Sustainable and Well Res Life
October 20, 2015
Program Ideas
Need funding for an event? Sustainability themed programs should fill out the Sustainability Program Funding application. Wellness related programs should fill out the Wellness Program Funding application.  The Center for Sustainable Communities and Wellness Department will be reviewing applications frequently, but it is best to apply at least two weeks ahead of your program.
Halloween Costume Thrift Shopping.   Decorah Thrift stores like Goodwill, the Depot Outlet and Spectrum Thrift Store are great places to find or put together the perfect Halloween costume! Organize a trip with your floor or a group to make sure everyone is feeling festive this fall. Borrow a van or carpool to stores in town, and create a costume with previously loved items. Want to take it up a notch? Organize a Halloween costume competition to see who can get the most creative! Check out the Goodwill Industries of Northeast Iowa Facebook page for special promotions and surprise Dollar Days and the website for store hours. .

Intramural Sports. Intramural sports are a great way of connecting with other people in a laid-back but competitive manner! Get your floor or a group of RA's to sign up for a fall Frisbee, Volleyball, or Pickleball league. Intramurals are usually small time commitments, and can serve as a good way to learn a new skill, get some physical exercise, and take a break from your stressful academic day. Visit the Recreational Services webpage to learn more and to sign up!

Winneshiek Recycling Center Tour.   Ever wonder where your materials go after they get tossed in the blue bins?
Terry Buenzow, department manager at the Winneshiek County Recycling Center, gives tours of the recycling operations that Luther contracts with. Borrow a van and head down for a short tour to educate yourself and residents about how paper, plastics and metals get recycled after they leave Luther. Contact Terry to organize a time to take the tour. 
Features and Updates
Drying Racks. The Center for Sustainable Communities recently purchased 20 new drying racks to be distributed to all the residence halls. After Fall Break, Olson, Larsen, Brandt, Ylvisaker and Towers will have a few drying racks to rent out to students who wish to air dry their laundry. The drying racks should be rented out of the Service Centers in each building. Dryers are extremely energy intensive and can reduce the lifespan of your clothes, so using a drying rack is a more sustainable option! 

Coloring.  Starting Monday, October 19th, all Residence Hall Service Centers will have coloring materials available for students.  Coloring is scientifically proven to help with relaxation because it lowers the activity of the amygdala, a basic part of the  brain involved in controlling emotion that is affected by stress. Stop by and pick up some coloring sheets to start the week off strong!  
Tips for a Healthier Residence Hall
Sleep. Sleep is one of the most important things to maintain for a healthy lifestyle. Even though RA's have to pull late night rounds and be available at all hours of the day, there are many things you can do to make sure you get as much and as high quality of sleep as possible!
  • Create a bedtime routine. If you have trouble falling asleep at night you can help yourself by creating a routine that will let your mind and body know that bedtime is approaching and that it should get into sleep mode. After a few weeks of practice this should help you fall asleep when you need to.
  • Don't work in bed. Working in bed can make getting to sleep harder. Keep your work space separate from your sleep space to keep insomnia at bay. 
  • Avoid all nighters. While you may feel like you need to study all night to do well you might be doing yourself a disservice. Not getting enough sleep can impair your ability to do well, regardless of how much you've studied, so make sure you get at least a little sleep before your big test.
  • Keep your room dark and quiet. While college campuses are hardly either, try to keep your room as dark, quiet and cool as possible. This will help trigger to your body that it's time for bed and help you get and stay asleep.
     
This newsletter is provided by the Center for Sustainable Communities in collaboration with the Luther College Wellness Department. The mission of the Center is to promote sustainability and be a catalyst for change on campus and in the region. We believe that physical wellness is an important component of sustainability, and advocate for the physical, mental, and emotional health of our campus and local community. For more information on initiatives at Luther and the outreach work of the Center for Sustainable Communities and Wellness Department, please visit:  www.luther.edu/sustainability and www.luther.edu/studentlife/wellness/.
Upcoming Events
On Campus

ECO Movie Night: The Island President
Thursday, October 22th
8pm Valders 362

In recognition of Global Climate Change Week, the Environmental Concerns Organization is hosting a viewing of the documentary "The Island President," which follows the President of the Maldives as he works to save his country from rising sea levels. Learn more 

Solar Field Tour
Saturday, October 24th
9am, Solar Field on Pole Line 

As part of the Winneshiek Energy District's Energy Extravaganza event, the Center for Sustainable Communities will be hosting a tour of Luther's solar array on Pole Line Road. Meet at the Solar Field.
Learn more

Fall Fling
Saturday, October 24th
9am-noon, 1-4pm

Join Luther students in assisting Decorah-area elderly residents with yardwork and chores. Sign up for a half day shift with a group or individually. Learn more
Student Spotlight
Sarah Feltault Sustainability Educator










Sarah is a junior Biology major from Minneapolis, Minnesota. This is her first year as a Sustainability Educator in Ylvisaker Hall. Sarah believes that her purpose as a Sustainability Educator is to help create activities that encourage students to explore different aspects of Luther and Decorah life. Last January-term, Sarah hosted her favorite program where she and her floor had a "spa night" and made facials and scrubs using materials found in the Caf! Chat with Sarah about ways to make your hall more sustainable and well, or for more cool program ideas!  
connect logo