Carbon Conscious!

I explored c3.newdream.org today! The Carbon Conscious Consumer campaign sounds pretty great! It challenges folks to gain "climate-friendly" daily habits in a fun and unique way: by taking a pledge to do something that cuts our impact on climate change each month. I am looking forward to seeing what the pledge is for next month! (Hey! That's one of the internet marketing techniques I just learned about: have new and interesting content updates to keep consumers coming back for more! Nice job C3.)

I signed their pledge to do laundry in cold water this month... and then... I got a little dot on the map of the U.S. representing myself and the tiny impact I'm making among the others that have pledged. It's actually a pretty neat image.

I also reviewed the past challenges- they were all pretty easy to do and a great way to introduce new habits to average people. C3 pledges learned to buy one pound of local food a week in July, go one day a week without driving in August, use online forms to eliminate junk mail in September, and use reusable water bottles in October. Wow, all awesome suggestions. What a fantastic campaign. Check out the website for yourself and get involved!

Frog Watch USA

After my boyscout program (Reptile and Amphibian Study Merit Badge) yesterday, I am super motivated to continue learning about herps. The boy scouts were a great audience! They asked tons of compelling questions and stayed after the program talking to me and interacting with the animals until their parents dragged them away. I'm eager to learn more and have more intriguing stories so I have more to share with kids when I teach. I was introduced to Frogwatch USA at Powershift 2007 (www.powershift07.org), and finally found time to explore their site. I'm hoping it gives me more interesting points to bring up about amphibian conservation and also another exciting way kids can help in their town.

I am so excited! I just signed up. I can't wait to study frog calls and contribute to a national frog and toad survey! Check it out for yourself! www.frogwatch.org. I'll keep you updated on my progress.

To myself: smiles to remember this week: "why don't snakes suffocate with such large food in their mouth?", getting love nipped by a baby anaconda, laminating snake sheds, welcoming baby gecko #20, feeling the keeled scales of USA's largest snake, the gopher snake, struggling to gracefully hold the 50lb+ red tail boa, positive feedback from parents, sushi Tuesday, Interview, Zeno's birthdays and new friends Wednesday, center for sustainability inspiring tour on Thursday. I am lucky!