Safe & Sustainable Spooky Season

1. Virtual Murder Mystery
Get your friends together on your UArizona Zoom account this weekend for a night unlike any other, by hosting a virtual Murder Mystery “party.” These virtual gatherings allow you and your friends to solve the "who-dunnit" mystery and can involve as many people as you want with, with as much creativity as you want. Not only will you be socially distanced, you can save money (and environmental resources) on decorations by making/downloading your own zoom background! Here is a list of free Murder Mystery scripts and outlines that can be played with any number of people! 

2. Halloween… but make it Glow in the Dark!
One easy way to decorate your home for Halloween is to turn off the lights, and make it glow! You can crack and cut open a glow stick and pour the fluid into a bottle, a bucket, or even a balloon. Then, display your decorations however you want and shut off the lights. This is a good way to save money on electricity, while also creating a spooky scene that will impress the whole neighborhood. However, glow sticks can have heavy environmental consequences, but don’t worry! There’s an eco-friendly substitute for glow sticks, too! 

3. Creepy, Cooky, Costume Time!
It’s no secret that certain industries use Halloween to make low quality products in exchange for high profit. The way that many of these industries operate have severe environmental consequences. This year, instead of buying a costume from a Halloween retailer that wastes an excess of fabric and plastic while treating workers unethically, head to the thrift store! Thrift stores, consignment shops, and secondhand boutiques are incredible resources when it comes to building a costume. The Tucson Thrift Shop is located on 4th Avenue, and specializes in everything from vintage attire to gorilla costumes (while maintaining affordable prices)! 

4. All Things Pumpkin 
Carving pumpkins is a time honored tradition this time of year, but did you know that pumpkins have some serious untapped potential? The seeds can be roasted for a divine fall snack, and the pumpkin guts can be made into delicious pumpkin bread or stock! It is important that we habitually find ways to use every part of the things we decide to consume to minimize waste and environmental impact. Learning how to use the entirety of a pumpkin every year is a great introduction to a sustainable and environmentally mindful lifestyle!