Get Involved!

Help increase sustainability on campus and beyond by following these suggestions that NMU students prepared. If we modify personal habits we can make a collective difference for a more sustainable planet.

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Hammocking dimensions graphic

On-Campus Hammocking Etiquette

Get into the swing of things by following these basic steps for eco-friendly ways to hang your hammock!
  • Use straps to hang your hammock that are at least 0.75 to 2 inches wide
  • Hang your hammock from sturdy, healthy trees with a diameter of at least 10 to 12 inches that are 10 to 14 feet apart
  • NEVER drill anything into a tree to hang your hammock
  • Always take down your hammock when it’s not in use
  • Don’t always use the same two trees to hang your hammock

Help us in the quest to make and preserve a hammock-friendly Northern campus!


Map of popular on-campus hammocking areas.

Did you know? Students get free 24-hour hammock rentals from the ORC! 

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Graphic with someone slacklining

Slacklining Etiquette

Finding the right trees: The deep-rooted and healthy tree should be standing roughly perpendicular to the ground and not appear to be falling over. Putting too much tension on smaller trees could pull them out of the ground. No roots should be visible to the eye. The tree should be:

  • A diameter of 12-15 inches and a circumference of 40 inches
  • A tree with thick & sturdy bark (Thin bark is more susceptible to thin slings or small pressure points)
  • A tree with no broken branches/bark

Tree Protection & Anchor Slings:

Anchor slings should be 2 Inches wide to disperse the pressure on the tree’s base. Using tree protection underneath the sling prevents damaging the bark.Tree protection should be around 8 Inches wide to account for up and down movement when the slackline is in use. Tree protection examples include towels, felt, carpet scraps, foam pads, etc.


Thank you for your interest in sustainable slacklining. If you wish to learn more about the activity please consult the International Slackline Association website or the Slackline US website.

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Composting

Drop Off Your Composting at NMU

Accepted Materials:

Fruit and vegetable scraps (remove the stickers), egg shells, bread, pasta, rice or cereal, coffee grounds and tea leaves, grass clippings, garden weeds, leaves, twigs, mulch, sawdust, torn up paper

Unaccepted Materials:

Meat and fish, dairy, citrus fruits, large pits, salty foods

Storing Scraps:

Keep scraps in a plastic bag or storage container in the freezer until ready to drop off at the NMU Hoop House.


Help us reduce the amount of organic material that is dumped in the landfill! Composted food scraps provide nutrients to crops grown at the NMU Hoop House.

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Understanding Carbon Emissions Poster

Understanding Carbon Emissions

How much electricity, water, and fuel does NMU consume per quarter? (Q3 19'-20') 

Gas consumed: 111,928 MMBTU

Pounds of steam: 91,776,800 IBS

Electrical: 6,833,198 kWh

Water: 13,838,000 Gallons 

For the academic year 2019-2020, NMU consumed 25,788,759 kWh which is equivalent to producing 40,291,683 IBS of carbon dioxide. 

Why should we care about carbon emissions? 

CO2 is a gas that absorbs heat and radiation. With an excess of CO2 in our atmosphere, weather patterns get disturbed, temperatures rise, and we start to see major climate changes. 

What are carbon emissions? 

Nature naturally creates CO2 from respiration and decomposition but humans exaggerate this process by burning fossil fuels and cutting down trees for development. 

65% of our Global Greenhouse Gas emissions are CO2. 

What is Northern Michigan University doing to combat its carbon emissions? 

Goals created by the 2030 Sustainability plan: 

- Promote education and awareness 

- Build local partnerships 

- Be carbon neutral by 2050 

- Improving waste and recycling 

- Protect Freshwater