Ever since President Obama’s Administration announced they would honor a select group of Green Schools in April of 2012, environmental education in the classroom has been on the rise. Recognition from the White House has also offered a much need legitimacy that many green educators have been looking for.
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All summer I tried to go camping with my family in our back yard. I thought that this would be an easy thing to achieve seeing as it was literally going to be in our back yard, but invariably something came up every weekend. It was too hot, or the kids had not slept well the night before, or my husband wasn’t going to be back in time to roast marshmallows, etc. We actually got the tent up one Friday afternoon and the three kids climbed inside (even the one year old was loving this), only to be eaten alive by mosquitoes that were trapped inside with us!
Quickfacts: A popular estimate suggests that the average child in school can create as much as 67 pounds of waste per school year. More and more schools are going green and promoting choices that encourage families to preserve our environment. Packing a waste free lunch is a perfect way that parents can reinforce these lessons and teach their children about responsible environmental stewardship. In addition to helping the planet, a zero waste lunch can save money and be more healthful.
Quickfacts: So-called “pests” are unwanted guests in many homes. Some “pests” can be unsanitary, wreak havoc on human dwellings (termites come to mind), dangerous, and plain annoying. For controlling pests, it is important to do research. Chemical treatment methods have been the norm. However, some of these methods have been found toxic and harmful to human health and the environment. Fortunately, by being more informed and by considering available natural pest control methods, one can reduce or eliminate the use of chemicals and the impact on their family’s health and the environment.
While you may have the urge to do some heavy spring cleaning this season, there is no better time to involve your kids with a really dirty project that gets them thinking about the environment. This Spring, create a worm composting bin with your children. It’s educational, easy to set up and the worm castings will benefit your garden this summer.
