laura hill

PCC Ecopanthers

POINTS TOTAL

0 TODAY
0 THIS WEEK
450 TOTAL

participant impact

UP TO

1,160

minutes

not spent in front of a screen
UP TO

54

gallons of water

have been saved
UP TO

23

random acts of kindness

completed
UP TO

40

individuals

recognized
UP TO

2,130

minutes

spent outdoors

laura 's 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 2 people or perform 1 random acts of kindness to spread joy and connection.

COMPLETED 11
DAILY ACTIONS

Energy

Turn Off Lights and Electronics

I will keep lights, electronics, and appliances turned off when not using them.

COMPLETED 11
DAILY ACTIONS

Nature

Spend Time Outside

I will replace 120 minutes each day typically spent inside (computer time, watching television, etc.) with quality time outside.

COMPLETED 8
DAILY ACTIONS

Water

Take 5-Minute Showers

I will save up to 6 gallons (23 L) of water each day by taking 5-minute showers.

COMPLETED 9
DAILY ACTIONS

Nature

Practice Gratitude for the Earth

I will spend 60 minutes per day outside, practicing gratitude (prayer, meditation, journaling, etc.) for Earth and my natural surroundings.

COMPLETED 7
DAILY ACTIONS

Participant Feed

REFLECTION QUESTION
Nature

Kathleen Dean Moore says that a sense of gratitude leads to a sense of moral obligation. Do you agree? How can we cultivate a sense of gratitude as individuals, and as a society?
laura hill 10/11/2025 9:52 AM
- Adventurer 🏔
I completely agree that gratitude creates a sense of moral obligation.

When you truly recognize how much you’ve been given from clean air and water to community and opportunity it naturally awakens a desire to give back. Gratitude shifts your mindset from entitlement to stewardship. It’s not just about saying “thank you,” but about asking, How can I honor what I’ve received?

As individuals, we can cultivate gratitude through mindfulness — slowing down long enough to notice the everyday gifts that go unnoticed. As a society, we can foster it by teaching environmental empathy, celebrating acts of care, and creating systems that remind people they’re part of something larger than themselves. Gratitude, when practiced collectively, becomes fuel for responsibility — and that’s the foundation of real change.

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- Keila Miller 10/11/2025 5:16 PM
  
  Book Lover 📚
  Wow, this was beautifully said! Thank you for sharing your viewpoint. Food for thought indeed.
  
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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?
laura hill 10/11/2025 9:51 AM
- Adventurer 🏔
Rachel Carson’s words absolutely ring true for me. The beauty and mystery of nature have a way of quieting the noise in my head and reconnecting me to something bigger than myself. When I’m outside whether it’s standing by water, walking through trees, or just feeling sunlight I notice how my stress resets. Nature forces me to slow down, observe, and remember that I’m part of a living system, not separate from it.

A culture that spends most of its time indoors loses that connection. We start to view the Earth as a resource instead of a relationship. That disconnection shows up as burnout, anxiety, and apathy toward environmental issues. Reintroducing nature — even in small, daily ways — could restore not only our emotional balance but our collective sense of responsibility to protect the planet that sustains us.

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REFLECTION QUESTION
Health

How does/can practicing gratitude keep you centered and motivated to work for a better world?
laura hill 10/11/2025 9:50 AM
- Adventurer 🏔
Practicing gratitude keeps me grounded by shifting my focus from what’s missing to what’s meaningful. When I take time to notice the good even the smallest things I reconnect with purpose instead of frustration. Gratitude reminds me that change doesn’t have to be massive to matter; small, consistent actions can ripple outward.

It keeps me centered when the world feels chaotic, because it anchors me to what’s still beautiful and worth protecting. And it motivates me to work for a better world — not out of guilt or pressure — but from a place of love, appreciation, and a desire to give back to the same world that gives so much to me.

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- laura hill 10/12/2025 5:44 PM
  
  Adventurer 🏔
  Thank you, Megan
  
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- Megan Gonzales 10/11/2025 7:28 PM
  
  Book Lover 📚
  Nicely said!
  
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REFLECTION QUESTION
Water

What did you notice about your habits or routines when limiting your showers to five minutes? What changes — if any — do you think you’ll continue long-term?
laura hill 10/07/2025 12:00 AM
- Adventurer 🏔
I was on time much more often. Lol

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REFLECTION QUESTION
Energy

How is electricity generated where you live? How does it impact the environment, animals, and humans?
laura hill 10/01/2025 4:27 PM
- Adventurer 🏔
Where I live in Blaine, electricity mostly comes from Connexus Energy, and some areas are covered by Xcel. Both get their power from the larger Minnesota grid, which is a mix of sources. A big part still comes from natural gas and coal, but more and more is coming from wind, solar, and even nuclear.

That mix has real effects. Fossil fuels put greenhouse gases and other pollution in the air, which can hurt people’s health and damage the environment. They also affect animals through habitat loss and water pollution. The cleaner sources like wind and solar don’t pollute the air, but they have trade-offs too — like turbines being tough on birds and solar farms taking up space.

The good news is Minnesota is moving toward a cleaner grid. Xcel is phasing out coal by 2030, and the state has a goal of 100% carbon-free electricity by 2040. So while my power today is kind of “in between,” the future here looks a lot greener.

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