Sustainability at St. Mary's
February 2015
February Projects - Full Steam Ahead
St. Mary's Arboretum Tour Revamp
The new tour also adds specific sections on the campus bird population, identifying birds as bio-indicators. St. Mary’s campus has a high bird biodiversity year round, making our campus a prime learning location to understand how birds can indicate such changes in over-use of land, and even climate change.
Look out for this new tour on the Arboretum website - coming soon!
Farm Update
Ever wonder where the compost from your dorm or townhouse goes? The compost you produce goes straight to the Campus Community Farm and eventually is transformed into the fertile soil that is used to grow all the crops! You can compost anything that naturally decomposes and is free of oils or fats.
Perfect examples of compostable products are eggshells, apple cores, vegetable scraps, and even tea bags! Composting is an easy and fun way to contribute to a healthy environment.
Bag Holders
- DPC laundry room
- All dorms, near front entrance
- Near front door of the Pub
A Look Into Sustainable Careers
Lindsay Fahey at the Center for Nature and Leadership
CNL takes a cross-generational, and cross-sectoral approach, relying on all generations of knowledge and wisdom, and pulling from every sector of business and operation, to create a holistic, constantly learning community, not set in any particular way of thinking.
This path is outlined in their various retreat opportunities, which focus on self-reflection within nature, with the ultimate goal of inward thinking to promote outward contribution and change. Too often, professionals, and even professionals looking to move into the sustainability field, limit themselves to stringent goals, and logical, analytical plans, leading to confusion, frustration, and an anxiety in where to go next. CNL focuses on developing all human skills, including those of emotional and intuitive strength, and learning how to balance these skills to make the best decisions moving forward.
What advice does she have for graduates and almost-graduates coming into the workforce?
To be critical. Think about where and when you've done your best work; that is, work that you are proud of, and work that you've been your happiest completing. Will the job and company you are applying to provide you with a similar environment?
Additionally, be passionate. "Potential employers will see right through you," says Fahey, of the all familiar "mass-apply" tactic, becoming more common as the application process moves to completely digital. Think closely about each position you are applying for, considering your unique skills. "What would you be able to provide to a company that is unique to your skill set?"
The Center for Nature & Leadership was created in 2012, and is located in Washington, D.C. For more information, check out their website: http://natureleadership.org/
Website: http://natureleadership.org/contact-us/
Location: Center for Nature and Leadership 1255 25th St. NW, Suite 720 Washington, DC 20037
Phone:
Julie Roby at GreeNEWit
Retrofitting and energy auditing are two very practical, and important pieces to the climate change puzzle, solutions that save both money, and energy. GreeNEWit works to support the EmPOWER Maryland Act goals of emissions reductions, and also creates local jobs. The potential in this field is ever-growing, as the demand for greener and cleaner technologies keeps growing.
What advice does she have for graduates and almost-graduates entering the workforce?
"Do your research on the companies you're applying to, but also ask lots of questions during the interview and of course, follow up. Strong follow up not only keeps you at the top of the hiring manager's list, but shows you are organized, passionate and driven to succeed. Don't be afraid to work for a start-up (like me!) because they often have the most flexibility when it comes to facilitating your personal growth."
GreeNEWit was created in 2008 in Columbia, Maryland, and is currently hiring!
Email: info@greeNEWit.com
Website: http://www.greenewit.com/
Location: 6851 Oak Hall Lane #300A Columbia, MD 21045
Phone:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/greeNEWit
Twitter: @greeNEWit
SEAC's 2015 Polar Bear Plunge
Bring a towel, and shoes to wear into the water. They'll bring the hot chocolate!
Friday, Mar 6, 2015, 04:30 PM
Water front
Arbor Week
Monday, Mar 30, 2015, 10:00 AM
Campus Wide Celebration
Contact us
Email: sustainability@smcm.edu
Website: www.smcm.edu/sustainability
Location: White House
Facebook: facebook.com/smcmsustainability
Twitter: @SustainableSMCM