Get Involved! : Volunteer Opportunities

How can you make a difference, learn more and educate others about environmental issues, change campus policy to make CU more environmentally friendly, or gain valuable experience that will help you find a job when you graduate? Become active with the nation's largest student-run Environmental Center!

The Environmental Center has volunteer opportunities that range from teaching environmental education in local schools to working on changing campus policies on issues relating to energy, alternative transportation, and more. We have highlighted our largest volunteer programs in this section.

There are several ways to get involved: please call us at 303.492.8308, email ecenter@colorado.edu, or fill out our online volunteer application form.

EcoReps
The Environmental Center is sponsoring the “Eco-Rep” program for students living in residence halls and Greek houses. Eco-Reps learn about recycling, sustainable transportation, energy efficiency, water usage and other environmental topics and then do programs and make lasting improvements in their halls and help other residents to be more environmentally engaged.

Earth Education
Earth Education is a program that gives volunteers the opportunity to create environmental curriculum and teach in local schools. We focus on people’s connection to the earth and help children build a greater

"Earth Ed has been a great way for me to teach classes, and run them how I want to. I have been interested in teaching and environmental science for some time now, and because of this program I can combine the two, apply them, and confirm that this is a possible career path I want to take."

—Earth Ed volunteer Liz Falk, CU Senior

awareness of this relationship. Curriculums can be on any environmental topic and usually involve many hands-on activities and projects. Volunteers can work with all age groups, from preschool to high school. There is no experience necessary..

Generation Green—Energy Education Campaign
Generation Green is a student group working on energy and water conservation through a campus wide education campaign. This group also works to implement clean and renewable energy sources to supply campus heating and electricity.

Clean Energy Now! will be working with Facilities Management on a major educational program for the CU campus. The goal of the campaign is to reduce energy waste on campus by educating the campus community about more efficient practices. This is a new and exciting effort with lots of room for creativity.

If you would like any further information on Clean Energy Now! or would like to be involved with the summit or education campaign, please contact us via email or telephone at ghita.levenstein@colorado.edu, (303) 492-3229. Also, check out our website or feel free to come see us in the Environmental Center UMC 331.

“The Green Teams really help students to make a difference for the earth by taking simple steps in their own homes. Last year, we visited nearly 1500 student households. Every person really appreciates getting information and having another student to answer their questions.  We're going to have a lot of fun this year, so if you like talking to people and helping them live ‘greener’ lives, come check out the Green Teams!”

—Erica Bruskin, 2006 Green Teams member

Green Teams
The Green Teams are students who share environmental information with students who live on the hill or in the Goss/ Grove area. Mainly, the Green Teams help give curbside recycling information to residents of off-campus households. These education efforts will be especially important this fall when the city of Boulder's curbside program undergoes major changes. We need your help to distribute information on what, when, where and how to properly recycle. Additionally, the Green Teams will be sharing other ‘green’ info—such as composting, energy and water conservation, and waste reduction—to student households.

For more info call (303)492-8307 or email ecenter@colorado.edu.

Sustainable Transportation
CU has one of the highest student body populations riding alternative transportation, and we need your help to keep it this way! Volunteering for the CU Environmental Center’s transportation program is very rewarding as a leader campus transportation planning, development and research.

• Encourage alternative transportation in the campus community and advocate for bikeways and expanded bus systems.
• Participate and organize bike rides.
• Help campaign for alternative fuel vehicles on campus.
• Work against car domination on campus.
• Educate students regarding the student bus pass program.
• For more information call (303)492-6486.

Events and Promotions
Volunteers make the many events put on by the E-Center successful. Check the events calendar regularly at http://ecenter.colorado.edu/events.

Help is always needed in getting the word out about the Environmental Center. If you like to make displays, chalk, poster and table, we need your help!

Recycling
There are many ways to get involved with the nations largest and strongest recycling program – from giving class raps to participating in SWAT Teams. With your help we can boost participation to increase landfill diversion and capture valuable resources.

Make a difference with your degree! Choose to do a class paper, oral presentation, internship, or independent study with CU Recycling. Bring your class syllabus to our office and we’ll find a project that will meet your class requirement and benefit recycling.

UCSU Environmental Board
The Environmental Center is run by a board of seven students and two non-students, with an unlimited number of ex-officio members. Help set policy, govern the organization, and make decisions about how to educate the campus and surrounding community on environmental issues.