By Elisa Garcia
It does not need to be Earth Day in order for us to celebrate and honor the planet. That’s why Latinitas created a one day event, EcoChica, where environmental organizations such as EcoRise and GeoFORCE taught young girls how they can use their Chica Power to create a safe and happy planet.
Sponsored by the Texas Parks and Wildlife, EcoChica took place July 28 during Laitnitas Healthy Chica Camp, where girls learned how to live a balanced life by incorporating healthy habits that positively impact themselves and the world.
According to EcoRise’s website, they develop a K-12 school-based curriculum that introduces students to environmental literacy, social innovation and design skills. With their students leading the way, their goal is to create a sustainable future for everyone.
Jessica Cravens, a program manager for EcoRise, spoke to the chicas on processed foods and how food can negatively and positively impact the body and planet. Cravens invited the chicas to a design challenge where they would create a food label that tells consumers how food affects one’s health, the manufacturing and how the manufacturing of food affects the environment.
“Food affects your health, your physical, emotional and mental health,” Cravens told the girls. “Look at food dyes, some of the concerns with dyes are that they cause allergies, asthma, behavioral problems and decreased cognitive function.”
Similarly to EcoRise, GeoFORCE is a K-12 outreach program designed to increase the number and diversity of students pursuing STEM degrees and careers, specifically geology.
GeoFORCE instructors Kathleen Wilson and Barbara Sulbaran led an in-depth discussion on natural resources, sustainability and landscape change.
“For a long time, people thought the ocean was so vast that it didn’t matter what we dumped into it,” Wilson told Latinitas participants. “But that’s starting to catch up with us because plastic does not break down. Even within our own homes, the use of common day plastics in our bathrooms and fridges has gotten to the point where we don’t even notice them anymore.”
Using their Chica Power, the girls participated in a check-in quiz based on the new knowledge they gained about Earth science. Out of the 10 chicas who took the quiz, 90% of them knew water was the most powerful agent of erosion and 70% knew the Texas coastline is always changing.
To see what the chicas learned during Healthy Chica, check out the recap video!
