Start: 03/21/2014 - 11:00am
End: 03/21/2014 - 12:00pm
Vermontivate, a nationally award-winning sustainability game, is launching its third round of community competition on Friday, March 21 - and also celebrating Vermont Energy Independence Day - with a press conference at the Statehouse, 11am, in the Cedar Creek Room.
Speakers include climate champions from many of Vermontivate’s partner organizations, including Deb Sachs from VTrans, Johanna Miller from VNRC, Andi Colnes from Energy Action Network, as well as Senator Dave Zuckerman, and Charlotte Representative Mike Yantanchka, a 2-time Vermontivate! veteran.
Set to run until May 3 - GreenUp Day - this frolicsome on-line/real-world hybrid event infuses joy and creativity into the serious and important work of tackling the global climate crisis. From curious beginners to folks looking to save a little money to green-living mavens, people at all levels of awareness and engagement are invited to play.
Players from towns and schools all over Vermont will spend five weeks racking up points for everything from changing lightbulbs and starting compost piles to writing energy poetry, decorating bicycles and participating in the programs and events of Vermontivate’s 3-dozen partner organizations.
The winning community will receive an ice cream party from Ben and Jerry’s and the winning school gets a six-foot teddybear from Vermont Teddybear.
“Climate change is the most significant issue we face as a species,” says Vermontivate Executive Director Kathryn Blume. “And,” she continues, “the clock is running out on the window to take meaningful action. We need a fierce and spunky revolution to activate as many people as possible, and the playful, hope-filled nature of a game is a great way to do it.”
“I’ve been working in conservation and efficiency for a decade,” says Vermontivate! co-founder Nick Lange, “and Vermontivate! is not only the most fun I’ve ever had, but it also has the greatest potential for powerful, widespread impact.”
"Vermontivate," concurs Ross McDonald, Go Vermont Program Manager and Public Transit Coordinator at the Vermont Agency of Transportation, "can transform this state for the better, and do it at a speed and scale which match the enormous scope of the problems we’re facing."
Vermontivate! started in 2012 as a small trial with 13 towns and 200 players, and won the Best Energy Project Award from the Vermont Energy And Climate Action Network. Participation tripled in 2013, and garnered Vermontivate! recognition from The American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy for the effectiveness of the program.
Just this week, Vermontivate! was awarded third place in the national Health Care Without Harm Climate Change Contest, and South Burlington team captain Karen Mckenny, a nurse at Fletcher Allen, will be presenting about Vermontivate! at the CleanMed Conference in Cleveland this June.
Interested potential players can sign up at www.vermontivate.com or email [email protected].
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