1. Plant a tree! You knew I’d say this, but really, tree planting is fun, good exercise, and healthy for people and the planet. To learn more about tree planting in your neck of the woods read the following:

• Tree Planting Where You Live
• Volunteer with a local tree-planting organization

2. Learn your personal footprint… You can and should take the time to learn how big your environmental footprint is. There are many carbon footprint calculators out there, many appropriate for kiddos. After learning about your own (or your family’s) footprint, brainstorm about how to reduce your impact.

• First ‘water footprint’ calculator goes live
• Top 5 Carbon Footprint Calculators
• Zero Footprint Kids Calculator

3. Take At Least One Green Hour for Kids. Kids who get outside are healthier and more prone to appreciate and protect the planet. Plus getting outside is fun for everyone.

4. Take some tips from the kids – last year we asked some kiddos how to go green. See what they said (yes, it’s super cute).

5. Participates in a beach clean-up. If you live near a coastline, or have the means to travel to one, you can read Start A Sea Change for easy tips about how to get involved with keeping our coast and oceans clean and safe.

Don’t forget to enter the Disneynature’s Earth Giveaway!

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1. Pack green silverware and plates. That means real dishes or at the very least a smart eco-alternative.
2. Bring at least one meatless main dish.
3. Aim for a healthy organic picnic.
4. Block the sun with eco friendly sunglasses.
5. Toss an earth friendly Frisbee.
6. Don’t forget the human safe bug spray and sunscreen.
7. Forget stuff like balloons to mark your picnic spot. Use something safer for the environment like paper streamers. If you must have balloons make sure you don’t allow them to fly free.
8. Take something fun along for water play.
9. Don’t take too much stuff – if you’re out in nature, explore, and learn about the area, before relying on tools and games. Make sure to take a map, and stick with your pals.
10. Take it with you: Don’t pollute nature. When the fun is over, put out all fires, pack up, and haul out all your picnic trash, and that includes food. Human leftovers are no good for animals.

Click here to learn about all the current contests, themes, and green challenges going on at Tree Hugging Family in July 2008

Post from: Tree Hugging Family

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Now, I’d be surprised if you knew your comment number, so the winners names are…

Kamber who said: “My 10 month old and I love going for walks. We live close to a park and he loves all the trees around. He can stare for hours, and most of the time he does. My husband and I enjoy telling him about the different trees and he loves it too. We did this last summer when he was a month old, but he’s much more into it now.”

Sarah Flanders who said: “My 7 year old daughter Sarah says that Our family is having a large yard sale. We are using the money for outdoor kids activities like backyard camping, making bird feeders, wreaths from twigs, branches and other things that are on the ground. Planting a kids garden for neighborhood kids. With fruits and vegetables. And a lot of other outdoor activities that my mom has told me about. She is a Girl Scout Leader. I have learned a lot of reuse this and that from her and my family. Brownie Girl Scout – Sarah.”

Jessica who said: “My son who is 3 says “to play with bugs” “and ride bikes.”

Cheryl English who said: “My son Derek age 2, loves to play outside in our fenced in yard. He watches the big fat squirrels climb up and down the trees. He giggles with delight. Nature at it’s best. Gotta love it.”

Congratulations to all our winners! Each of you will receive one of the following thanks to Green Toys:

• Cookware & Dining Set
• Indoor Gardening Kit
• Sand Play Set
• Tea Set

I will email all winners for their addresses; as noted in the rules you do need to be a U.S. resident, and you will need to email me your mailing info within 5 days or I’ll go with the next random number on my list.

Big hugs and kisses to Green Toys for sponsoring this wonderful contest – If you didn’t win, please check out their website to learn more about how you can purchase one of these green toys for your little one. Lastly, thanks to everyone who entered, we’ve loved reading about what your kids and family are doing outside in nature.

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Here’s the game description:

“You are Dumptown’s new City Manager! When you start to play, you’ll see Dumptown at its worst — it’s littered, polluted, and nothing is being recycled or reused. There are many trash cans and dumpsters, but no recycling bins. That means all of the trash is going right into the landfill just outside town, where it isn’t doing anyone any good.

In your new position, you can start programs that encourage Dumptown’s citizens and businesses to recycle and reduce waste.

You have 10 programs to work with. Each time you try out a new one, you can see immediately how the Dumptown landscape changes. You also see how much waste you are saving from going into the landfill.

Oh, and because the people of Dumptown are paying for these programs, we’ve given you a way to keep track of how much money you’re spending on their behalf. (That way, you won’t lose your job by going too far over budget.)”

Play with your kids now.

Click here to learn about all the current contests, themes, and green challenges going on at Tree Hugging Family in May 2008

Post from: Tree Hugging Family