Raising an Environmentalist Growing Green Kids By Rebecca Reynolds --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

     As parents, we want our children to be happy, safe and successful. Many of us would also like to add polite, considerate and neat to the list, but will gladly settle for the first three. We cart the kids around town to music lessons, sporting events and dance classes with the hope of impressing a few additional positive qualities into them. We aspire to secure a better future for them, but how can we accomplish this? One way is to instill values that will lead to a healthier environment – an overall better world in which our children can grow.
Here are several suggestions for raising environmentally conscious, “green” kids.

1. Buy locally grown and organic foods.
Educate kids about the advantages of organic farming.
Field Trip: Take a trip to an organic farm. There are many in Ohio, and several are close enough to make a fun daytrip.
• Apple Tree Acres: (certified organic) 3875 Township Road 366, Millersburg, Ohio 44654. (330) 893-4408.
• Pure Intentions Organic Farm: 3847 New Milford Road, Rootstown, Ohio 44272. (330) 325-7016.
• Shady Banks Farm: 3126 Bennett Schoolhouse Road, Wheelersburg, Ohio 45694. growgirl1@yahoo.com.
• Snake Hill Farm, L.P.: 17900 South Park Boulevard, Shaker Heights, Ohio 44120. (216) 295-1105.
For a more extensive list of organic farms, visit: www.organic-growers.com, www.oeffa.org and www.ecocitycleveland.org.

2. Recycle.
Children love to recycle. It is a task for all ages, and even the very young can participate.
Set up four bins in your home and mark each appropriately: plastic, glass, paper and aluminum. Each child can be responsible for sorting the items into the correct bins and taking the bags to the curb on collection day.
Field Trip: Have you ever been to a recycling center? It is an amazing system – one that children and adults alike find interesting.
• Cuyahoga County Solid Waste District provides a list of recycling centers: www.cuyahogaswd.org, (216)    443-3749.
• Cleveland Metroparks offers a map to its many recycling bins: www.clevelandmetroparks.com.
• State of Ohio lists locations on its website: http://www.dnr.state.oh.us/recycling/locations.

3. Turn the TV off and get out into nature.
Kids who spend more time outdoors tend to grow up with a deeper connection to the environment.

Field Trip: There are countless, wonderful outdoor options for you and your family to enjoy. Some are listed below, but also check out the following website for additional ideas: www.listingsus.com/ohio/.

Get out into Nature. The Cleveland Botanical Gardens is just one of the countless, wonderful outdoor options for you and your family to enjoy.

• Cleveland Botanical Gardens: 11030 East Blvd,    Cleveland, Ohio 44106. www.cbgarden.org.    (216) 721-1600.
• Crown Point Ecology Center: 3220 Ira Road,    Bath, Ohio 44210. www.crownpt.org, (330)    668-8992.
•  Holden Arboretum: 9500 Sperry Road,    Willoughby, Ohio 44094. www.holdenarb.org,    (440) 946-4400.
• Shaker Lakes Nature Center: 2600 South Park    Boulevard, Cleveland, Ohio 44120 (216)    321- 5935    www.shakerlakes.com.

4. Play eco-games.
Children love games. Add an environmentally-sound prize – such as organic, free-trade chocolate – and you have a game that ends as well as it starts.
•  Litter Contest: Involve friends and    neighborhood    children. Grab some trash bags    and a small    shovel then head to the beach or    the park for    some supervised fun. The child    who bags the    most garbage wins a special    treat.
• Think Before You Toss: This game gets a    child's imagination rolling. Before throwing    something away (items should not contain    food, chemicals or anything sharp or otherwise    hazardous), ask your son or daughter, “How    else can we use this?” Have crayons, markers,    scissors and glue handy, and then let them create.
• Bug Safari: Begin by mowing your lawn less    often. Studies show that a longer lawn has an advantage over    disease, requires less water and resists weeds.    Plus, a long lawn is the perfect environment for a Bug Safari.    Grab a bug-catcher net, insect guide, magnifying    glass, camera and a pencil and paper to document your    journey. Just watch where you step!
• Shorter Showers: Set a timer and let the good, clean fun begin. Kids will love the challenge of finishing their    bath or shower before the bell chimes. Keep a log of their best times.

Web Field Trips: Direct your kids to websites with environmentally focused activities and information.
• Kids For A Clean Environment: www.kidsface.org.
• Kids For Saving Earth: www.kidsforsavingearth.org.
• Green Squad (appropriate for middle to high school students): www.nrdc.org/greensquad.

5. Give gifts that matter.
Give the gift of a rainforest, panda bear or maybe even a zoo pass. These gifts give all year long, do not produce waste and provide a gift to others.

• Cleveland Metroparks Zoo (adopt-an-animal program): www.clemetzoo.com, (216) 661-1090.
• Nature Conservatory: www.nature.org, (703) 841-5300

    The best way to influence your children is to discuss what is important to you and why you hope it is important to them. Use every-day happenings and relate them to protecting the environment. These lessons help a child think environmentally on a daily basis.

    For example, while driving you notice that people have left boxes for garbage pick-up at the curb. Ask your children how they might use the boxes or dispose of them in a more environmentally friendly way. You may be surprised at their answers.
    Another great way to discuss environmental issues is to read to your children from books with an environmental message. The following websites will help you locate appropriate titles:
• www.mtholyoke.edu/proj/cel/ref/recycle/childrecycle.shtml
• web.mit.edu/civenv/K12Edu/resources.html
• http://www.ecofuture.org/pop/books_children.html

                                                                                                                                                                                    

6. Above all, walk the talk.
The example you show your children each day is the most powerful tool for influencing their lives and changing the world.

Rebecca Reynolds is a mother of three, an environmentalist and the creator and president of Green Clean, Inc., a socially conscious, all natural, professional cleaning company. She can be reached at (440) 899-9295 or www.green-clean-inc.com.