Campus Involvement

Campus Involvement
Green Living

Calendar of Events

Annual Energy Conservation Competition | October

This contest rewards the dorm that has the greatest reduction in their percentage of energy use within the time frame of the competition with up to $200. With the help of the Bowdoin electricity staff, Sustainable Bowdoin records each residence's average electricity use, then monitors the amount used during the competition. The residence that decreases electrical use the most wins. The competition is set up to increase awareness about energy use, create an incentive for students to reduce their consumption of electricity, and generally promote a more conscientious campus. It is also a fun way for the campus to see how easy it is to use less electricity!

21 Tips to Do it in the Dark

Results of the 2007 Energy Conservation Competition 
Results of the 2006 Energy Conservation Competition
Results of the 2005 Energy Conservation Competition
Results of the 2004 Energy Conservation Competition

Reusable Bag Raffle | Year-Round

Each time you use a reusable bag at Moulton Express you can stamp a card. After 8 stamps, enter the card into a raffle. We pick 2 winners per semester out of the raffle box and prizes range from free coffee, fleece vests, and tote bags from great local stores like LL Bean, Patagonia, Horney Toad and Wild Oats Bakery. Great way to eliminate waste and win a useful prize!

Reusable Mug Competition | Fall Semester

In order to encourage the use of complementary Bowdoin travel mugs, the Bowdoin EcoReps initiate a month-long competition between the proctor groups of their affiliated freshmen dorms. Each time a student uses his or her mug in the dining hall, she or he has a ticket stamped; the proctor group in each dorm who uses their travel mugs most is awarded with a pizza party.

Maine Recycles Week | November

In celebration of Maine Recycles Week, the month of November is devoted to recycling awareness and activities.  Each year we do an annual trash audit, run by students who collect trash from first year dorms to sort through and compile a percentage of what should have been recycled.  The result is a clear view of how first years are doing on recycling, and a huge “Mt. Trashmore” outside the student union.  Other activities include a visit to the Brunswick landfill, and appearances of recycling mascots Dan and Jan the Cans, who will visit dorms and offices to answer recycling questions.

RecycleMania | January-April

For the third year in a row, Bowdoin participated in RecycleMania, a nationwide recycling competition in which we compete for the highest recycling rate, the most recyclables per person, and the least amount of total waste (trash and recycling) generated on campus. Read more...

Sustainable Valentines | February

During the first weeks of February, the Bowdoin EcoReps encourage the student to exercise creative sustainability by making valentines using only recycled materials. Valentine-crafting tables can be found in Smith Union.

Food Audit | Twice Annually

Each semester Sustainable Bowdoin hosts a food audit, scheduled for the same meal each semester, in one of the dining halls. Volunteers will scrape and tally plates, and come up with a figure for pounds wasted per person. The results are used to educate the campus about how to reduce food waste.  We encourage people to go "trayless", an exercise that has proven to reduce food waste on other campuses. Check back during the fall semester for the dates of the next food audit. 

Earth Week | April

Each year Bowdoin celebrates Earth Week with various activities.  For a complete list of Earth Week activities for April 2008 click here.

Annual Give & Go Sale | June

A big thank you to every volunteer, shopper, and donator that make Give & Go 2008 the most successful sale yet! Through your efforts, we raised over $40,000 that will be distributed to 38 local non-profit organizations! To volunteer your organization for Give & Go 2009, email giveandgosale@yahoo.com to be put on the contact list.