TCMUN: A TETON COUNTY GREEN EVENT RUN BY AND FOR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS

use. Even though these requests are small, they serve to educate people about the simplicities of sustainability. To further encourage a sustainable trip for delegates, the Green Team put together a “Green Your Trip” infographic highlighting sustainable restaurants, shops, and the many ways to be eco-conscious while in Jackson. TCMUN: A TETON COUNTY GREEN EVENT RUN BY & FOR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS By Lindsey Ehinger and Sienna Taylor

Since 2006, InterConnections 21 has organized the Teton County Model United Nations (TCMUN) conference. In November 2019, over 230 students and educators from 12 schools across Wyoming and Idaho converged at Jackson Hole High School (JHHS) for two full days of robust debate and collaborative problem-solving of real global issues.

For the second straight year, TCMUN was recognized as a Teton County Green Event. It is the only Green Event run by and for high school students. As part of Teton County’s Road to Zero Waste, a Green Event targets the essential three R’s: Reducing, Reusing, and Recycling. The purpose of a Green Event is to monitor exactly where resources are coming from and how to minimize their consumption with a goal to divert 90% of waste generated from the landfill.

InterConnections 21’s Green Team began planning the event in June with our Sustainability Management Plan (SMP). The SMP encompasses many components of sustainability, from waste reduction to energy consumption to social impact. With direction from the “Road to Zero Waste Green Event Guide,” we identified criteria to focus on. For the two day conference, we partnered with local pizzeria, Pinky G’s, one day and hosted a potluck style meal by the high school students the second day. Thanks to Slow Food in the Tetons, Hole Food Rescue, High Country Linens, and JHHS, we were able to supply reusable plates, utensils, napkins, and glasses to conference attendees.

To manage, track, and minimize the waste produced by the conference, we had several waste stations in the food areas. We were excited to include compost (courtesy of WyoCompost and Haderlie Farms) and recycling bins next to the trash cans at these stations. To ensure that waste made it into the proper bins, we posted designated volunteers to manage and educate participants about where to dispose their waste.

We also presented sustainability information to delegates and staff. During the opening ceremony, attendees were reminded to minimize waste by first taking only what they could eat and then returning for seconds. We also asked participants to consider their actions outside the conference, such as turning off the faucet whenever it wasn’t directly in Through our efforts, we managed to divert 89.6% of our waste. Perhaps more importantly, we directly educated and inspired hundreds of students and staff from eight different communities about sustainability and zero-waste principles.

As one visiting student commented, “I really appreciated JHHS’s efforts to make the world a greener place. I was really proud to be a part of such a conscientious organization. I think that my school should start going green like this.”

TOP TIPS FOR PUTTING ON A GREEN EVENT

1 Start planning early! The Green Event Resource Guide is a great reference and can be found at bit.ly/GreenEventResourceGuide 2 Communication is key. Make sure pre-event marketing includes Green Event info. 3 Bring some friends! Volunteers playing “goalie” at waste stations provide crucial education and prevent contamination in compost and recycling. 4 Always keep an eye out for what you can reduce or a new system you can include. Don’t limit your options to your initial ideas, and be flexible with changing them. 5 Don’t worry about being perfect. There is always going to be room to improve, but any effort is a step in the right direction on the “Road to Zero Waste.”