1.
Don't waste water. Turn off the water when you brush your teeth.
2.
Turn off a light when you leave a room.
3.
Never take plants or pick flowers from anywhere in the wild.
4. Unplug anything you are not using. Even though it is off, it is
still using electricity.
5.
Use both sides of a piece of paper when you are coloring,
drawing or writing.
6.
Save a tree. Bring a lunch box to school instead of a paper bag.
7.
Use a sponge or dishtowel rather than paper towels to clean up a
mess.
8.
Don’t let your computer run all night - turn it off when you go
to bed.
9.
Take quick showers instead of long baths.
10.
Use rechargeable batteries for toys, games and appliances.
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All of the above, plus -
1. Volunteer to take care of recycling in your house. Set
up recycling bins in the kitchen so no one accidentally forgets and
throws something into the trash that could be recycled. You can
recycle glass, paper, and aluminum and other metal cans.
2. Volunteer at your local aquarium, zoo, animal sanctuary
or animal shelter. You’ll learn a lot while helping the animals.
3. Instead of asking your parents to drive you to the
store or a friend’s house, ride your bike. Bikes are a great way to
get around your neighborhood. Bikes don't pollute or use
non-renewable fuel sources—and they're good exercise.
4. Buy products made from recycled materials (look for the
label) and less packaging.
5. If it’s your job to load the dishwasher, rinse the
dishes with cold water instead of hot water - it saves energy.
6. Help your family hold a garage sale twice a year to
sell things that you no longer want or need, but that can still be
used. That way, you keep items out of landfills and you can make
money, too!
7. Have an adult help you make a tire swing instead of
buying a new one. This keeps one more tire from becoming waste and
providing a great time for anybody who uses it.
8. If it’s your job to cut the grass, you can leave the
grass clippings on the lawn instead of raking them up and putting
them in bags. It's called grasscycling. It's good for the lawn
because the grass breaks down and all the nutrients from the
clippings go right back into the soil. Because the lawn is receiving
these nutrients, it saves money, time, and energy—and it keeps all
those bags of grass clippings out of the landfills. And never cut
the lawn on a hot day - wait until early evening. The heat increases
pollution from the lawnmower.
9. When you can't use something, find someone who can.
Donate extra paints to your school theatre group, and offer extra
house cleaning or gardening supplies to neighbors.
10. Learn how to build a compost bin in your back
yard. The bin can be used to recycle grass and yard trimmings, and
also add coffee grounds, egg shells, and vegetable trimmings from
the kitchen. As the waste degrades and turns into compost, you can
use it to fertilize your garden. That way the
garden doesn't need chemical fertilizers or even as much water,
so you’ll save both money and water.
(Please remember to get help and permission from adults before
starting these activities!)
1. Clean up trash from the shoreline of a river or lake,
or any wooded area near you. Help to post “No Littering” signs in
these areas. Check them once a month to maintain them. Learn proper
stream and other area cleanup techniques at
www.streamkeeper.org and
www.wildernessproject.org.
2. Help to establish a recycling program at your school.
Learn some options at
www.earthwayscenter.org
3. Plant trees or a garden somewhere in your neighborhood
that needs some shade or green areas. Get tips on how and where to
do it properly at these sites:
http://forestry.about.com/cs/treeplanting/a/plant_guide.htm
http://www.amazingmoms.com/htm/childrensgardening2.htm
4. Clean debris away from storm drains that flow into
streams and bays in your home state. Google “Adopt-a-Drain Programs”
for your state or city to find out how to do it safely.
5. Organize a neighborhood drive to gather trash materials
that are too hazardous to throw away, like old paints, paint
thinners & turpentine, solvents, old computer equipment, cell
phones, fluorescent light bulbs, car batteries, motor oil,
antifreeze, transmission fluids, etc. Locate the appropriate
recycling or disposal facilities in your area to handle those
materials, and take them there for proper disposal. Google
“Household Hazardous Waste Disposal Sites” for your city or state to
find out where to take them.
6. Build birdhouses and bird feeders for birds that are
native to your home state, and install them near retirement homes,
and in the backyards of elderly people in your neighborhood.
Research how to build them on
Animal Planet’s “Backyard Projects” page.
7. Adopt an animal rescue organization in your home town
with your scout troop or school club. Help them with everything they
have to do to take care of the animals -- feeding, cleaning their
living spaces, fundraising, training, etc. Raise awareness about the
organization in your town with posters, school projects, events, and
calls to your local TV station.
8. Research native birds and wildlife indigenous to your
area that may suffering from habitat loss. Hold a fundraiser for
your group, and work together to establish a safe wildlife habitat
near your school, church or park which has the appropriate trees,
bushes, plants, water & food sources and hiding/living spaces for
all the birds, animals, reptiles and/or insects necessary to
maintain a complete ecosystem in your area. For more info, see
Animal Planet’s “Backyard Habitats” webpage, OR the
National Wildlife Federation’s “Certified Wildlife Habitat” page.
http://teens4planetearth.com/teenshome
http://www.justgive.org/html/kidscorner/melissapoe.html
http://www.kidsface.org
http://www.justgive.org/html/ways/beagle.html
http://www.justgive.org/html/kidscorner/shepards.html
http://www.nrdc.org/greensquad/intro/intro_1.asp
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