Desert Earth Day: Our plans

Hi all. I have been thinking about the presentation that we were planning, and have decided that, considering the amount of time we have (and also the fact that this will be during an assembly in which students don't have very long attention spans) it would be a good idea to make the presentation on Wednesday, April 18 just about Earth Day events to get involved in, to hand out the brochures, and to remind students of the criteria for the annual Outdoors Club's Earth Day Spirit Contest, which will be Friday, April 20 (as Earth Day is April 22).

 

For the contest this year, we have decided that it should be more than just a day where people wear green. We want this to be about students (and teachers!) telling us what the Earth means to them. This can be communicated through clothing, artwork, posters, writing, and photography.

 

If you have been following 350.org, you might know of the 5/5/12 Climate Dots Event. This event aims at creating awareness of the connection between climate change and all of the extreme weather events happening all around the world. As a part of this, I was thinking that we could, on Thursday the 19th, film students' 10 to 30 second personal testaments about what the Earth, Earth Day, and climate change means to them. We could then compile and send these videos to 350.org, as 350 is very interested in receiving media of events and student action. This would bring the school together in thinking about what our planet means to us.

 

 For this to happen, I will need EVERY CLUB MEMBER to create 2 posters (on 8.5 by 11 inches or larger paper) with information about the Outdoors Sustainability Club Earth Day Spirit Contest. Please bring these to school this coming week (preferably Monday or Tuesday). Below is the information you should include. Feel free to include, photos, drawings, and color!

•  Title: Outdoors Club Earth Day Spirit Contest
•  Date: Friday, April 20
• What: Show us what Earth Day means to you through clothing, artwork, posters, writing, and photography, or other medium you can think of!
• Also: One Thursday, April 19, share your one 10 to 30s testament about what the Earth and Earth Day mean to you. Videos will be sent to 350.org
• Prizes: 1st place: Earth Day cake! 2nd: Three green cupcakes, 3rd: Three green cookies.  

 We only have two weeks to get everything going, so I really need all of your participation! Please sign up to do one of the following things: 

1. Printing brochures (one person): Entails going to Kinkos and printing 150 copies of the brochure. We will provide you with the money to pay for that.
2.  Baking (four people) : Entails baking one batch of green muffins or cookies.
3. Putting up posters (three people): Entails taping posters around the school
4.  Judges (three people): 
5. Photographer and video (two people): I'll do some of this but I need two other people: one to be taking pictures and one to film the students' personal messages

 Email me if you think of anything else I've forgotten!

And thanks for your help!
 

Below is our schedule for making this happen:

Monday, April 9:

• Announce Outdoor Club's plans for Earth Day
• Introduce students to contest
• Encourage them to follow the blog 

Wednesday, April 18:

•  Presentation to the school about local Earth Day events to get involved in
• Brief history of Earth Day
• Hand out brochures
• Discuss Green Spirit Contest
• Discuss the Earth Day tributes

Thursday, April 19:
During lunch: Film people holding artwork/in Earth Day wear, etc. saying what Earth Day means to them.
 
Friday, April 20 :

• Have table for artwork, posters, personal testaments, etc.
• During the day: be keeping an eye out for those with "green enthusiasm" (not just wearing green). Also, we will assign certain people to be taking pictures
• Week after: compile videos into clip to send to 350.org

I'd like everyone in the club to be a part of this to encourage the rest of the school. Tell your friends, come up with artwork, and think about what Earth Day means to you!