know and trust. When talking with them, try to stress shared interests and values.

If you do not know the person you are talking to personally, try emphasizing your shared experience as a Dickinson student.


Allow your Audience to Arrive at Their Own Conclusions

Instead of telling them what changes they should make, help to guide them to arrive at their own conclusions. Give your audience enough information about climate change and climate change mitigation in order for them to make their own informed decisions. Once they take ownership of the issue, they will be much more likely to carry out any new behaviors than if someone else had suggested it to them.

Help your Audience Make a Plan for their Goals

While defining goals with your audience, remember to outline when these goals will be implemented. For example, if your audience would like to make the goal of eating vegetarian once a week, help them to make an action plan for this goal. For example, when will they do this? Wednesday? What if it is chicken nugget day in the Caf?... their favorite!

This is an example of a barrier to behavior change. In order to avoid some of these barriers, help your audience to plan ahead. Suggest that they check the Caf menu on Sunday night to see which day would be easiest for them to eat vegetarian. Therefore, not only does your audience have a goal, but they also have a plan. Having a plan will remove many of the barriers to behavior change, making them more likely to follow through with their goals.

Things to Avoid:

Do not overload your audience with apocalyptic messages. Make sure to include in your message a balance of the issues and some possible solutions; otherwise, you will leave your audience feeling depressed and helpless.

Do not present unsustainable as normal. Help those interested in sustainability see that a sustainable lifestyle is simply part of being a Dickinsonian. In situations like this, try focusing on positive behaviors, such as 60% of Dickinson students have expressed interest in buying used clothes. (Note: figures are not real).


Tips to Becoming a Successful Eco-Rep

Work primarily to empower those students who are already involved with sustainability and those students who are interested but need some direction to get involved. Help them recognize that they represent the majority on campus. Working with these students to reestablish the social norm on campus will indirectly target those students who were not originally open to changing their behavior through the influence of their peers.

Do not act as the “Green Police.” The purpose of the Eco-Reps program is not to make those who are not living sustainably feel bad, but rather to educate them to make more informed decisions.

Make sure to “practice what you preach.” It is important for Eco-Reps to live the lifestyles they are trying to promote in order to provide students with a good role model.

You don’t have to know everything! If a student comes to ask you a question that you don’t know the answer to, help them find a good resource or tell them you will let them know and look it up.

Some talking points…

1. Dickinson is committed to providing its students with the knowledge to engage the world in a responsible and sustainable way. The Eco-Reps program is an initiative to help further students’ useful education.

2. We are trying to encourage and empower our peers to make smart decisions in their day-to-day lives.

3. Because of Dickinson’s sustainability initiatives, the college has been able to distinguish itself among other liberal arts schools. By supporting the green movement on campus, you are contributing to the success of the college, a contribution that will make your degree more valuable.

4. Eco-Reps is sponsored by CSE and is a great way to start getting involved. After volunteering as an Eco-Rep you may want to apply for one of CSE’s paid-internship positions, such as the Eco-Reps Supervisor!


How to Plan a Successful Eco-Reps Event

These directions are meant as a set of general guidelines to be followed every time you plan an event. We want to give you enough guidance to be able to plan a successful program while still giving you enough freedom to add your own creativity into your programs. Get creative! Use humor! And most importantly, have fun!

1. Planning the Event:

• Plan: Talk to your AC to identify potential topics and a good time for this to happen. Maybe attend existing floor meetings or community forums where they have set aside time for you!

• Organize: Complete the Event Planning Sheet provided by the Eco-Reps Supervisor as early in the semester as possible. Use CSE interns as resources.

• Promote & Advertise: Let your residents know about the event ahead of time § Make flyers and post them on bulletin boards § Create a bathroom stall newsletter with sustainability news, upcoming sustainability

related events, and tips on green living § Go to floor meetings to promote and talk about the event § Visit residents door-to-door to tell them about the event § Tell the Dickinsonian what you are planning § Ask if you can talk briefly to sustainability-related First Year Seminars and/or

environmental clubs about your event § Use CSE social media and the Eco-Reps blog § Get the RAs to help you promote your event

2. Funding the event:

• Be aware of your budget of $25 per semester for programming. This can be spent on supplies, food, and promotional materials.

§ Obtain pre-approval from Makalea Branch and Lindsey Lyons, CSE for expenditures. • Purchase any required materials

§ Lindsey can purchase materials with the CSE credit card or the student can pay with their own money and be reimbursed after.

• Save ALL receipts and submit them to Kathleen Banski, CSE Administrative Assistant, to obtain reimbursement

• Email Eco-Reps Supervisor at least two weeks prior to your program to arrange details.

3. At the Event:

• Bring: Camera, compost and recycling bins, and any other materials needed for the event. • Introduce yourself, the Eco-Reps program, and CSE.

§ Explain why the Eco-Reps program is important to the mission and the success of the college.

§ Explain how the Eco-Reps program helps the students live more sustainably.


You are not limited to one program a semester. As an Eco-Rep you have the opportunity to affect change and to have your voice heard! If you’re

feeling inspired, take advantage of this opportunity!

Use of your semester budget for any additional programming will have to be approved by the Eco-Reps Supervisor. Just ask!

More money may be available!

§ From here on out take the goal of living sustainably as a given; this is part of being a Dickinsonian. Spend your time showing them how to live sustainably instead of debating why they should.

• Present and start your event – this is where your creative ideas come into play. • Encourage people to compost any food scraps from the event and/or recycle any cups or

plates. Explain how you will be doing bin-audits routinely to make sure everything is running smoothly.

• Try to encourage discussion and save time for questions!

4. After the Event:

• Post about the event on CSE Social Media sites (including photos). • Report: Fill out an event evaluation form after every event. Every Eco-Rep must do this,

even with joint events. • Turn in all receipts to Kathleen Banski, CSE Administrative Assistant. • Discuss the successfulness of the event with the other Eco-Reps at the bi-weekly meeting. • Clean up after the event and leave the space as you found it. • Share ideas for future planning with fellow Eco-Reps, if applicable.

Who to Contact for Planning an Event

Eco-Reps Supervisor: Discuss the event and plan out a timeline for implementation.

AC: To coordinate and plan event within residence hall. They can also help with scheduling, booking space, and ideas.

Kathleen Banski: To discuss reimbursement.

Facilities: If you need furniture or set-up for the event; place a work order a week ahead of time.


Event Ideas

Creating fun and exciting events is a large part of an Eco-Reps responsibility. These events create opportunities to interact with residents face-to-face, see what is important to them, share information, and have fun. Below are some ideas for events to help get your creative thoughts flowing. Do not feel limited to these ideas as some of our most successful events have been new and creative events proposed by individual Eco-Reps!

Bulb Swap: Light bulb swaps allow Eco-Reps to interact with their residents and get them to swap out incandescent light bulbs in their desk lamps for more efficient CFLs. To acquire CFLs, discuss your options with CSE and/or facilities.

Clothing Swap: Organize a clothing swap for your residence hall or work with other Eco-Reps to organize one for multiple residence halls. This is a great way for students to reuse clothing they no longer wear and add new life to their wardrobe.

Film Nights: Show a film about an environmental issue (WALL-E, Erin Brockovich, An Inconvenient Truth, Bag It, etc.) and have a discussion after about the issue and/or what the Dickinson community and individual students can do about it.

Go on a Hike: Organize a hike for your residence hall so that they can see some of the beautiful natural resources in and around Carlisle. The Outing Club may be able to help you out with ideas, planning, and materials.

Local Food Dinner: Cook a dinner using local foods and invite your hall to share the meal. You can have a more formal talk about an environmental issue or just use this event to get to know your residents and talk informally about environmental issues. Make sure to encourage your residents to bring their own reusable plates, cups, and utensils!

Make recycled notebooks: Bring recycled cardboard and paper to create recycled notebooks with residents. This might be a good event for the beginning of the semester.

Potluck: Organize a potluck for residents with a speaker about an environmental issue. You may also just want to use this event to get to know your residents. Make sure to encourage residents to bring their own reusable plates, cups, and utensils!

Tour: Organize a tour for your residents of a sustainability location or effort on Dickinson’s campus (Treehouse, Greenhouse, College Farm, Biodiesel Shop, Farmers Market, etc.). You may also consider organizing a tour of sustainability efforts in Carlisle by contacting the Great Carlisle Project.

Upcycle Projects: Get creative with this event! There are a ton of different upcycle projects that use everyday objects and create useful and/or beautiful things for every college student’s dorm room.

Volunteer: Get your residents out and volunteering! You can contact ALLARM, the Farm, the Greater Carlisle Project, the Carlisle West Side Neighbors, Project Share, and many other organizations to see when they have volunteer opportunities or when you can create volunteer opportunities.


How Do I Do That?

Get more info on a sustainability topic:

§ Conduct personal research in the CSE resource library or on the internet. § Attend a professional development session or event hosted by CSE. § Talk with CSE staff about your topic. § Attend a workshop or seminar.

Order New Recycling, Compost, or Landfill Posters:

§ E-mail the Eco-Reps Supervisor to order a new poster, indicating size and quantity needed. § The poster will be given to you at the next staff meeting or you can pick it up at CSE.

Report a Missing or Damaged Compost Bin:

§ Contact the Eco-Reps Supervisor § Empty and clean damaged bin and return it to CSE. § Notify the AC of the $50 replacement fee that the residence hall will be charged.

Replace the damaged bin with a new bin and any necessary signage ASAP.

Report a Concern to Facilities:

Go to dickinson.edu/repairs.

§ Type in your Dickinson E-mail address to begin. § Fill out the fields. § Describe the problem. § Select a completion date.

Urgent concerns such as leaks, heating, or cooling problems should be completed by the next business day. Less urgent problems, such as a missing recycling bin, should be completed within the week.

§ Type in the password (the password is “password.”) § Press submit. § You should receive a confirmation e-mail. § Forward the confirmation email to your Eco-Reps Supervisor.


Steps for Conducting a Bin Audit Residence hall bin audits should be conducted every two weeks and audit sheets must be turned

in to your Eco-Reps Supervisor at the bi-weekly meeting.

1. Walk by the recycling areas every two weeks to make sure that the residents seem to understand how to sort the recycling. If there are problems with sorting the recycling, try posting reminders by the recycling bins. If this does not work, send out an e-mail to your residents addressing the problem.

2. Check compost and take to compost receptacle if necessary (This should be done weekly).

3. Make sure the area around the compost bin is clean and free of pests. Request cleaning supplies from housekeeping and clean up any messes as necessary.

4. If there is a problem with the bins themselves, such as a missing or broken bin, report the problem. If a compost bin is damaged, report to CSE; if a recycling bin or landfill bin is damaged, report to facilities. (See Report a Concern to Facilities for further instructions).

5. Sort out bins once a month to identify what is being placed in each bin.

6. Network with other Eco-Reps to see how recycling is being handled in their buildings. Discuss

any issues with other Eco-Reps or the Eco-Reps Supervisor.

7. Update and maintain all signage at recycling and compost centers within residences.


How to Maintain Compost Bins Residence Waste à Compost Receptacles on Campus à Dickinson College Organic Farm Dickinson’s Dining Services diverts 120 tons of waste from the landfill by composting each year.

Composting Guidelines:

1. Make sure the compost bin in your residence hall is being used correctly.

• If the compost bins are being misused, try posting reminders by the compost bin. If this does not work, send out an email to your residents addressing the problem.

• Put in a work order for damaged or missing bins and report this to the Eco-Reps Supervisor. Notify the AC of the $50 fine.

2. Empty your compost bucket once a week! Letting it sit will induce smell and attract pests. Try to empty the buckets before they are picked up by the farm.

3. Take the compost to the receptacles. These are located next to The Handlebar, outside DW, on the side of the Social Justice House, and next to the Drayer Hall dumpsters facing College St.

• If you can, add nearby leaves or other small dry plant material to the compost receptacle after you empty your bucket.

4. After emptying, wash out your bin at outdoor faucets near collection receptacles and let it dry outdoors with the lid open.

5. Make sure that the area around the compost bucket is kept clean at all times. It is not up to housekeeping to clean up any mess from the compost bins.

6. Make sure bins have clear signage nearby to indicate what can be composted at Dickinson. 7. Empty, clean and return your compost bucket to the Center for Sustainability Education

Office in Kaufman 190 at the end of the semester. This is coordinated by the Eco-Rep Supervisor.

WHAT TO COMPOST?

Fruit and vegetable waste, breads and food scraps, egg shells, dryer lint, coffee grounds and filters, tea bags, and napkins. But no meat and limit dairy!


A Few Definitions

Active Programming: Active programming includes programs that require participation in order to function. Examples include an event for the hall or a survey questionnaire.

Biodegradable: A product or material capable of decomposing in nature within a reasonably short period of time.

Carbon Footprint: The total amount of greenhouse gases emitted directly or indirectly through an activity, or from a product, company, or person, typically expressed in equivalent tons of either carbon or carbon dioxide.

Carbon Neutral: If a place or an activity is carbon neutral, it releases net zero carbon emissions to the atmosphere. To achieve neutrality, carbon emissions from an identified product, service, or company must be balanced with emissions reductions or carbon offsets in order to reach net zero carbon emissions.

Green Building: A comprehensive process of design and construction that minimizes adverse environmental impacts and reduces the energy consumption of a building, while also contributing to the health and productivity of its occupants. Common metrics for evaluating green buildings include the LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certification and Australia’s Green Star program.

Composting: The biological process of breaking down certain wastes, including food waste, leaves, grass trimmings, paper, etc. into a nutrient-rich substance that can be added to soil. Food scraps from the cafeteria, for example, are composted at the College Farm. Eventually, this compost serves as soil, providing beneficial nutrients and microorganisms to plants and crops. Passive Programming: Passive programming does not require active participation in order to function. Examples include a bulletin board or a poster.

Phantom Energy: The energy consumed by an electronic device that is switched off or not in use, but is not unplugged. Examples include microwaves, coffee makers, and computers.

Post-Consumer Recycled Content: Material recovered after its intended use as a consumer product can be reused as a component of another product. Aluminum cans, PET soda bottles, carpet tiles (for new yarn and tile backing), and office paper are all examples of post-consumer waste that can be recycled.

Sustainability: Sustainability means “meeting the needs of the current generation without sacrificing those of those of the future generations” (Brundtland 1987). It is about making human activity viable over time, which requires a consideration of our environmental, economic, and social demands.


Dickinson Definitions

As an Eco-Rep, it is important to be familiar with the sustainability organizations and efforts at Dickinson. You certainly do not need to know everything about sustainability, but the information below will allow you to be a resource for others on campus who may have questions about sustainability at Dickinson.

Campus Wall: A Dickinson-only site that allows students to buy and sell used books, games, furniture, clothing, etc. within the Dickinson community. This encourages reusing things as well as keeping them within the Dickinson community. Localtunity: A program that allows students to get money for the Farmers on the Square Market. In groups of 3 or more, students can get $5 each to the market or $10 each if they agree to cook together and send pictures to CSE. At this time, students go to the HUB Info Desk to sign up and can only participate in this program twice per semester. Sustainability Connections: Courses that touch on sustainability. Depending on the course, there may be a unit on sustainability, it may be an underlying message that is not discussed prominently, or there may be some material related to sustainability. These courses can also cover economic and social sustainability. You can search for these courses online under the “Attribute Type” section in the course catalog and course schedule search. Sustainability Investigations: Courses that focus on sustainability topics. These courses range from environmental science courses to history courses to special topics courses, but they all have a significant focus on sustainability. You can search for these courses online under the “Attribute Type” section in the course catalog and course schedule search. U-Turn: At the end of each year, United Way, a non-profit organization in Carlisle, hosts a large sale of donated items. Generally, there are bins located in each residence hall for students to donate items that they no longer need that are still in good condition.


Dickinson Sustainability Organizations Alliance for Aquatic Resource Monitoring (ALLARM): ALLARM is an organization that provides

technical assistance to watershed groups, K-12 environmental education, and public education and outreach. Rather than monitoring streams throughout the state, ALLARM teaches local watershed groups how to monitor their streams and performs quality assurance tests to confirm the local groups’ results. ALLARM also monitors our local LeTort Spring Run, which travels directly through Carlisle. One of their major projects is educating the public about the impacts of storm water runoff on the LeTort. Another major project is teaching communities how to monitor for the impacts of shale gas in

communities across PA, WV, and NY. ALLARM hosts 10-14 interns during the year and 2-3 full-time interns during the summer.

Biodiesel Shop: The Biodiesel Shop is a living laboratory where students convert waste vegetable oil from the dining hall and restaurants throughout Carlisle into a fuel used in tractors at the Farm. Student workers also take a by-product of biodiesel production, glycerol, and make soap. The biodiesel shop, through CSE, has 3-5 interns during the year and 2 full-time interns in the summer.

Center for Sustainability Education (CSE): CSE is an organization that creates opportunities to learn about sustainability both inside and outside of the classroom. Working with many partners, CSE serves as a hub of Dickinson’s sustainability efforts, funds student-faculty research, helps faculty incorporate sustainability into their teaching, and hosts speakers, events, and workshops. CSE has 10-14 interns during the year and 4 full-time interns in the summer. These interns work on projects including the energy challenge, biodiesel production, promoting biking, analyzing data, coordinating the Eco-Reps program, communications, and much more.


Climate Action Plan: The Climate Action Plan is Dickinson’s commitment to be carbon neutral by 2020. The plan, established in 2008-09 by students, faculty, staff, and administrators, aims to reduce Dickinson’s carbon emissions by 25% and purchase offsets for the remaining 75%. The plan includes measures to increase use of renewable energy, improve transportation efficiency and infrastructure, hold new construction to the LEED Gold Standard, and improve energy efficiency and conservation. The Climate Action Task Force reviews the plan, action steps, and progress towards our goal.

Dickinson College Farm: The Dickinson College Farm is a 50-acre, certified organic farm. It is used for many purposes including farming, education, research, and events. They grow produce and have sheep, cows, and chickens. Students can volunteer at the farm most days of the week in the morning or afternoon, with a car typically leaving from the Kaufman Parking Lot at 8am or 1pm. Students can complete independent study or research on the farm. The farm has 10-

14 student workers during the year and 4 full-time student workers during the summer. They also hire 4 students who have just graduated to work as apprentices, learning how to run a successful organic farm. The Farm hosts a stand at the Farmers on the Square Market on Wednesday and in the HUB on Friday.

Dickinson Science Magazine: The Dickinson Science Magazine is a recently started magazine that features articles covering student and faculty research, recent advancements, science events, club updates, columns on health and wellness, career advice for science majors, and much more.

EarthNOW: EarthNOW is an organization that discusses environmental issues on campus, in the country, and around the world. In the past few semesters, they have headed initiatives such as Take Back the Tap, movie screenings, and protests of the Keystone XL Pipeline.

Farmers on the Square Farmer’s Market: Farmers on the Square is a farmers market that takes place 3-7pm on the corner of High St. and Hanover St. during the summer and in the Rector Atrium during the winter months. Here you can purchase fresh, local foods from farmers in the area. You can also use Dickinson’s Localtunity program to purchase food from the market in groups of 3 or more.


Handlebar: The Handlebar is a place where students can learn to fix and build bikes. The shop is run by student and staff volunteers and CSE interns. Along with helping students and staff fix their bikes, volunteers build green bikes from donated bikes and bike parts. The Handlebar is located along D-Walk under Davidson-Wilson.

Idea Fund: The Idea Fund is a student-run group that supports student projects on campus through project consulting, PR and marketing consulting, grants, and loans. They have supported projects such as creating glasses from old wine bottles, installing LED lights in the theatre, The Peddler (a student-run bicycle coffee shop), sustainability classes for local children, and The Dog House (a special interest house to train service dogs). To bring up an idea, attend one of their weekly meetings Wednesday at 8pm in Tome 115.

Outing Club: The Outing Club leads outdoor trips for interested students, ranging from hiking and camping to climbing and skiing.

Reinvest Dickinson: Reinvest Dickinson is a student group dedicated to ending Dickinson’s investment in fossil fuels and reinvesting that money in a way that helps the college and the world.

Students Interested in Sustainable Agriculture (SISA): SISA raises awareness of agricultural issues on campus and connects students to the College Farm. They host the popular

Local Foods Dinner each semester. They also host the Harvest Festival each Fall.

Treehouse: The Treehouse, or the Center for Sustainable Living, is a LEED Gold certified residential community at Dickinson. It was built following sustainable practices and was the first of its kind in Pennsylvania. Furthermore, the residents live following sustainable behaviors, including composting, line-drying their laundry, growing a garden, taking 3 minute showers, buying local foods, and unplugging electronics when not in use. The Treehouse hosts events each semester such as Open Mic Nights, Soup and Bread Discussions, and Open Houses.


Sustainable Transportation Options

Break Shuttle: Break shuttles run between campus and the Harrisburg Airport, Train/Bus Station, and the Philadelphia Airport during move-in, fall pause, Thanksgiving break, winter break, spring break, and move-out. There are schedules posted on the Dickinson website and you must purchase a ticket for these shuttles in advance. There are also shuttles offered to NYC, BWI, North Jersey, and New England through the outside provider, Break Shuttle.

Carlisle Circulator Bus: The Carlisle Circulator Bus is a recent expansion of the Capital Area Transit (CAT) service area. The service is free to Dickinson students with ID. The bus covers three routes, including commuter, retail, and health and human services. The retail route will likely be the most heavily used by students, with stops at Carlisle Commons (Wal-Mart, movie theatre), Giant, Target and Kohl’s,

and the High Point Mall (Bon-Ton, Lowes). To get on the retail route at Dickinson go to the stop at High St. and Cherry St. (at the corner of the Kline Center). This is an excellent resource that will allow students without a car to go shopping and get around Carlisle.

Green Bikes: The Green Bike program allows Dickinson students and employees to take out a bike for a full semester. This is a great way for students who do not own a bike or live too far away to bring their bike to have one available to them on campus! Users pay a refundable $25 cash deposit at the beginning of the semester and receive a bike, lock, and helmet to keep for the whole semester. When the user returns the equipment at the end of the semester, he/she will receive the $25 back as long as the bike is in good condition. Bikes for the Green Bike program are built by volunteers at The Handlebar from donated bikes and bike parts. These bikes go quickly and are often all reserved before the start of the semester, so make sure to reserve yours as soon as possible!


Recreational Shuttle: The recreational shuttle takes students from campus to Harrisburg on Friday and Sunday evening. The shuttle goes to Capital City Mall, Barnes and Noble, and the train station, bus station, Whitaker Center, and restaurant district. The first shuttle leaves from the ATS parking lot at 3pm and the second leaves at 5pm. You will return to campus by 10pm, with the latest pick-up at 9pm at the train station. The pass for this shuttle is $10/per semester or $18 for the full year. You can obtain a pass by visiting the Student Life Office in the bottom of the HUB.

Red Bikes: The Red Bike program allows you to take out a bike for free from DPS during daylight hours. You simply leave your Dickinson ID or Driver’s License with DPS and they will give you a bike number, lock and key, and a helmet. You must return the bike the same day before dark. Visitors can also get bikes, so you can go riding when your parents or friends come to town! All users must be 18 years of age.

Ridepost: Ridepost is a website where users can post trips and find rides. The website requires a Dickinson email address to log in, so it is only open to Dickinson students, faculty, and staff. Ridepost allows students to find rides home or to events with other Dickinson students. If you’re driving, you can post where you are going so that you can find people to ride with you and split the cost of gas.

Zipcar: Zipcar allows students to use a car when needed without having to own a car. When Dickinson students and employees sign up for Zipcar, they can reserve one of the zipcars located in the Kaufman Hall Parking Lot. Dickinsonians get a discounted registration fee of $25 when they first sign up and then receive $35 in free driving. There is also an annual fee of $50 and rates for reserving a car start as low as $7.50 an hour or $69 per day.


Contact

The Center for Sustainability Education Kaufman Hall 190

Dickinson College Carlisle, PA 17013

[email protected] www.dickinson.edu/sustainability

Neil Leary, Director, CSE [email protected] 717-245-1954 Lindsey Lyons, Assistant Director, CSE [email protected] 717-245-1117 Tyce Herrman, Projects Coordinator, CSE [email protected] 717-245-8199 Kathleen Banski, Administrative Assistant, CSE [email protected] 717-245-1781 Makalea Branch, Eco-Reps Supervisor, CSE [email protected] Amanda George, Area Coordinator All Quads, KW, and McKenney [email protected] 717-245-8671 Sagar Agrawal, Area Coordinator Drayer, Adams, Morgan, and Witwer [email protected] 717-240-3025 Brandon Smith, Area Coordinator Small Houses and Apartments [email protected]


2014-15 Eco-Reps Contract

As an Eco-Rep for the 2014-2015 academic school year, I, ______________________, hereby agree to the following:

Wherein I have committed to attending one hour, bi-weekly meetings with the Eco-Reps Supervisor. Absences from these meetings must be approved by the Eco-Reps Supervisor 24 hours in advance. A make-up meeting will be scheduled within one week.

Wherein I have committed to planning and hosting one event or campaign per semester in my assigned residence hall.

Wherein I have committed to maintaining a bulletin board, doing bin audits, and maintaining the compost and plastic bag recycling in my assigned residence hall.

Wherein I have committed to supporting my residential partners. This includes the ACs, RAs, housekeeping staff.

Wherein I have committed to being an available resource in the residence hall to answer questions about living sustainably.

Wherein I have committed to upholding college policies while in my assigned Eco-Reps residence hall. I understand that breaking the rules that the AC and RA need to uphold could undermine my relationship and future support from them. I also understand that any repeated offenses could result in release from the Eco-Reps position.

And thus, I recognize that my affiliation with the Eco-Reps program is dependent upon upholding these commitments and failure to do so could result in release from the Eco-Reps position.

______________________ ______________________ Student Name Contact Phone Number ______________________ Residence Hall Assignment

______________________ ______________________ Student Signature Date

Eco-Reps Manual 2014-15

Documents

Transcript of Eco-Reps Manual 2014-15