Calum Hanawalt

PCC Ecopanthers

POINTS TOTAL

0 TODAY
0 THIS WEEK
556 TOTAL

participant impact

UP TO

208

minutes

not spent in front of a screen
UP TO

67

plastic bottles

not sent to the landfill
UP TO

3.0

random acts of kindness

completed
UP TO

12

individuals

recognized
UP TO

208

minutes

spent outdoors

Calum's actions

Nature

Spend Time Outside

I will replace 10 minutes each day typically spent inside (computer time, watching television, etc.) with quality time outside.

COMPLETED 14
DAILY ACTIONS

Health

Express Gratitude and Random Acts of Kindness

Small acts of kindness and gratitude can brighten someone's day and create a positive ripple effect. I will express gratitude to 1 people or perform 1 random acts of kindness to spread joy and connection.

COMPLETED 8
DAILY ACTIONS

Waste

Use a Reusable Water Bottle

I will keep 1 disposable plastic bottles from entering the waste stream by using a reusable water bottle.

COMPLETED 20
DAILY ACTIONS

Waste

Complete a Personal Waste Audit

I will collect all of my unrecyclable, non-compostable trash to raise my awareness of how much I send to the landfill. I will share a photo and reflection of this action on the feed.

UNCOMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Health

Exercise Daily

Daily movement supports our physical and mental health. I will spend 10 minutes each day exercising in a way that feels good to me, such as walking, running, stretching, or dancing.

COMPLETED 0
DAILY ACTIONS

Nature

Learn How to Save the Bees

At least 30% of crops and 90% of flowering plants rely on pollinators to produce fruit. I will spend 20 minutes researching which plants support local native pollinators and plant some in my yard.

UNCOMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Energy

Adjust the Thermostat

I will adjust my thermostat down 2 degrees from usual when I use the heat, and up 2 degrees when I use air conditioning.

COMPLETED 16
DAILY ACTIONS

Participant Feed

Calum Hanawalt 11/02/2025 10:36 PM
For the Ecochallenge I unfortunately only accomplished seventeen check-ins and three posts; one reflection for each daily challenge. This was a difficult assignment as I was homeless for the majority of October, only getting into my own apartment on the 18th. I tried to pick actions that would be accessible for those conditions, such as showing gratitude, using reusable water bottles, and spending time outside. One action that I picked was to adjust the thermostat, which my sister did not appreciate me doing the few times I was at her house during the challenge month.
However, that particular action is indicative of the value of the challenge for me. When I did get my apartment, I was excited to start checking in for the thermostat action. This helped me to get into that mindset and set the precedent in my new home of conserving energy through thermostat usage (or nonusage as it were). I believe that I’ve conditioned an association of conservation with this particular thermostat as a result. Spending time outside was also a useful reminder for me. I started a new job at the beginning of the month and, to satisfy my check-ins, started spending at least one ten minute break in the courtyard of the building trying to center myself. Other actions, like the water bottle, were simply a nice validation for me. As I said on the site, I already regularly use exclusively refillable water bottles so being able to check in on that one was a nice boost during a period of my life where I was really struggling. Overall, I feel that this challenge cemented the importance of individual actions in my own life to combat ecological collapse.

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REFLECTION QUESTION
Nature

Rachel Carson said that we need the beauty and mysteries of the natural world for our spiritual and emotional development. Does that ring true for you? What are the implications for a culture that spends most of its time indoors?
Calum Hanawalt 10/31/2025 10:44 PM
A culture that spends most of its time indoors will lose connection with the natural world. We also don't receive important components of our health like vitamin D from sunlight which is nearly impossible to adequately supplement.

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REFLECTION QUESTION
Waste

While water bottles are needed for health and safety in certain places, we can do more to reduce the unnecessary use of them. What are the barriers to you using reusable bottles and tap water instead of bottled water? How could you make this a permanent habit?
Calum Hanawalt 10/31/2025 10:43 PM
I already have made this a permanent habit! I'm very cheap and just don't want to pay for water bottles.

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REFLECTION QUESTION
Energy

Your utility company is able to tell you your average energy usage. Ask them how your energy usage compares to others in your ZIP code, region, and/or state. What other steps can you take each day to reduce your electricity usage?
Calum Hanawalt 10/31/2025 10:42 PM
I can keep my lights off in rooms that I'm not currently in.

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