Teaching Kids to Go Green
by Jeff McIntire-Strasburg, St. Louis, MO 
on 07. 6.06
While we believe that the best way to raise children to become Treehuggers is to get them out into the natural world regularly and often, we certainly think green schools will also play an important role in creating the next generation of environmentally-aware citizens around the world. So, we're delighted to see that the Go Green Initiative, founded in 2002 by PTA president and concerned mom Jill Buck, already has tangible results to show from its efforts "to create a culture of conservation on campus." During the 2005-06 school year, the eighty schools in five US states participating in the program reported impressive numbers in terms of waste diversion. According to a release from the organization, Go Green schools saved:
♦ 2 million pounds of paper
♦ 14, 000 pounds of cardboard
♦ 25,000 pounds of aluminum
♦ 48,300 pounds of plastic beverage containers
♦ 1650 cellular phones
♦ 8700 printer cartridges
♦ 202,090 pounds of mixed recyclables
♦ 13,648 pounds of food waste
In terms of resources, the initiative calculates that these schools
♦ Saved 24,792 trees
♦ Avoided 17 billion BTUs of energy use
♦ Avoided 892 metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions
♦ Avoided 7.2 million gallons of water use, due to paper recycling
♦ Avoided 392,540 gallons of oil use, due to paper recycling
♦ Kept 21,775 pounds of petroleum products out of our rivers and oceans, due to ink cartridge recycling
While these numbers show real dedication on the part of teachers, parents and students in greening their schools' waste streams, we're particularly happy that several hundred young treehuggers in the making are learning valuable lessons about waste and resource stewardship. The network itself is growing also, as Buck reports a tenfold increase in website hits over the past year, and translation of program materials into Spanish, with French and Mandarin editions coming in the near future. Environmental education isn't a luxury, so we're happy to see Go Green's success, and look forward to their progress reports in coming years. :: The Go Green Initiative via Daily Green
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Green schools are definitely a great starting point for educating future generations about conservation of natural resources and responsible stewardship of the planet. I wish such things were available back when I was going to school, and can only hope that more schools will follow the guidance provided by successful green schools.
We need an easy to read list of "go green" things that young children (ages) 9/10) can learn to practice.
i.e. Don't waste water
turn off water when brushing teeth.
turn off lights when leaving room
turn off tv when leaving room
close outside doors when coming or going
plant a vegetable garden
Wear sweaters when cold
etc. etc. etc
I am sure there are a great deal more children could learn now. This generation coming now has never been taught to conserve anything.
I am very encouraged, by both the article and on one of the comments.
First, I read that students who attend a "green" school have shown that they learn much more effectively. So greening our schools benefits both our kids and our environment! Great Job Go Green Initiative!
Also, someone who left a comment who wanted to see a list of Go Green things kids can do.
I just finished writing a book for kids called Why Does Everyone Want to Be Green? I sent it to the ideal agent and I am waiting for a response. The good news? The book is a funny story where the child learns about ways to be green showing more than 50 things to do. The funny story makes it engaging, while it includes all of the green info.
Wish me luck!!
Saving the Earth is a great idea. I am a treehugger! Global warming is a horrible thing and is making the Earth an unsafe place to live for everyone. Right now, the polar ice caps are melting, killing polar bears because they are drowning.
SAVE THE EARTH. "GO GREEN"!!!