Blue II encourages you to recycle

Programs & Events

The Environmental Concerns Organization presents a variety of different programs and events each school year, all devoted to furthering our mission (which you can read here).  Here is a sampling of our major annual programs.  Please contact us or attend a meeting if you have some new ideas.

RECYCLEMANIA
Each Spring, Butler participates in Recyclemania, a nationwide college competition which tracks the university that recycles the most.  Click here for more information about Recyclemania.

ECO also holds a campus-wide competition called Butler Recycles, to determine which residence hall or Greek house recycles the most.
Congratulations to Kappa Alpha Theta for winning the 2010 Butler Recycles competition!

ENVIRONMENTAL FILM SERIES
ECO presents a monthly film series that includes documentaries and relevant movies to educate the campus community about current environmental challenges. Some past films include: The Age of Stupid, FLOW: for the Love of Water, Addicted to Plastic, Home, Food, Inc., The Cove and Avatar.

Visit our table during Earth Week for information and giveawaysEARTH WEEK
Earth Week is our busiest time of the year.  It takes place during the week of Earth Day, which is a day intended to inspire awareness and appreciation for the Earth’s natural environment.  Earth Day was first held on April 22, 1970, and is now celebrated in more than 175 countries every year.

ECO presents a variety of fun and educational events throughout Earth Week, including concerts, workshops, demonstrations, giveaways, discussions, lectures and more, with a different theme each day.  Last year’s themes were sustainable food, water awareness, land conservation, alternative transportation, and reduce/reuse/recycle.  We have partnered with other campus organizations–including the Center for Urban Ecology, Earth Charter Butler, the Butler Bicycle Coalition, REACH, and Demia: Feminist Majority Leadership Alliance–to bring you great events and activities during Earth Week.

Angela & Kaitlin give out free soy ice cream sandwiches during Earth Week

EARTH HOUR
In March of 2010, ECO partnered with Earth Charter Butler and the Butler Mediation Group to host a candlelit evening of music, refreshments (provided by Good Earth and Whole Foods), conversation, meditation, and yoga at the Blue House (Center for Faith & Vocation).

Earth Hour 2011 will be held on Saturday, March 26. Visit the Earth Hour website for more information about this international event.

Kaitlin, Hilary, Allie & Jake hike on the Applachian Trail in North Carolina

OUTDOOR PROGRAMS
We are dedicated to getting folks outside to enjoy nature and come to appreciate the natural environment. Past activities have included a Fall Break camping trip to Spring Mill State Park, a week-long backpacking trip along the Appalachian Trail in North Carolina, and a campus-wide bike ride around town.

The Health and Recreation Center works with us to provide students with camping and backpacking equipment. Students can check out tents, sleeping bags, tents, water filters, cooking stoves, trekking poles, headlamps, and more for free. For more information about rentals, please contact Erinn McCluney, Assistant Director of Challenge Education & Outdoor Programs at emcclune@butler.edu or (317) 940-9434.

VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES
We organize and publicize volunteer opportunities that align with our mission.  These have included tree plantings with Keep Indianapolis Beautiful; work on the Butler Campus Farm; river clean-ups with the Center for Urban Ecology and Friends of the White River; sustainability workshops at the Indianapolis Children’s Museum; and more.  Join the listserv to stay updated on these various volunteer dates.

Decoupaged bottle vases sell near Valentine's Day as a fundraiser for ECO

GREEN FUNDRAISERS
In order to raise money to support our programs and events, we hold green fundraisers.  Our most successful one involved decoupaging recycled paper onto used glass bottles for sale as vases, complete with beautiful gerbera daisies donated by Prairie Godmothers.  We have also sold Endangered Species chocolate bars, Green Savings Indy coupon books, organic cotton t-shirts, reusable water bottles, and canvas tote bags.