Robyn DiFalco

Hi Folks,

I am writing to you to let you know that The Gateway Museum is renting an exhibit for Summer 2011 called “Sustainable Choices”.   That’s the good news.

The bad news is that, while it has a great message, it is not a very interactive exhibit, and we want our visitors to be engaged and excited.

I am asking around to learn if anyone has some kind of exhibit that fits this theme, that is interactive, that is robust enough that it can endure being used by lots of people, and is lend-able, or rentable for a small fee from June 5 to Sept 5 (approximately).  I am even interested in building new exhibits (I have several ideas), if anyone is interested in helping with that.

The themes of “Sustainable Choices” are:

1) water usage
2) electricity usage
3) chemicals on lawn
4) recycling
5) reading labels

These each have a so-called interactive component, but some of them are pretty lame–for example, the chemicals-on-the-lawn exhibit allows visitors to plant a seed in a compost bin sitting on a pad of artificial turf.

I already have some very interactive exhibits about:

1) Incandescent vs fluorescent electricty use
2) insulation efficiency
3) dual pane windows
4) a solar panel demo

Some other topics that I thought of that could be addressed (this obviously is not an exhaustive list!  nor must they all be addressed–this is just some one-person brainstorming)

1)  What’s in a landfill
2) Styrofoam
3) wind power
4) the plastic debris in the Pacific gyre
5) styrofoam
6) one-use plastic bags
7) compost
land use and erosion
9)  alternate fuels
10) car pooling
11) buying locally
12) plastic beverage bottles

Thanks in advance for any help or leads you might be able to offer.

LaDawn Haws
LHaws@csuchico.edu

Sustainability Involvement Faire in BMU 210 on the Chico State Campus

[This event is for Chico State students.]

Want to get involved and help the planet?  Make friends while making a difference on campus.  Representatives from all the sustainability-related student organizations, clubs, and programs on campus will be recruiting new members.  Find out what each group is working on this semester and whether they are offering internships, paid positions, or volunteer opportunities.  2-minute presentations from each group will begin at 5:30pm.  Each group will have an information table for browsing.  Snacks and beverages will be served.  Participating organizations include:

• AS Sustainability Program
• AS Recycling Program
• Environmental Action Resource Center (E-ARC)
• CAVE’s EcoChico, Adopt-a-Park, and Community Gardens programs
• Green Campus Program (GCP)
• Recycling & Rubbish Exhibit (RARE)
• Environmental Affairs Council (EAC)
• Net Impact (NI)
• Take Back the Tap (TBTT)
• Institute for Sustainable Development (ISD)
• Compost Display Area & Garden (CDA)
• This Way to Sustainability (TWTS) Conference planning team
• Organic Vegetable Project (OVP)
• Konkow Organic Garden (KOG)
• Sustainable Consultation of Office Practices (SCOOP)