York's Sustainability Race

York's Sustainability Race

Oct 1 - Oct 31

This October is Campus Sustainability Month! Take part in York's Sustainability Race by completing 30 different sustainability challenges across Keele, Glendon and Markham campuses. If you complete more than 24 challenges correctly you will receive a gift (while supplies last). 

Ready to get started?

Students, staff and York U community members need a smartphone device to participate. Follow the steps below:

  1. Download the Scavify App onto a mobile device. The app is available in both the App Store for iOS devices and Google Play for Android devices.
  2. Once the app has downloaded, create an account in Scavify using your Passport York email address in order to be eligible for prizing.
  3. Search for “York’s Sustainability Race” within the app and click “Join Hunt”.
  4. After joining the hunt on Scavify, you will be able to see all 30 tasks that you may participate in throughout the month of October.
  5. Start your search across campus and complete as many challenges as you can!

Grand Prize: $500 Las Nubes Tuition Credit

Students who complete 24 or more tasks will receive a gift (while supplies last). Students who complete 30 of 30 challenges correctly are entered into a draw for a chance to win a $500 tuition credit towards any course at the Las Nubes Costa Rica Campus! The winner will be randomly selected. 

Read Contest Rules

Explore the Tasks

Discover some of the tasks listed in the Sustainability Race below, along with additional tips and hints to help you with your hunt!

Find a water-refill station on campus and submit a video of you refilling your reusable water bottle!

Tip: The Interactive Campus Map can help you locate water refill stations on the Keele or Glendon campus.

Visit the Tait McKenzie Centre to try out the new energy-generating SportsArt cardio equipment. Show us how much energy you or your friend can generate in 10 minutes.

Tip: To receive a free one-day fitness pass to complete this task, use the discount code noted in the Scavify app upon checking out on the York Recreation webpage.

Visit the YUM Market on Wednesdays from 11 a.m. - 4 p.m. at the Victor Philip Dahdaleh building. Be sure to take a photo while you're there!

Tip: Visit the Regenesis YUM Market webpage to learn more about the initiative.

Take part in Community Tree Planting with Regenesis on Oct 28 or Oct 29. Take a photo of the tree you've planted!

Note: Further event details and registration will be made available closer to the event date. Visit the Regenesis LinkTree for additional information.

Head to the Maloca Community Garden on Oct. 29 or Oct. 31 between 4 - 7 p.m. to plant some garlic!

Visit the Maloca Community Garden webpage to learn more about this initiative.

Participate in EarthWorks on Tuesdays or Thursdays between 4 - 7 p.m. in the Maloca Garden. Be prepared to do some planting, seeding, cover crop, and tucking in for winter season. Take a video of your garden work!

Find a bike rack, bike locker or a bike repair station on campus and snap a photo of it!

Tip: Use the Interactive Campus Map to find locations related to biking on campus/

Find fair trade coffee, tea or bananas on campus.

Tip: Learn more about Fair Trade at York and where to find it on all three campuses.

Discover where art and sustainability collide! Visit the Cross Road Gallery or the ZigZag Lounge on the Keele Campus.

Hint: These galleries are managed by the Faculty of Environmental & Urban Change. Learn more about the Cross Road Gallery.

How many UN Sustainable Development Goals has York University contributed to?

Hint: Learn more about York U's contributions to the UN Sustainable Development Goals.

We want to hear from you! What change would you suggest to make York University a more sustainable place?

Tip: Learn how York University already contributes to sustainability through the Office of Sustainability.

Take the subway to campus the next time you're around. Visit the York University Subway Station to complete this mission!

Tip: Check out all of the transportation services available at York through Transportation Services.

Why buy, when you can borrow? Visit the Regenesis Borrowing Centre website to borrow an item in need! Once your item is ready, visit the Borrowing Centre and take a photo of the item you've borrowed.

Hint: The Regenesis Borrowing Centre is located around The Quad, and is accessible to any student as long it is during Cycle York's operating hours. Visit this webpage to see what's available for borrowing.

Visit the York University Bookstore on either the Keele, Glendon or Markham campus and find an item marked as Fair Trade. Take a photo of the item, no purchase necessary!

Hint: Fair Trade items are clearly labelled in all three bookstores, and may be in a Fair Trade specific display.

Show us how you recycle! Take a video of you or a friend correctly discarding of recyclable waste in one of York University's waste bins.

Take a picture of the Stong Stormwater Pond on the Keele Campus.

Tip: Check out this blog post to learn how this pond acts as a stormwater drain for York's Keele Campus.

There's an EV Charging Station on campus powered by solar energy! Take a walk around the Vanier Parking Lot to find it.

Hint: Use the Interactive Campus Map to help you find the parking lot.

How many levels of the Markham Campus feature green roofs?

Become a Sustainable Living Ambassador through York University’s Microlecture Series in Sustainable Living! Complete the course, and take a photo of your Sustainable Living Ambassador badge.

Visit the Native Plant Garden on the Keele Campus. Take a seat on the bench and snap a photo of the garden, or yourself!

Hint: Use the Interactive Campus Map to help you find the garden.

Take a tour around campus and see it in a more sustainable light! Sign up for a Sustainable Campus Tour this month with the Faculty of Environmental & Urban Change.

Tip: Sign up for a Sustainable Campus Tour by filling out this registration form.

What Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Certification is York University’s Markham Campus building?

Tip: Learn more about building design and campus planning on this webpage.

Find an EV Charging station on campus and take a photo of it!

Hint: Use the Interactive Campus Map to help your search.

Go for a ride and take a photo in front of or inside one of York University's new Electric Shuttle Buses!

Hint: Find shuttle schedules for all three campuses through the Transportation Services website.

Visit the HNES Native Plant Garden on the Keele Campus. Take a seat on the bench and snap a photo of the garden, or of yourself!

Hint: Use the Interactive Campus Map to help your search.

Take a tour around campus and see it in a more sustainable light! Sign up for a Sustainable Campus Tour this month with the Faculty of Environmental & Urban Change. Take a video while on tour!

Tip: Sign up for a tour through this form.

Have you explored the Glendon Forest? Take a walk in the woods and submit a video from your trek!

Hint: Find the Glendon Forest on Google Maps.

Visit the Glendon Community Garden and take a photo of the sunflowers or the calendula!

Hint: Learn more about the Glendon Community Garden through this link.

Visit the Pollinator Garden and try out the virtual reality experience with a pollinator! Show us which virtual pollinator came to visit you.

Tip: Learn more about the pollinator garden VR experience through this Youtube video.

Did you know York has an office dedicated to sustainability? Find the Office of Sustainability on the Keele Campus, and take a photo of the door sign!

Hint: Take a walk around Central Square to find the office.

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Start your search

Ready to get started? Download the Scavify App and complete as many challenges as you can, until Oct. 31!