April 22 is Earth Day, which is recognized by many as an opportunity to focus on our planet's health, beauty, and sustainability. Earth Month is not just a time for recognition; it's a call to action, a reminder of our collective responsibility to cherish and protect the environment we call home.
The 2024 Ecochallenge: ACHS Eco-Ambassadors
Sustainability has been at the core of ACHS’s mission since our inception in 1978, and our 2023 B Corporation Impact Report highlights our continued commitment to positive environmental impacts and community engagement. This Earth Month, Team ACHS is participating in the Earth Month Ecochallenge 2024: Conservation initiative. As we enter our fourth week of the Ecochallenge, the ACHS Eco Ambassadors team has made an impact in diverse areas of environmental stewardship and sustainability that honor the ACHS mission and vision and bring our community together to support our planet.
One of the great things about Ecochallenge.org, which offers several Ecochallenge opportunities throughout the year, is the emphasis on incremental change that can lead to lasting habits and the opportunity for everyone to make a positive impact, no matter how much or how little time you may have.
Daily and One-Time Eco Actions
The Ecochallenge encourages participants “to select actions that resonate with your values, committing to them for 30 days to foster and reinforce positive habits.” They provide examples of actions that are simple to adopt, like committing to using a reusable water bottle, scraping vs. rinsing dishes before putting them in the dishwasher, and spending 30 minutes outdoors or exploring a nature area near you (go out and enjoy a walk in the neighborhood!). They also offer impactful actions such as advocacy - sending letters to legislators and organizations who can influence regulations that affect our planet, planting trees, picking up litter, and a wide range of other activities that help educate others, conserve resources, and help our communities thrive.
Snapshot of ACHS' Ecochallenge Impact
Our team, the Eco-Ambassadors, is committed to completing daily and/or one-time actions that are being tallied and documented from April 1st to April 30th. It's an interactive and collaborative way to make incremental, lasting changes that lead to positive impacts. Here’s a snapshot of some of the team stats and actions we have accomplished in the first 3 weeks of the challenge:
Total points earned to date: 4,301
Number of ACHS participants: 31
Team Impact by the Numbers:
Ecochallenge projects make supporting the Earth fun with a gamified approach to making a difference. Who doesn’t love to earn points and cheer on their friends and colleagues?! So, how can you get involved? There’s still time to join our team and make a difference!
What are some impactful activities you could initiate this Earth Month? Here are a few ideas to get you started:
A Tradition of Conscious Sustainability
ACHS has been participating in Ecochallenges for many years. It’s never easy to rally together individuals who are busy with work, school, personal life, or all 3 and recruit them to take time out of their day to support the planet. However, we have found that the Ecochallenge is a great way to involve everyone through small, personal actions.
In 2016, ACHS formed 3 competing teams: one team of faculty and students and 2 teams of staff members. Our faculty and student team went on to rank in the top 50 out of 450 nationwide teams and was the smallest team to rank in the top 50. We were astounded by the dedication and effort put forth by the entire ACHS community.
In 2020, the focus was the Plastic Free Ecochallenge, which aimed to reduce and reuse single-use plastics. Our team of 116 staff, faculty, family, and friends placed an exciting 9th place out of 383 teams in the U.S. and 1st place in Oregon. This challenge showed how each of us can do our best to reduce plastic usage in our own lives and also shed light on ways corporations can take responsibility for their roles in reducing plastic production.
Beyond Earth Month
The ACHS Eco-Ambassadors will continue our daily actions through the remainder of April. However, our support for the planet is an ongoing pursuit and remains a core part of our mission. We hope our ongoing dedication to positive environmental impacts and community engagement will inspire others to join the effort in 2024 and beyond. Let’s make every month Earth Month!
Disclaimer:
This article is for informational purposes only. The information included is representative of industry trends as provided in the references. Please refer to third-party sites for additional information. ACHS does not guarantee graduate employment or other placement. Note, that professional success is achieved by a number of factors beyond education and experience, including soft skills, work ethic, integrity, and other skills that may not be developed through education and training alone.
