Student-led environmental action

EC students working on initiatives in the office

Our initiatives are at the core of what we do. Our student-led teams work in the following areas to create positive change on campus and in our community.

Local food security

The mission of our Local Food Security initiative is to develop student and community connections to local food on campus and the broader SW Colorado Region. Some of the projects and efforts that this team focuses on are:

  • Overseeing our campus growing spaces (garden and orchard)
  • Pushing for more socially and environmentally responsible food in our dining hall
  • Raising awareness about food production and access issues
  • Supporting access to nutritional and culturally appropriate foods 

FLC student standing in vegetable garden with a garden tool

Lands & ecology

The mission of our Lands and Ecology initiative is to ensure our campus grounds and surrounding lands are managed in an ecologically sound manner. Some of the projects and efforts that this team focuses on are:

  • Working on land and water stewardship projects in our region
  • Pushing for more ecologically-friendly management practices on campus
  • Education on regional land use and conservation issues 

FLC students working on an ecosystem restoration project

Climate action

The mission of our Climate Action initiative is to push for on campus and regional climate action in the form of energy conservation, shifts toward renewable energy, and other greenhouse gas reduction measures. Some of the projects and efforts that this team focuses on are:

  • Raising awareness about the fact that climate change is one of the most critical issues of our time.
  • Promoting innovative climate action such as local carbon offset programs
  • Educating our campus community on climate friendly behaviors such as energy conservation and alternative transportation
  • Supporting grassroots efforts to push for changes to our campus and regional energy infrastructure 

Close up of solar panel

Zero waste

The mission of our Zero Waste initiative is to advance zero waste principles across FLC and the greater community and reduce the amount of material headed to our regional landfill from FLC every year until zero waste status is achieved. Some of the projects and efforts that this team focuses on are:

  • Overseeing our campus composting and food waste reduction programs
  • Supporting re-use by collecting items during residence hall move-out and hosting an on-campus free thrift store, the Free Store
  • Educating our campus community on the social and environmental issues associated with reducing, reusing, and properly recycling
  • Researching and promoting ways to improve our campus and regional waste management

FLC student using the zero waste bins