green camp initiative
Top Ten Ways
to Green a Ramah Camp
- Sign the Directors Environmental Commitment
- SIMPLE ACTION – Lead by Example, be a דוגמא אישית
- Train staff to be environmentally conscious. They are the best eco-emissaries.
- Form a Camper-Staff Green Team
- Remember Ba’al Taschit – DON’T BE WASTEFUL (remember this for all programming)
- Encourage the use of reusable water bottles (drinking bottled water is like drinking crude oil)
- Make fewer copies and use half/quarter sheets when possible
- Turn off running water not in use
- Turn off lights and electrical appliances not in use
- Reduce the amounts of disposable goods used in camp, especially in the Hadar Ochel.
- Offer Environmental Education
- Give D’vrei Torah about the environment
- Teach environmental yahadut classes
- Run specialized environmental programming (see catalogue of Green Ramah items)
- Initiate an Awareness Campaign (see catalogue of Green Ramah items)
- Post educational signs around camp
- Turn Off the Lights stickers
- Hebrew signs about the environment
- Institutionalize a Camp-wide RECYCLING Program
- Buy specialized bins for each bunk (see catalog of Green Camp items)
- Map out central collection sites around
- Incorporate collection into maintenance routine
- Contract with hauler
- Purchase Green Items
- Ask your suppliers about eco-friendly options. Challenge them to offer competitive pricing. (If this doesn’t work, there are still other options – e.g.. Rutgers Cooperative Purchasing Agreement)
- Cleaners
- Paper
- Fertilizers
- Evaluate Camp’s Food Decisions
- Try to purchase local and/or organic whenever possible
- Look for items that are certified with Magen Tzedek
- Start a Small Organic Garden
- Use this as an educational resource –Teach from Hazon’s Min Ha’aretz curriculum (see catalog of Green Camp items)
- Use the items in camp cooking
- Compost on a small scale
- Install Water Saving Technology
- Easy Flow or similar mechanisms
- Waterless urinals
- Aerate faucets
- Reduce Energy Usage
- Systematically replace all lighting with efficient deices (especially incandescent bulbs to CFLs)
- Install and secure programmable thermostats in air conditioned rooms
- Install motion sensor controlled lights in appropriate places
- Conduct an energy audit
- Find out about alternative energy options
3080 Broadway, New York, NY 10027
