SEAS Current Projects

Farmers’ Market 2012 - April 17th

Will be like the other farmers' markets, but will be in conjunction with the Earth Day celebration. Please come for both events to learn about living sustainably and to buy some great local products!

Real Food Challenge -

Updates on this later. In the meantime check out the webpage.

http://realfoodchallenge.org/

Volunteering -

Currently S.E.A.S is working with the DEP with oyster bagging and sea shore restoration. The organization will also have periodic nature trail clean ups/campus clean ups. Check out S.E.A.S facebook page for current updates on these events or email S.E.A.S. if you would like to participate!

Student Green Energy Fund - UWF - Check out the facebook page for up to date information about S.E.A.S passing the SGEF at UWF! Search Student Green Energy Fund - UWF on facebook and like our webpage!!!

SEAS past projects

Green Guide
Description: Create and distribute a Green Guide that will educate UWF students about energy conservation, waste reduction, local resources, recycling, public transportation, etc in and around our campus community. This guide will provide invaluable, up-to-date information for incoming, current, and resident students about UWF’s commitment to the environment. It will also be an advertising resource for local environmentally friendly businesses.
--- Shaun Boren’s Ecotourism class has compiled a similar guide. We can use it to get ideas/ information.

Farmers’ Markets (2)
Description: Organize, plan, and host at leased two Farmers’ markets on the Cannon Greens in which local farmers, craftsmen, and artists can sell their products to UWF students, faculty, staff, and community members. This is an effort to encourage the community to purchase from local businesses and farmers to support our local economy and more sustainable consumption. Buying locally reduces the pollution associated with transportation and supports environmentally sustainable farming practices. The 2009 event was very well attended. Money has been set aside for two events.

Energy Fair
Description: Organize, plan, and host an Energy Awareness Fair on campus with invited vendors and environmental educators to discuss energy conservation. This spring event will help educate students, faculty, and staff about the importance of energy conservation. All vendors will be subject to university approval. Food and beverages will be provided for attendees. The previous Energy Fairs were huge and very well attended.

Earth Day Symposium
Description: Organize, plan, and host an environmental symposium to mark Earth Day 2010. This event will be held on campus to create awareness about local, regional, and national environmental issues. This event will help educate students, faculty, and staff about important issues that impact our environment. Like minded student organizations will also be asked to participate and local environmental educators will also be invited. This event will be held in conjunction with Earth Month events and possible in conjunction with the Energy Fair described above.

Student Green Energy Fund

Campus Nature Trail Guided Walk
SEAS would work with current Environmental Studies and Ecology students to identify and describe a variety of plant species that can be found while walking on the UWF Edward Ball nature trail. We would then make and install educational signs along the walk so visitors can enjoy a self guided tour of the flora. Grant money may need to be sought to complete this project.
--- Shaun Boren’s Ecotourism class has created a paper walk already. Suggestion to install numbers that correspond to a paper guide.

Building Updates
SEAS would like to actively encourage each department/dorm to practice more conservative environmental and energy practices. We want to work with willing departments to lower there footprints on the environment through energy and water conservation. These efforts can be accomplished through practices such as energy saving devices, habits, and systems as well as landscaping techniques.
--- Larry, Green Certification. SEAS can promote this. Maybe start with an energy audit of the EVR Dept.

Dorm Energy/Water Competition
In order to actively educate the campus community on energy and water conservation, SEAS would like to host a water and or energy conservation competition in which the student dorm who shows the best improvement will receive some sort of prize/ party. This endeavor should help students to become more environmentally aware while saving the University in energy costs. No money has yet been budgeted for this project.

Tree Planting
We need to plant the remaining trees left over from Earth Day ’09. Two were planted on Earth Day and I believe we have 8 left.
--- Contact Larry or Jimmie Jarratt

Community Garden
We wish to continue to provide the Student Community Garden Club with our support and encourage growth and expansion.
--- Fall Meeting times TBD

Oil Spill Support
Further discussion needs to take place to determine our role in this situation.

Small Student Outreach Projects

Campus Cleanups (4)
Description: Organize, plan and host four campus cleanups throughout the year. These events are held every year to keep our campus looking clean and garbage free. When students come together to help pick up trash and recyclables, it is expected to increase awareness of waste and its negative effects on the natural environment as well as the importance of its proper disposal and reduction.

Educational Film Showings
Description: 3 environmentally focused films will be held this year. These films will educate attendees by highlighting and explaining some aspect or current environmental issue facing the campus, the nation, or the world today.

Seminars
Description: These 2 seminars will be another tool in educating the students, faculty, and staff about environmental issues in the community. An authority on some environmental topic from UWF or the community will be invited to speak. The newly created Environmental Science Club may be hosting seminars.
--- Next Seminar is Tomorrow at 4:00pm in 13/230 “This Year in Environmental Studies”

Trips
A minimum of two trips will be planed and executed in the 2010-2011 school year. Weather they are canoe, camping, backpacking etc… we will be working with OA. These fun trips will not only be educational but bring SEAS members closer together.