How To Sustainably SDC Summerfest

SDC Summerfest is the epitome of epic and together we can SDC Summerfest sustainably! Skydive Chicago hosts its annual celebration of everything that makes our sport so incredible: amazing jumps, nightly events, live music, and fantastic food. It’s the perfect opportunity to trade your desk chair for a rig and spend some time with your buddies in the sky.

But boogies as epic as this one don’t come without an environmental cost, and– given that skydiving already leaves an unavoidable carbon footprint with each turn of an otter or sky van blade– we thought it might be a good idea to share some tips about how to enjoy our sport and SDC Summerfest just a bit more responsibly this year.

1. Getting Here

We already know SDC Summerfest is a blast because of all the friends you get to catch up with, so why not start the party early by carpooling and traveling together? Whether you’re road-tripping the whole way or ride sharing to the DZ from the airport, more people in a car means fewer gas emissions from solo drives. While some of you have to fly to the DZ, it doesn’t mean that you can’t carpool when you venture out to the store for supplies.

• Connect via the SDC Summerfest Event page
• Use an Uber/Lyft together
• Share a rental car

*Note: the dropzone does not offer any shuttle services

2. Reduce, Reuse, Recycle

Yeah, we know it’s so much easier to go to Walmart and get some single use paper and plastics that go in the fire pit as soon as you’re done gobbling down some amazing grilled yumminess after a day of jumping. However, there a number of ways we can be mindful of our boogie time festivities. Here’s a list to inspire a change or two to your SDC Summerfesting:

• Consider investing in some reusable dishes, cups, cutlery, thermoses, and water bottles (HERE’s our favorite recommendations)
  
•  We have recycle bins around the DZ for can recycling during the season – please use these!
  
• Invest in quality camping gear vs. cheap stuff that gets thrown away (or better yet, borrow from friends or check out your local gear consignment shops like REI used gear store)
  
• Donate properly – if you do purchase gear to toss at the end, please consider donating to our local community whom we support

3. Ditch the Straw

Either bring your own reusable straw or just pass on one if eating out while you’re here. There’s plenty of metal and biodegradable options that make your post-jump smoothie just as enjoyable.  It’s a small change that makes a big difference over time. Check out these options from Amazon right here.

4. Be Mindful of the Campfire

It may seem like a good idea to dispose things in our epic bonfire pit, but it is not the dump. Not everything is meant to be burned, so please dispose of things that are not firewood to the mega dumpsters located prior the campground. AND – ONLY – burn firewood at the bonfire pit.

5.  Be at the loading area on time 

Given that jumping isn’t green, every little bit helps. Don’t be “that guy” holding up a plane.  Because not only do you annoy a load full of skydivers by making everyone wait, you probably just killed a dolphin, too. Support the animals: Mind your 5-minute calls!

All joking aside, it’s up to us as a collective to make a start to change the world for future generations. Small little changes have ripple effects that can change the world.  We all know that skydiving changed each of our worlds. Let’s do what we can this Summerfest– and every skydiving season– to help change the entire world and keep those beautiful skies blue.

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