Earth Camp Commitment

My Earth Camp Commitment is in response to the things that I know or have learned that are harmful to the environment or wasteful of the finite resources that the Earth has for us as humans. My Earth Camp Commitment is to start carrying around a cloth napkin/hankerchief to replace the paper napkins used in restaurants or in everyday life, as well as using less and less condiments where ever I go to create less waste. In addition to that, I will start carrying around a reusable hard plastic water bottle instead of the one-gallon water jug that I reuse and carry around because I may pick up carcinogens from leaving that jug in my truck.

The experience that motivated me to make my commitment was the competition between the teams to see who could generate the least amount of waste at a restaurant. My team, the Yellow Team, went to the  Moab Diner, a good ol' all-American burger shop. We brought in our mess kits, water bottles, and napkins so that we wouldn't recieve any plastic wrappers or napkins, because whatever you get you have to keep. So if you get something, you have to eat it or else the waste would count against your team. We explained to the waiter what the situation was and so we had virtually no waste! That dinner was filled with laughter and funny stories because it just felt so good doing something, well, good!  Some of us ended up eating the cantalope rhines to avoid waste. After that evening, I decided that I would start with something simple and bring around my cloth napkin everywhere I went and use my own utensils outside.

To achieve my Earth Camp Commitment, I will first off get myself a cloth hankerchief/napkin which I will carry around in my pockets, on my caribiner that's on my belt loop, or in my truck that I will use instead of the paper towels in restaurants or bathrooms. I will wash it whenever it needs to be washed via washing machine. I will also carry around my reusable water bottle instead of my one-gallon jug in my car to stop the carcinogens from coming off my bottle into my drinking water.

My Earth Camp Commitment probably isn't going to make any huge impact on the world as I know it, but it may spread the message of conserving resources because not many people carry around hankies or napkins around anymore so I guess I may bring it back into style which would be really neat. My new waterbottle may effect the world through less waste that could've been used on plastic water bottles, but instead I carry around my own refillable bottle which could save me money. When waiters and restaurant owners know that you don't want to generate waste in their restaurant, they'll be very happy to help you out because it saves them money, saves them time, and it's just awesome.

Something I can use to remind me of my Earth Camp Commitment could be many things. It may include something that I wear, something I do, or someone who I hang out with. I may be reminded by my carabineer that I carry on my hip that holds my wallet and car keys because I plan on hooking my hankerchief onto it. I can remember by going around the U of A and seeing all the environmentally friendly places or by going to Rocks and Ropes and drinking water out of my reusable water bottle. It could be by simply going out with some friends that share the same interests as me when we go out to eat or to play.

Questions & Answers

What did you think camp would be like and did it turn out that way or differently?

At first when Earth Camp started, I honestly did not know what to expect from the camp experience.  The one thing that I did know what to expect was the relationships and friendships that were going to develop from this trip between the campers. On the first day, nobody knew anyone's names and didn't talk to each other.  But I knew for sure that by the end of the camp, everyone will know each other, laugh with each other, and pretty much be screaming with excitement with each other by the end of camp, which is exactly what happened.  

What was your favorite activity and why?

My favorite activity was the same thing that inspired me to take up my Earth Camp commitment, which was the least waste competition dinner in Moab between all the teams. The activity was my favorite by far because it explained in the best way possible how easy and fun being environmentally friendly could be in the real world surrounded by real people.  And if I saw our group having that much fun by doing such simple things and making a small change in the world, then perhaps I would start helping that change grow bigger.

What did we do at camp that impressed you the most and why?

The thing at camp that impressed me the most was the fact that the Southwest was using so much water.  To learn that something like the Green River that is flowing with record flows could be reduced to so much as a trickle of water by the time it has reached Mexico, really made me think of how important water is.  It was really an eye opener to think that most people in the west don't know where their faucet water comes from and how much energy is needed to get the water from the Colorado River to the shower in your bathroom.

Who inspired you the most during camp?

The people that inspired me the most are Amy and Lynn Orchard, because through being completely immersed with nature and the environment, as well as each other, they have created a great loving family and earned the love and respect of so many people around them in their communities, jobs, and passions. They've not only proven their prowess though their jobs, but through their children as well, who are pinnacles of light in a world which desperately needs people like them in the years to come, and we have people like them because of the headstrong parents who've done the hard work that is so often not appreciated by the next generations until it is too late.

Tell me about a time at camp when you saw someone else demonstrate great leadership qualities. What did they do?

During camp, I saw great leadership qualities by Naomi, because even though she is the youngest person at camp, she was the most enthusiastic about everything that we've done, as well as being the organizer of most of the games that we played throughout the trip. She was also very knowledable about many things that most people didn't know on the trip whether it was about the flora and fauna or just random fun facts about interesting and fun stuff.

What did you do during camp that demonstrated your own leadership qualities?

I demonstrated my own leadership qualities by giving everyone everything that I've got. I brought my humor, musical taste, abilities, talents, lack of coordination in my footware, and my enthusiasum in the activities. I led when I could, and followed when I should, which I feel are very important leadership qualities.

In what ways did Earth Camp help you think about your future, e.g. careers or higher education?

Earth Camp has helped me think about my future career and higher education wise by showing me what I could do best as an individual or as a working person in society. Earth Camp has shown me some of the abilities that I have such as being able to work with people my age, talking to people, thinking deeper about things with others, being a leader and being a follower as well. It has shown me some of the interests that I have which includes working out in the field and leading people towards a common goal. I plan on going to college at the University of Arizona and get to know the community more and then pursue graduate school. I plan on working in some aspect of zoology and working as a youth counselor, such as a summer camp leader.

Now that you have experienced Earth camp, how do you view water in Tucson and how will that affect your future actions and choices?

The new perspective that I have gained about the water in the Southwest is very different than the ideas I had before. Like many Tucsonians, I didn't think about where my water was coming from and because of that, we consume so much water everyday that just isn't sustainable. To think that something as great as the Colorado River and the Green River that is flowing at record levels is being reduced to virtually nothing by the time it reaches Mexico was mind boggling. In the future, my perspective will help me change my actions when it comes to water consumption at home and everywhere else.