Solar Punch

Solar Punch is a solar-powered musical group from Hastins-on-Hudson, NY that uses music to educate audiences about the environment. By using solar energy exclusively to power their performances and demonstrations, they believe that they become a solution to the climate challenge. They want to "inspire by doing... by showing...by inter-acting":
:"In remote farm villages. In mountain resorts. On islands and in urban areas. Our sound and show are portable. We are able to get most of our gear into a few suitcases, making it possible for us to bring our show to remote regions all over the world...
:"We are passionate about both the content (message) and the package (music) we want to entertain, thrill and enlighten but we also want to make sure our facts are correct, our information is current and our demonstrations are effective...
:"As we travel, we develop media and materials to help transmit how we work, why understanding and protecting the environment is a great thing and how the message itself is cross-cultural, cross-generational and world embracing..."
The group began showcasing various solar cookers at their events in 2008.
Solar Punch band members learned about solar cooking through activities in the USA and abroad. During climate-solution tours in India, the group learned about institutional solar cooking from their friend and mentor Deepak Gadhia. In November 2013 the band participated in a 9-day, high-altitude solar trek in Nepal featuring solar cooking, led by ecologist Maarten Olthof of the Vajra Foundation Holland and Ramkaji Paudel of the Vajra Foundation Nepal. In July and August 2014, the group was invited by the US State Department to tour Haiti with a focus on solar energy; the group conducted several workshops on solar cooking in and around Port au Prince and in Cap Haitien.
====
*June 2015: Solar trekking in Nepal planned for November 2015 - James Dean Conklin of Solar Punch has announced plans for a return solar trekking trip to Nepal in November 2015, and a second possible trip planned for November 2016. Those interested in participating should contact Solar Punch.
::thumb|none|400 px|Highlights of the 2014 trip. Video produced by Solar Punch member James Dean Conklin 
* March 2015: James Dean Conklin of Solar Punch has released this short trailer documenting some of the experiences they shared with fellow trekkers on the 2014 Solar Himalayan Trek.
::none|400 px
*January 29, 2010: (Greenburgh, New York) Hope 2 Haiti benefit performance, 1pm - 6pm
*February 6 2010: (Hastings-on-Hudson, New York) Hope 2 Haiti benefit performance, 3pm - 5pm
==Articles in the media==
*December 2015: Solar Punch interview - The Himalayan
==Audio and Video==
*November 2022:
::400px|thumb|none|A documentary interview conducted by Luther Krueger, of the Big Blue Sun Museum of Solar Cooking, with James Dean Conklin, who since the early 2000s, has spent considerable time researching the development of solar cooking in India and Nepal. James Dean is a former member of Solar Punch
==See also==
*Alan Bigelow