Green CelebrationsA program of Reclaim Your Holidays,

an initiative to help Iowans create more meaningful celebrations and reduce

ecological footprints

Susan Salterberg, UNIand Kristi Cooper, ISU

Green CelebrationsSession 1:

Rethinking Holiday Celebrations  Session 2:

Simplifying Gift-Giving, Food & Gatherings  Session 3:

Taking Green Celebrations/RYHs to Your Community

Taking it to YOUR CommunityWhat inspires, motivates you about “Green Celebrations”?

Review Rethinking Holidays

1) Ecological impact of consumption

2) Relationship between satisfaction & “stuff”

Review Simplifying Gift-Giving, Food & Gatherings

Resources to help people consume in more sustainable ways and create more meaningful lives.

Taking Green Celebrations to YOUR Community

Goal: To Explore Opportunities, Audiences, Messages & Marketing, Challenges, more Resources and create an Action Plan

Green Celebrations Opportunities• Holidays

– Religious & cultural– Secular– Governmental

• Seasons• Life Transitions• Community Events• Organizational Programs

Green Celebrations Outreach

• Presentations• Displays• Open House• Newsletters• News Media• Social Media

Green Celebrations Audiences

• Self• Family• Friends• Neighbors• Co-workers• Congregations• Community & Youth organizations

Effective Messages & Marketing• Positive • Easy & Simple• “Norm”• Don’t talk about climate• Thriving (not surviving)

• Abundance (not sacrifice)

Green Celebrations Challenges

• Commitment & Time• Money• Timing• Match Outreach

methods to Audience• Message

Green Celebrations Plan

Local Partners:• ISU Extension &

Outreach• Library• Nature Center • Landfill/Solid Waste• Congregations

Existing Audiences:• Congregations• Community centers• Civic organizations• Schools, colleges• Fairs, open houses

More Resources – UNI CEEE

• Reclaim Your Holidays www.ReclaimYourHolidays.org

• RYH Facebook https://www.facebook.com/ReclaimYourHolidays

• Green Celebrations Training – March 13, Dubuque, 1- 4:30 pm, salterberg@uni.edu

More Resources – ISUE&O

• Eco Family Blog• http://

blogs.extension.iastate.edu/isuecofamily

• Eco Family Facebook https://www.facebook.com/pages/ISUEco-Family/

• EcoFamilyISU Twitter

Eco Family Virtual ConferenceOnline “Flipped” class• March 7 “ENERGY”• April 4 “STUFF”• May 2 “FOOD”• June 6 “NEIGHBORS”http://www.extension.iastate.edu/linn/news/live-green-2013

Special thanks for funding…

The Resource Enhancement and Protection Conservation Education Program

&

The Iowa Department of Natural Resources Solid Waste Alternatives Program

Green Celebrations A program of Reclaim Your Holidays

Susan Salterberg

salterberg@uni.edu Center for Energy & Environmental Education, University of Northern Iowa

In partnership with:

Kristi Cooper

kcoop@iastate.edu Iowa State University Extension & Outreach