#CleanupUCSC

This post was written by Sustainability Office Zero Waste Team Associate Bella Montez. 

My project this year with the UCSC Sustainability Office’s Zero Waste Team was to plan the Second Annual UCSC Campus Cleanup. My first thought was “I need some help.” I gathered help from the Sustainability Office, my fellow Zero Waste Team members, some Student Sustainability advisors and some gracious volunteers I found on facebook. We formed a committee and met every week starting in the winter quarter to plan two winter cleanups and the big spring cleanup. 

For the two winter cleanups, we used the Student Sustainability Advisors home turf. We did our first  “Cleanup Hour” at College 9/10 and another at College 8/Oakes which drew in about 10-20 students for each cleanup. The two smaller cleanups were really helpful because they allowed us to understand how we could improve, expand, and plan a successful spring cleanup. 

To plan for the big cleanup, we contacted Grounds Services who helped us with waste management, Environmental Health and Safety who gave us helpful tips on how to keep everyone safe, and Save our Shores who donated buckets and grabbers that made the cleanup possible. In total, we were able to recruit 155 volunteers from all the colleges on campus through facebook and flyering in dorms & at bus stops. 

On May 1, 2016, the Campus Cleanup Committee gathered supplies and brought them to Quarry Plaza at around 9:30AM. At 10AM, volunteers began to gather at the Quarry plaza for bagels, fruit, and other snacks, and everyone was given a t-shirt with the Campus Cleanup logo. At around 10:30AM, I thanked our sponsors and introduced our volunteers to the crowd. We then split everyone into cleanup crews and dispersed to various locations around campus! By the end of the day, we collected 255 pounds of trash including 5.6 pounds of cigarettes. The trash, recyclables and compost were all sorted to the correct bins and the cigarettes were sent to TerraCycle to be made into recycled products. It was a huge success and everyone left with a cookie from the Pacific Cookie Company in their hands, feeling very tired but accomplished! Overall, it was so amazing to see how much spirit people had to keep our campus beautiful. 

Follow Campus Clean up on Facebook!

Campus Clean Up 2016

What do you do at 11 AM on a Sunday?  Volunteers helped to clean up our campus on TWO Sundays this quarter.

On February 7, the Campus Cleanup Committee had its first 2016 Clean-up Hour at Colleges 9/10 and on February 21, students cleaned up College 8 and Oakes. Both were successful events during which students collected more than six buckets of trash at each event! With 19 people cleaning up at 9/10 and 12 people at 8/Oakes, the clean up crew was able to accomplish a lot in only an hour of time. It doesn't take much to make a big difference when picking up litter around campus.

At the end of the hour vonunteers enjoyed fresh farmers market oranges and Costco churros provided by the Campus Cleanup Committee. These events are a lead up to the larger Campus-Wide Cleanup event happening on May 1st. They will be looking for volunteers and facilitators for cleanup zones in the coming weeks. If you want to get involved with the May cleanup, email Bella at bmontez [at] ucsc [dot] edu.

Like the facebook page Annual UCSC Campus Clean Up and follow us them Instagram at #cleanupucsc

February 2016: Classes, Trainings and Community

Leadership for Social Justice: Sikh American Perspectives: February 6
This workshop in Humanities 1, Room 210 from 10 AM - 4 PM on February 6 will provide participants with practical tools for conceptualizing and effecting social change. Led by Jyotswaroop Kaur, Education Director for  the Sikh American Legal Defense and Education Fund, workshop modules will include understanding and changing mindsets, community cultural leadership, implementing adaptive change, and supporting citizen-centered rather than client-centered approaches. An agenda of events can be found here.

College Campus Cleanups: February 7 and February 21
February 7th, 11:00 am, outside College 9/10 Dining Hall and Multipurpose Room
February 21st, 11:00 am, College Eight Plaza
There will be two cleanup days this quarter sponsored by the Sustainability Office Zero Waste Team. Each cleanup will focus on a specific college area; members of any college are welcome and encouraged to attend. Snacks will be provided after the cleanups. For more information, contact Bella Montez at bmontez [at] ucsc [dot] edu. Visit the Facebook page for details.

Mixed Ethnicities Student Headquarters (MESH) Conference: February 20
MESH will be hosting a Mixed Student Union Conference on the subject of Defining & Exploring Mixed Identity on February 20 in the Cervantes & Velasquez Conference Room in the Bay Tree Conference Center. There will be three keynote speakers and a variety of workshops to choose from. Breakfast and lunch will be provided. RSVP required here.

Gaia Magazine Submissions: Magazine Deadline February 22
Gaia Magazine is accepting submissions for both the website (gaiamagazine.org) and Issue VIII of the magazine. There is no deadline for website content, but magazine content must be submitted before February 22nd. Works are submitted via email to gaiamagazineucsc [at] gmail [dot] com; guidelines and instructions can be found here. Gaia Magazine accepts all types of work (art, poetry, articles, photography, recipes, etc.). Work must have an environmental or sustainable theme that relates to UCSC or the greater Santa Cruz community.

Food Systems Learning Journeys

Food Systems Learning Journeys will take you from the classroom and the halls of campus into a not too distant world of farming, distributing, cooking, consuming, and composting food. Upcoming journeys include Sustainable Oysters and the World of Shellfish (February 10th), The Craft of Fermentation (February 21st), and Viticulture and Regional Terroir (February 24th). Register online through OPERS and click here for more information.

UCSC Climate & Science Policy Conference: February 26-27
The 3rd annual UCSC climate conference, co-sponsored by the divisions of Social Sciences and Physical & Biological Sciences, will be taking place February 26-27 in the College 9/10 Multipurpose Room. This year's title is Earth's Climate Future: Uncharted Territory. Panels will focus on public health, geoengineering, and geopolitics. Visit the site here to RSVP and learn more.

Permaculture Film Series
Common Ground Center is offering a permaculture film and discussion series on Tuesdays from 6:00-7:30 PM during winter quarter. The series is free & open to the public, and students enrolled in Kresge-161: Permaculture & Whole Systems Design are encouraged to attend the series to see examples of thriving, resilient and sustainable communities worldwide. For more information, contact commonground [at] ucsc [dot] edu.

Education for Sustainable Living Program Team (ESLP)

ESLP is looking for engaged students who wish to be a part of the organizing team for the next year. Ideally, students will shadow current positions this winter quarter to gain skills and training to carry on into the 2016-2017 year. Open positions include:

• Collaboration and networking sphere organizers: organizers work together to design and create colorful advertisement flyers for the organization. Regular maintenance of the ESLP website, Facebook page, and registering for on-campus events are other collaboration and networking sphere duties. The goal for this sphere is to increase awareness of ESLP, outreach for student facilitators, and Spring Speaker Series students.

• Academic Sphere organizers: organizers meet every 11-12:10am MWF for the Winter Training Seminar (WTS) to facilitate a group of students in preparation for their spring Action Research Teams. This group of organizers works closely with admin to build relationships and harbor the skills necessary for leading a successful action project.

• Heart Sphere organizers: Heart sphere organizers work closely with ESLP's staff advisor, Angela Harris, to manage our budget and personnel responsibilities. These organizers work all of Winter quarter contacting and booking guest speakers for the Spring Speaker Series.

Students interested in working with ESLP who would like to shadow these positions can contact ESLP at eslp[at]ucsc[dot]edu.

Sustainability Studies Minor

The minor incorporates courses offered by College Eight and departments across campus, student-initiated classes through the Education for Sustainable Living Program, and an interdisciplinary capstone. The minor is open to all UCSC students. For more information, click here.

Cultivating a Daily Revolution: What's in Your Melting Pot? Histories of Food in the USA: Wednesdays, 6-8 PMThis 2 unit seminar and internship series discusses the social, economic and political conditions that give rise to the food cultures seen in the United States today. Working at the intersection of social justice and environmental justice, discussions (following a free weekly meal) aim to locate histories of food, ethnobotany and oppositionality in today's neoliberal socio-economic climate. For more information, email focan [at] ucsc [dot] edu.

Produce Pop-Up Stand in the Quarry Plaza 
Students from the Food Systems Working Group (FSWG) and the Global Food Initiative (GFI) are hosting a produce stand on Wednesdays from 2:30-5:00 PM in the Quarry Plaza! Come by to get fresh leafy greens from the campus farm and fresh fruit from the local farmers market! If you would like more information please contact Alyssa at abillys [at] ucsc [dot] edu or ucscfswg [at] gmail [dot] com.

Volunteer with Take Back The Tap
Take Back The Tap UCSC is on the lookout for new organizers and a candidate for the 2016-2017 campaign coordinator. Students interested in learning valuable skills like grant-writing, social media outreach, campaign organization tactics, meeting with decision makers, or team-building should contact Take Back The Tap at tbttucsc-group [at] ucsc [dot] edu, and/or come to meetings on Mondays from 12:15-1:45 PM in the Kresge Common Ground Center, near STARS. Check out the group's Facebook page, Take Back The Tap UCSC, to learn more. 

Demeter Seed Library

The Demeter Seed Library will be hosting office hours this quarter in Oakes 307. Come by to borrow or donate seeds and learn more about seed saving and campus gardening efforts. Office hours are Mondays 2:00-3:00 and Tuesdays 3:30-4:30 or by appointment. 

The World Cafe: Food, Tea, Conversations That Matter
Mondays 5-7pm in the Kresge Seminar Room 159

The World Cafe is a weekly potluck of both food and ideas. It aims to bring a diversity of people together to explore whatever topics matter to them. Each night is focused on a different theme, often proposed by a student club or passionate individual wanting to develop their conversational leadership. Attendees savor the inquiry as they savor the food and tea, connect deeply with one another, form friendships, move projects forward, and create actionable knowledge. The World Cafe is a process used around the globe to surface the collective intelligence of groups of all sizes.

UCSC Activist Training Workshop with Green Corps: March 7
Green Corps is a non-profit, non-partisan organization that teaches recent college graduates how to run and win environmental campaigns. The activist training will take place at the College 8 Red Room on Monday, March 7th from 5:00-6:30 PM. It will teach students invaluable skills that would improve any group that is trying to achieve a goal and grow stronger, such as how to raise group visibility and membership (including working with the media), how to strategically plan campaigns (from fundraising, to advocacy, to grassroots campaigns), and how to develop leadership. Email ucscgreencorps[at]gmail[dot]com for more information.

Art, Moral Thinking, and Climate Change, A Community Forum: February 5-6

This event at the Peace United Church in Santa Cruz hopes to inform the community about climate change and inspire action. On Friday at 7 PM, Dr. Kathleen Dean Moore will speak, and poetry, music, art exhibits, and refreshments will be featured. On Saturday from 9 AM - 1 PM, there will be a feature presentation by Dr. Kathleen Dean Moore and action opportunities. This event is open to the public and free of charge. Sponsored by the Progressive Christian Forum. For more information, email rstrayer [at] sbcglobal [dot] net. 

Cabrillo Construction Courses: Deadline February 6
Students interested in enrolling in a Spring semester class in Cabrillo’s Construction & Energy Management Program can receive independent study credit through College 8. To enroll in the class, first apply for admission to Cabrillo and then enroll in the chosen class(es). Contact Ronnie Lipschutz (rlipsch [at] ucsc [dot] edu) for further information about enrolling and having your tuition paid by College Eight. Course descriptions can be found here.

Colorado State University Master of Greenhouse Gas Management and Accounting (MGMA) Degree Program: Deadline March 1The interdisciplinary MGMA degree provides students from a wide variety of academic backgrounds—such as environmental studies, agriculture, forestry, business, engineering, and natural resources—the opportunity to develop the skills needed for emerging sustainability professions focused on greenhouse gas management and accounting. Two graduate fellowships and a teaching assistantship are available to support incoming students for Fall 2016. Applicants interested in graduate fellowships or the teaching assistantship should contact MGMA Program Coordinator Nikki Foxley at WCNR_ESS_info [at] mail [dot] colostate [dot] edu as soon as possible for more information.

Kelp Forest Ecology Summer Course: Deadline April 15Hopkins Marine Station, Pacific Grove, CAJun 20-Jul 22, 2016 (5-weeks), M-F, 5-units.This course is aimed at upper division undergraduates or beginning graduate students interested in benthic ecology & kelp forests. SCUBA certification (Advanced/Open Water II) & all personal diving gear is required (AAUS scientific certification is not required, but desirable). Summer tuition ($5080) will be covered; class size is limited. The application form is available here. 

LEED Green Associate (GA) Training: April 21

The LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) program acts as a method of evaluating buildings based on energy-efficient and sustainable design. The LEED Green Associate (GA) credential is the only entry level sustainability designation and shows that those certified are knowledgeable in the green building industry. A new LEED rating system (v4) was introduced recently and this training course is one of the few that has been updated to teach the current rating system. This training will take place on the UCSC campus on April 21 from 6-10 PM. For more information including cost and how to register, see here. 

Pledge to go Meatless on Mondays to Receive Weekly Tips
Many of us might want to help the environment or the animals but are reluctant to make the change to vegetarian or vegan right away. Meatless Mondays are a less intimidating yet effective way to cut back on our impact on the environment and save a few animals' lives along the way. Whether one eats at the dining halls or cooks at home, cutting out meat for just one day of the week is especially easy after make the pledge here. Participants receive tips and recipe ideas weekly. Join the thousands of students across the nation who have already taken the pledge and sign up today!

Women of Wind and Energy WINDPOWER Fellowship: May 23-26

The Rudd Mayer Memorial Fellowships support women to participate in WINDPOWER, attending seminars on current wind energy issues, viewing state-of-the-art technology, meeting others in the renewable energy field, and connecting with employers about potential internships or permanent positions. WINDPOWER 2016 will be held from May 23-26 in New Orleans, LA. The Fellowship covers the cost of travel to and from the WINDPOWER conference site, conference registration (and included meals), and lodging. Find out more on the website here.

Divestment Student Network People Of Color Caucus

The People of Color Caucus is a place for organizers of color in the divestment movement to meet, collaborate on shared projects, and support each other to build the Climate Justice movement the world needs. Check out their Purpose, Principles and how to get involved here. Divestors of color who are interested in learning more can fill out this quick membership form to be shared on their listserve, membership contact page, and Facebook group.

Low Carbon IT CampaignOffered by Energy Star, the Low Carbon IT Campaign is a nationwide effort to assist and recognize organizations for reducing the energy consumed by their information technology equipment. With six suggested ways to reduce the IT energy costs at your organization, the EPA will recognize institutions that implement two of them, putting computers to sleep and benchmarking data centers. Free phone and email consultations are available to answer questions.

Private Prison Divestment: A Toolkit for Campus Organizers
This toolkit provides a step-by-step guide on how to organize a divestment campaign on campus. With a primer on the reasons to divest from private prison companies, the toolkit features a case study from a historic divestment victory at Columbia University.

Plastic-Free Campus Manual
Post-Landfill Action Network's new manual provides guidance to students and campus organizers about creating a campus environment that is free of plastic. The manual covers topics ranging from turnover in student leadership to working with administrators, and more hands-on topics like conducting plastic waste audits. The Post-Landfill Action Network (PLAN) will be hosting webinars and workshops in 2016 to support those who are trying to bolster a plastic-free campus.

December 2015: Internships, Employment & Voluntering

Employment

Student Environmental Center (SEC) is Looking For Two New Student Organizers

Both organizers will work with SEC's Blueprint Coordinator to compile the 2016-2017 Blueprint for a Sustainable Campus. The Blueprint is a document re-written by students each year. It outlines students' visions and actions for on-campus sustainability. Work includes researching topics in sustainability (see Blueprint topics), attending working group meetings, writing and editing. Both positions start Fall quarter and end in June, requiring about 8-10 hours a week. Applicants must have previous experience in a student organization. To apply, email: seclead-group [at] ucsc [dot] edu and indicate SEC Student Organizer Job in subject line.

Education Manager at the Santa Cruz Museum of Natural History

SCMNH is seeking a creative, team-oriented Education Manager to lead our programmatic efforts. The Education Manager has primary responsibility for all of the Museum’s educational programs, including public and school programming. They will lead the Education team as well as implement programs themselves. The ideal candidate will be experienced in developing, leading and evaluating informal science education programs, preferably in a museum setting. They will have great managerial, organizational, and interpersonal skills. Above that, they will have a love of nature and will enjoy being part of a close team whose primary goal is to engage people of all ages in the fascination of the natural world. To apply, submit a cover letter and detailed resume to Angela Ward (employment [at] santacruzmuseum [dot] org) by December 4th. Click here for more detail.

Sustainability Coordinator at Watsonville

The Sustainability Coordinator will support the Senior Sustainability Manager through research and collaboration within Driscoll’s and outside the company. The goal is to grow our cross-functional integration of sustainable practices, while establishing ownership in each area of the company’s operations. The Sustainability Coordinator will support the Senior Sustainability Manager in the development and implementation of Driscoll’s sustainability goals, customer and regulatory compliance, and all other Sustainability efforts. Research, facilitation, support and communication will be critical functions of this role. Click here for more detail.

Restoration Monitoring Data and Information Specialist

The National Wildlife Refuge Association, in partnership with Midway Atoll National Wildlife Refuge and the USFWS Pacific Region Inventory and Monitoring Program, seeks an individual with strong restoration ecology, database development, and ecological monitoring design skills for an 18-month period to help Refuge staff meet scientific information needs associated with expanding habitat restoration and weed control programming. The selected individual will be an employee of the National Wildlife Refuge Association and will work closely with Refuge staff and volunteers to develop robust data collection procedures, design databases, and data management systems for currently implemented weed control, native plant propagation and habitat restoration activities. The primary goal of this position is to set-up a robust habitat restoration monitoring system that can be utilized and maintained by USFWS staff to holistically evaluate the success of restoration efforts, encompassing and integrating complex and large-scale weed control and native plant propagation programs. To apply, please send a cover letter, resume/CV, and list of at least 3 professional references to both Anne Truslow (atruslow [at] refugeassociation [dot] org) and Meg Duhr-Schultz (meg_duhrschultz [at] fws [dot] gov) by December 11. The selection is made by January 15, 2016. The project will take place at Midway Atoll April 12, 2016-September 2017. For more information, click here.

Cormorant Diet Technician, Oikonos Ecosystem Knowledge

The non-profit Oikonos Ecosystem Knowledge seeks two, half-time technicians to process Brandt’s Cormorant diet samples in a temporary position. The data collected from the seabird diet samples will be used in an ecosystem scale analysis to inform recommendations for fisheries in the California Current System. Work for this position will be conducted at the Marine Wildlife Veterinary Care and Research Center, California Department of Fish and Wildlife office in Santa Cruz, California. Primary duties will include processing and sorting cormorant pellets and removing prey hard parts for subsequent identification in a laboratory setting. Position start date is no later than December 10, 2015. To apply, please email a resume and cover letter to Erica Donnelly-Greenan (erica [at] oikonos [dot] org). Click here for more information.

Graduate Assistantships/Fellowships at Michigan State University

Graduate assistantships/fellowships are available for outstanding self-motivated students to conduct innovative and high-impact research at the Center for Systems Integration and Sustainability (CSIS) at Michigan State University (MSU). With support from the U.S. National Science Foundation and other funding sources, research topics may include sustainability science, coupled human and natural systems, biodiversity conservation, ecosystem services, human well-being, land change science, forest and landscape ecology, global change, systems integration and so much more. If interested in applying, click here.

Internships

Purple is the new Green - Porter Purple Pipes

Collaborate with engineers, planners, and plumbers to participate in the whole process of planning, designing, and constructing a tank to toilet rainwater catchment system implemented in porter dorms. IDEASS Interns will have fun learning the details of real world systems and gain experience that opens up great job opportunities. To get involved contact Tamara Ball at (ball [at] ucsc [dot] edu)

Smarter Water Ways: Rainwater Harvesting and other Savvy Solutions for Water Use in California

This IDEASS project will involve designing, implementing, and monitoring the impacts of LID features such as rain gardens and bioswales, permeable paving, and rainwater catchment systems that will be integrated with the school’s life lab program. Selected applicants will be eligible for paid internship positions based on their performance and overall contributions. To get involved contact Tamara Ball at (ball [at] ucsc [dot] edu).

Environmental Studies Internships Open to All Majors

The Environmental Studies Internship Office has many different internship opportunities available for fall. These 2 and 5-unit internships are open to all majors. Review some of the internships and learn how to apply on the Environmental Studies website here. Contact Chris Krohn for more information and additional internship listings at ckrohn [at] ucsc [dot] edu.

Student Environmental Center (SEC)

Their organization is a great way for students to grow as individuals, learn leadership skills, and gain invaluable work experience. Volunteers with the Student Environmental Center learn about current campus projects and policies and have the opportunity to participate or take on leadership roles in many topic areas.

Concerned about our drought? Get involved in rainwater catchment on campus!

A rainwater catchment system is being implemented in Porter dorms where purple pipes will recycle rainwater captured from the rooftop runoff to then be used to flush toilets. Students have the opportunity to work with both on-campus and off-campus engineers and UCSC alum to help design the system and work on incorporating creative approaches that promote and raise awareness for the project both on campus and to the wider community.

A possible paid internship is offered for students interested in helping design drainage systems at Bay View Elementary. To get involved or learn more email khurshma [at] ucsc [dot] edu.

Green Magazine Startup

Join a regional green living magazine startup with Eco-Shift in conducting local market research.

InnerView Intern

InnerView Interns spend a few hours a week (2-4) connecting with student leaders, event organizers and campus staff. They partner and help spread the word about events and programs and help participants get recognition for their activities - all to amp up the good on our campus. Click here to learn more and to apply.

Volunteering

Campus Clean-Up Day

Are you interested in helping plan the second annual campus cleanup day? The Sustainability Office is looking for volunteers. If you are interested email Bella Montez (bmontez [at] ucsc [dot] edu). She looks forward to working with you. Here's some information about our first campus cleanup.

Bike Santa Cruz County looking for help with bike club at school program

They are currently hosting 2x clubs, one at Mission Hill middle school and one at Branciforte middle school, both in Santa Cruz.  Help support these super enthusiastic up and coming pedal-powered climate protectors! Bike Santa Cruz County meets every Wednesday from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. during the fall and spring semesters at both of the schools mentioned.

Please contact Tawn Kennedy at greenways [at] bikesantacruzcounty [dot] org for more info. No experience necessary.

Support Rooftop Solar

Passionate about solar? Take Action with Sunrun Policy by writing a letter to the UPUC Commissioners in support of rooftop solar and net metering in California. Thier letter writing campaign is here.

Volunteer at a Campus Garden

Want to get your hands dirty and nurture the plants in our campus gardens? Visit the calendar to find out when garden work days are happening here.

Get Involved with UC Global Food Initiative

The UC Global Food Initiative aims to address global issues in the food system. All 10 UCs are working collectively towards this effort to support sustainable agriculture, healthy eating, and food security. UCSC is playing a critical role in this effort with the support of the Center for Agroecology and Sustainable Food Systems. Join a subcommittee and get involved by contacting ucscfswg [at] ucsc [dot] edu.

Conduct Free Local Business Energy Audits

Interested in greening offices and energy conservation? The Green Impact Campaign is a national student-powered movement working to raise awareness of energy consumption. Become part of the movement today and join Green Impact Campaign, here.

The Bike Church Community Repair Shop Seeking Volunteers

Have a knack for cycling, biking and learning to maintain bikes? Interested in learning to divert bike parts from the waste stream? Then this is the opportunity for you! Click here for more information.

Sprout Up Environmental Education Opportunity

Sprout Up Santa Cruz is seeking college student-instructors instructors to deliver free environmental education to 1st and 2nd graders in the Santa Cruz community, cultivating the next generation of passionate caretakers of the earth. Commitment is maximum 3 hours/week for 8 weeks, by UCSC academic quarter. For more information, please contact directorsc[at]sproutup[dot]org, and visit their website at www.SproutUp.org.