Recycled Magazine Pockets

We found this great project for chilly and or/rainy days on the National Geographic Kids website! Another great way to reduce, reuse & recycle.


YOU WILL NEED


Empty cereal boxes
Recycled newspapers or leftover wrapping paper
Glue or clear tape
WHAT TO DO

With a box standing upright, make a pencil mark on the edge of the box, five inches (12.7 centimeters) from the bottom. Draw a diagonal line to the opposite top corner of the box. Draw a matching line on the opposite side of the box.
Cut along the lines and remove the top of the box.
Wrap the box in wrapping paper or comics. Glue or tape in place.

Earth Day Events for 2009 - Greater Washington DC area

The Washington, DC metropolitan area has a variety of Earth Day activities that make caring for the planet fun for all ages. You can pitch in and help clean up any of the region’s parks or attend a family event that includes learning ways to improve our environment and make a difference.

2009 Earth Day Events

Earth Day on the National Mall
2009 Date to be Announced, noon - 7 p.m. Washington, DC will hold one of the largest Earth Day gatherings in U.S. history – a major day - long event on the National Mall to rally support for national action on global warming. The event, sponsored by Earth Day Network, will feature elected officials and candidates, community speakers, celebrities and major musical acts as well as educational displays and voter registration. Eight, simultaneous events will be held at landmark parks across the country.

National Zoo
2009 Date to be Announced. The Zoo and FONZ will commemorate Earth Day 2008 with a clean up of Rock Creek from 9 to 11 a.m. Volunteers will assist staff of the Zoo, FONZ, and Friends of Rock Creek’s Environment as they collect trash along the banks of Rock Creek near Amazonia and the spectacled bear exhibit at the lower end of the Zoo. Help beautify this important waterway and provide a cleaner habitat for local wildlife. Registration begins at 8:30 a.m.

Potomac Watershed Cleanup
Annual Cleanup Day, April 4, 2009, 9 a.m. - 12 p.m. Throughout April, families can help remove trash from one of 276 sites along the Potomac River in Washington, DC, Maryland, and Virginia.

GreenDC Week Celebration
2009 Date to be Announced, 10 a.m. at Freedom Plaza, 13th Street and Pennsylvania Ave NW, Washington, DC. The event showcases environmental and energy exhibits about energy consumption, improving the quality of our air, water, and land and many other environmental topics. The week will includes hands-on fun activities for all ages.

Anacostia Watershed
April 18, 2009, cleanup at 8:30 a.m.; rallies noon to 3 p.m. Several locations in the Washington, DC area. Celebrate Earth Day by cleaning up along our local streams and keeping trash out of the Anacostia River.

Alexandria Earth Day
2009 Date to be Announced, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Ben Brenman Park. This year’s theme "What's YOUR footprint?” will focus on everyday activities residents can do to reduce their environmental footprint, and will educate residents about how they can make a difference, both locally and globally. Activities include recycling and composting demonstrations, live music, an Arbor Day tree planting, a performance by Blue Sky Puppets, and a “Green Home” Expo.

Montgomery County Earth Day Family Fair
2009 Date to be Announced, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. 850 Hungerford Drive, Rockville, Maryland. (240) 777-6400. The event will feature family entertainment, energy-efficient vehicles and earth-friendly crafts. Tours of the County's Recycling Center will be offered with bus transportation departing every 15 minutes. Attendees who make the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Energy Star pledge -- to help save energy and reduce the risks of global warming by replacing at least one light bulb in their homes with an Energy Star one -- will receive a compact fluorescent light bulb. Educational presentations will include information on recycling, waste reduction, buying recycled products and environmentally friendly homes and landscaping.

Patuxent Research Refuge
2009 Date to be Announced, 1 to 4 p.m. Laurel, Maryland. Meet at North Tract Visitor Contact Station. Do your part to help wildlife by weeding, seeding, mulching, and helping with general trail maintenance. Naturalist led walks will also be held.

Kids for Saving Earth offers Free Educational Information

For more information and to visit their website, click HERE.

Tips for Teaching Kids to Go Green by CareFair.com

Tips for Teaching Kids to Go Green
We found this article at CareFair.com and thought you might like it, too!

Growing up we were all taught about the importance of not littering, how to recycle, and why it is important to not waste water or electricity. However, the Green Movement has become more involved and now just the basics aren’t enough to keep our planet in good shape. Help your family step up its game by teaching your little ones about what they can do to “go green.”

If you’re the parent of younger children (preschool age), you can start teaching them about going green through the use of food. What better way to teach a lesson than through their stomach? Start out by showing your kids how fruits and vegetables are good for their bodies. Next, have them pick out their favorite ones to eat and show them which parts can be used for compost. This is a great way to show your children that food can be used for other purposes and don’t always have to be tossed in the trash. To help them get exercise while young, it also helps to walk to your destinations when possible. Instead of driving to the park to play, take a short walk, or start a family tradition of walking around the neighborhood a few days out of the week. This keeps your car off the road and not only spares the air but your wallet as well.

Parents of children in grade school can incorporate green ideas into their kids’ daily lives. During this stage in life, children are learning how to brush their own teeth, wash their hands, and maintain good hygiene. Take this time to teach them to get into the habit of turning the water off while they are doing such activities and only turning it back on when it is time to rinse. Your kids can also learn good habits when it comes to turning off the TV or unplugging their computer at night. Leaving a computer or laptop on overnight takes up more energy than you would think and can make a big difference in your utility bill. On that same note, teach your kids to put on a sweater or grab a blanket if they are cold to avoid turning on the heater unnecessarily, or to lose the layers during hot weather so you don’t have to use air conditioning.

As your kids get older (high school), begin showing them how to use organic or all natural versions of their favorite household items and personal care products. This gives the environment a break and will be better for their health in the long run. With these good habits in place, your kids will carry these practices with them to college and into their adult lives when they have their own homes.

eHow article on How to teach your kids to recycle.

We found this article that offers simple tools and tips on how to teach your kids to recycle.