Just for Kids
Kids are the Future!
These steps can help kids make a large impact on protecting our environment
Tell you parents to turn off their engines!
What is the big deal about parked vehicles that are idling? What is so bad about someone parked in their car, idling while chatting on a cell phone? View this video to learn more about idling.
Walk! Ride! Scooter! Take the Bus!
Did you know that Way to Go! Vermont also sponsors the Way to School Challenge where your school is eligible for prizes when you and other students walk, cycle, or scooter to school? Did you know that last year, in just one week (Way to Go! week) 3,552 Way to Go! participants saved about 236,813 community miles, 206,000 pounds of carbon dioxide, and $33,000 in transportation expenses? Did you know that 22 elementary schools are participating in Safe Routes To School in Chittenden County during the 2009-2010 school year? Or that the program seeks to get more children walking and bicycling to school more often? Did you know that only five decades ago, 70% of children across the country walked or biked to school or that today, about 13% walk or bike? Tell your parents and teachers about the Way to School Challenge and the Safe Routes to School Program. Just by walking or biking to school you can help improve the air quality and get some exercise!
Educate yourself!
Climate change can be confusing and hard to understand. That’s why there are tons of books and websites about the issue. Ask you librarian or teacher if there are any good books that you can read to understand how we all affect climate change. To get started visit the Environmental Protection Agency’s Kids Site for games and other information on climate change.
Don’t throw it out!
Before you toss your stuff into the trash think if there is anything else you can do with it. Can you reuse a plastic bag? Can you refill your old cup instead of getting another one? Can you save your plastic fork for tomorrow’s lunch? If you can’t reuse it, see if you can recycle it. Visit Chittenden Solid Waste District’s site for information you can use in school and home!
Plant a tree!
After you save up some of your allowance money try buying a small tree to plant in your backyard or at your park. You can watch it grow every year as it protects our local environment. Trees are the lungs of our Earth, they breathe in Carbon Dioxide and breathe out Oxygen that allow us to live!
Pack a ‘Green’ bag lunch!
When bringing your lunch to school think about the items you use to hold all of your food. Use a lunch box instead of throwing away paper bags everyday. Have your parents buy some small Tupperware to hold your sandwich, fruit, crackers and cookies rather than using separate plastic bags for all of them.
Talk to your friends!
You and your friends can exchange information on climate change and what you can do to reduce your impact on it. Your friends might be surprised at all the simple ways you are making a difference.
