Corie Eckman explains how to make a do-it-yourself veggie dip in a video made for a week of Earth Day activities in 2020 at Slippery Rock University's Macoskey Center.

Earth Day takes up almost a whole month at Slippery Rock University's Macoskey Center.

Administrators of the Macoskey Center for Sustainability Education and Research are posting eco-challenges on social media throughout the week, so viewers can make a sustainable change every day that will positively impact the environment. The eco-challenge week is meant to give sustainable tips to students that are affordable and easy.

“It's one of the main things we can show them,” said Corie Eckman, graduate assistant at the Macoskey Center. “There are very tangible and very easy things for especially students to do that are sustainable and inexpensive.”

The week of eco-challenges kicked off with Swap-it-Out Sunday, followed by Meatless Monday, Transportation Tuesday, Water Wednesday, Thinking Thursday, For the Future Friday and Shop Sustainably Saturday.

The center will post a story on Instagram detailing the challenge of each day with instructions, and Sami Laurence, center manager, said it is awarding a prize to those who respond to each post with a photo of them completing the day's challenge.

Eckman said the center will also post videos on its Youtube channel showing ways people can “Sustain-A-Swap,” and replace products they use at home with more sustainable options, for example using a bamboo toothbrush instead of a plastic.

She said the center distributed a survey to students for feedback, which found that a lot of students don't know of versions of many products that are more eco-friendly. When they learn about options like a bamboo toothbrush and more eco-friendly cleaning supplies, Eckman said many students are happy to make a change.

“For students coming from all different majors it's really important to show them how they are impacted by sustainability,” Eckman said. “When you are presented with a new and cool option, sometimes that is the best option.”

Laurence also said even changing out plastic products for reusable ones can make an impact on the environment, which is one of the main messages of the Macoskey Center during Earth month.

“In the kitchen, think about instead of using plastic straws or utensils, use metal or reusable ones,” Laurence said. “Trade (plastic containers) for glass or even bring them to restaurants to take leftovers.

“Recycling is great, but not as good as not having to put something in the bin at all.”

For more information on the Macoskey Center's Earth month activities, visit its social media pages.