CREATION CARE CAMP

June 10-14, 2024

During the week of June 10 through 14, twenty-seven elementary students from our community participated in Creation Care Camp, a free day camp for 3rd through 5th graders. Supported by a Community Outreach Support grant that EAC received from the Tennessee Valley Authority. The camp featured hands-on activities, lively discussions, and creative art projects designed to teach the youngsters about the environment. They explored topics such as pollinators, native plants, water issues, gardening, composting, biodiversity, habitat loss, and Leave No Trace principles. About 30 community volunteers helped guide and inspire the campers including several EAC volunteers.

The highlight of the week was the end-of-camp trash pickup at Lake Junaluska. The campers applied their new knowledge by actively caring for the environment and role modeling for us all.

Creation Care Camp is a community partnership with First United Methodist Church, Grace Church Giving Garden, Haywood Waterways, Lake Junaluska, and EAC that intends not only to educate children about environmental stewardship but also to instill a lasting sense of responsibility and love for nature.

REFILL WAYNESVILLE

EAC is excited to introduce Refill Waynesville:

our community's first initiative to offer affordable

refills of cleaning and self-care products.

After receiving almost 200 responses to our survey, we have sourced shampoo, dish soap, lotion, body soap, and general cleaner from North Carolina's Fillaree (fillaree.com). Fillaree uses clean ingredients and practices near-zero waste production.

Join us for the inaugural event on:

July 27, 2024 | 12:00 pm - 4:00 pm

Lineside Makers Market at Frog Level Brewing

40 Commerce St, Waynesville

Future events will be held monthly at various locations. As we gather more data, we plan to expand our product line with more environmentally conscious products from local companies.

Sign up for email or text notifications about future refills below.

How does a refill station work?
 

Once a month, the EAC will set up a distribution station. You can bring your own containers or use some we have collected. The empty containers will be weighed, filled with your product of choice, and reweighed to compute your total cost. Quarterly subscription bundles are also available for pickup.  

CompostAVL is Expanding Services for Businesses, Schools, and Medical Facilities

Joining the CompostAVL community is an adventure waiting to happen. All memberships include 5 gallon compost bin/bins that are picked up twice a month. The resulting "brown gold" can then be used for your garden.

Now, CompostAVL owners Hans and Jessica Hegge are ready to offer composting services that utilize 64-gallon bins for restaurants, schools, and medical facilities.

Note: To keep this wonderful program going in Haywood County, more residential sign-ups are needed.

For more information and to sign up for residential or commercial service, please visit:

WNC Repair Cafe

After much consideration, we have cancelled the EV Raffle. Despite our best efforts, we did not meet the ticket sale goal. All ticket buyers have been notified and refunds have been issued.

While this decision was difficult, we have learned valuable lessons and appreciate the support we received. Our commitment to renewable energy independence and a sustainable future for our mountain community remains strong and we look forward to your continued involvement and support.

Creation Care EcoFair:

Best Practices for a Healthy Habitat

August 17, 2024

9:30 am - 12:30 pm

Grace Church in the Mountains

394 N. Haywood St, Waynesville

All ages are welcome, free childcare

Grace Church in the Mountains in Waynesille is hosting a free Creation Care EcoFair to support area leaders for a morning all about life-giving conservation and preservation of the resources and beauty of our planet. Sustainable landscaper and WNC native Dr. Rebecca Wall along with twelve environmental advocates and agencies will be on hand to speak, teach, and provide resources to the community.

This ground-breaking feature documentary "Plastic People" investigates our addiction to plastic and the growing threat of microplastics on human health.

Friday, September 13 at 7pm

First United Methodist Church

Waynesville, NC

EAC is excited to present this new film reviewed enthusiastically in the New York Times and premiered at the SXSW 2024 Film Festival. The film addresses the explosive use of plastics worldwide, highlighting the link between plastic pollution and unprecedented threats to biodiversity, climate stability, and human health.

VOLUNTEERS

EAC is a young, grassroots, all-volunteer non-profit organization. While we have a small volunteer Board, every single volunteer is a peer, is valuable, and is essential to making the work we do happen. We need you to keep the mission viable!

We need you - you make the difference!

Upcoming Volunteer Opportunities:

Interested? Email us at: info@eacwnc.org

The Litter Reduction Act of 2024 would significantly reduce litter, dramatically increase recycling rates, generate millions in revenue for the state with increased material recovery fees, free up valuable landfill capacity, and contribute to the economy of North Carolina.

Please sign and show your support!