Ecology Action, founded in Berkeley at the start of the environmental movement in 1970, is a nonprofit organization that today focuses its work on educating and informing individuals on how to improve their carbon footprint. Initially a grassroots organization, they have since expanded their sphere to include several more areas of impact, such as helping businesses design energy efficient buildings, policy advising within governments, and water conservation efforts around Northern California.
One of Ecology Action’s goals is to bring programs to Santa Cruz that educate and unify the public about environmental concerns. Their work covers four main sectors of environmental education: energy, water, transportation, and community efforts. These areas are chosen specifically for their everyday presence, and put simply, Ecology Action believes that “by helping people act now, we limit that impact”. Some programs, such as their Bike to Work Day every May and October, involves over 13,000 Santa Cruz residents yearly. Other transportation programs they offer, such as their crossing safety workshops in elementary schools and bike loan program, aim to bring awareness and alternatives to the community. They also coordinate educational and social programs such as Earth Day Santa Cruz, which brings music, food, and organizations to San Lorenzo Park and attracts 6,000 guests annually.
Another great thing about Ecology Action is that they partner with local businesses in several aspects of their programs. Bookshop Santa Cruz, for example, gives participants of the Bike Party Ride program a reading list with overarching themes of environmentalism. They also sponsor a community-wide book group and discussion, which for the month of May focuses on the novel Coming of Age at the End of Nature. Other events are hosted through their “Catalyst” program, including the recent Mother Earth film series, which screened a diverse range of environmental documentaries in downtown Watsonville.
The Sustainable Transportation Division in particular has plenty of volunteer opportunities for students. By filling out the online application (http://ecoact.org/volunteer), you can select a range of programs to volunteer in, such as bilingual translation, a walking school bus leader, or volunteering with the Earth Day program. In addition, on the application you can check if you are interested in interning with their office for academic credit.
