Green Celebrations
A program of Reclaim Your Holidays,
an initiative to help Iowans create more
meaningful celebrations and reduce ecological
footprints
Susan Salterberg
with Kristi Cooper
Green Celebrations
Session 1:
Rethinking Holiday Celebrations
Session 2:
Simplifying Gift-Giving,
Food & Gatherings
Session 3:
Taking Green Celebrations/
RYHs to Your Community
Simplifying Gift-Giving,
Food & Gatherings
Goal: Use resources
to help audiences
consume in more
sustainable ways and
create more
meaningful lives.
Simplifying Gift-Giving,
Food & Gatherings
What do you love about holidays
or other
celebrations?
Review of First Session
1) Ecological impact of
consumption
2) Relationship between
satisfaction & “stuff”
What the research says
We need to offer alternatives that:
• emphasize family
life & relationships,
• encourage learning
new skills,
• reduce consumption
In addition…
We find our audiences want to:
• Relax more/reduce stress
• Give to others/volunteer/service
• Focus on spirituality/religion
Gifts of Experience
1. Give tickets.
2. Use a skill, or give skill-building
experiences.
3. Build talents. Give a present of
lessons.
Gifts of Experience
Scavenger Hunt
Gifts of Experience
Singing
Gifts of Experience
Egg hunts
Gratitude Letter
Examine the pleasure and meaning
you get from a relationship, and
share that with a significant person
in your life.
Simplifying Gifts
Farmer’s Market gift ideas
• Cheeses
• Wines
• Baked goods
• Jams, jellies
Simplifying Food & Gatherings
Plan an easy
menu. The
more items you
make, the more
likely leftovers
will get thrown
out.
Simplifying Food & Gatherings
Lights Out Party
Resources
1) Pick 5 exercise
2) PBS Happiness video
3) “Gift” handouts
4) Gratitude letter as a gift
5) “Green entertaining” handouts
6) Powerpoint slides
7) Audience
Simplifying Gift-Giving,
Food & Gatherings
Goal: Use resources
to help audiences
consume in more
sustainable ways and
create more
meaningful lives.
Special thanks for funding…
The Resource Enhancement and
Protection Conservation
Education Program &
The Iowa Department of
Natural Resources Solid Waste
Alternatives Program
Green Celebrations
A program of Reclaim Your Holidays
Susan Salterberg, salterberg@uni.edu
Center for Energy
& Environmental Education,
University of Northern Iowa
In partnership with
Kristi Cooper, kcoop@iastate.edu
Iowa State University Extension