Office of Sustainability

Enhancing Educational Experiences within the Office of the Vice Provost

Sense of Place: Campus Tree Tour

Get to know the trees on the CC campus! Trees play a critical role on Earth. Numerous studies demonstrate that the presence of trees in communities have a wide range of benefits, many of which can be connected to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. With all the benefits that trees provide in our urban landscape to the community, how often do we take a moment to stop and appreciate them? Take a wellness break from work and come explore CC’s diverse tree species in the first-ever guided Campus Tree Tour presented by CC’s Arborist Mike Spruce.

Register on Summit by 5 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 8!

Morning tour: Monday, Oct. 11, from 10-11 a.m.

Afternoon tour: Monday, Oct. 11 from 2:30-3:30 p.m.

Attend the AASHE Global Conference!

The Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Environmental Education is virtually hosting its annual conference Oct. 12-14, and CC Sustainability is sponsoring students, faculty, and staff to attend! The conference will feature leaders in sustainability from around the world discussing policies, research, and more on advancing sustainability in higher education, centered around this year’s theme: “The Future Is…” We will host a live viewing session and post-conference chat for attendees to connect, and participants will be able to access conference recordings through Dec. 31, 2021. Interested individuals should submit a brief paragraph on why they wish to attend, including specific sessions of interest, to sustainability@coloradocollege.edu. CC Sustainability will cover 100% of costs for students, and 80% for staff and faculty. Please contact Mae Rohrbach (mrohrbach@coloradocollege.edu) with questions, and visit the AASHE website for more information.

Intern Spotlight: Green Home Certification with Gordon Clark

Gordon Clark is a green programs intern. With the return of students to campus, Gordon has been working to extend the Green Room Certification program to those living off-campus through the Green Home Certification program. The GHC program is a household-evaluation system with the goal of increasing education and action on how to foster sustainable living outside of CC’s on-campus facilities.

The process is easy! Participating houses submit a completed checklist of sustainable living practices on Summit. Once certified, houses will receive a plaque as well as a “sustainable home kit,” which can include sustainably sourced detergent and cleaning products, reusable bottles for dish soap, loofah-sponges, and more. Thanks for helping our whole community practice sustainable living, Gordon! Contact Gordon (g_clark@coloradocollege.edu) with any questions.

Mountain Metro: FREE for all

Are you looking for a way to explore Colorado Springs without a car? Explore Mountain Metro, the Colorado Springs public bus system — all CC students ride free with a Gold Card! The bus has several stops bordering campus and routes that travel to local parks and greenspaces, shopping centers, and more. Mountain Metro Transit provides real-time information to Google Maps so you can plan your trip with ease.

Please note that, per Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines, Mountain Metro Transit is requiring all riders ages 2 and older to wear a mask. Remember to be safe, responsible, and wear a mask when in public spaces.

Diverting Waste at CC: Compost