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by Deborah Dove

1. Walk or bike to school
Most children in Allen live within walking distance of their school, yet only a small percentage of kids actually walk or ride their bike. Not only does walking save the environment by cutting down on fuel usage and pollution (think of all of that gas burned idling in the carpool line), it’s a healthier option for kids. Encourage kids to walk to school by celebrating Walk to School Day on October 8. You can register your school and get more information at www.walktoschool.org. For younger kids, organize walking carpools, where parents take turns walking a group of children home.

2. Pack a reusable lunch
According to the New York State Department of Conservation, a child taking a disposable lunch to school generates on average 67 pounds of trash per school year. To save our landfills, pack your child’s lunch in reusable, resealable containers. Avoiding prepackaged foods not only saves the environment, it also saves money. Buy lunch foods such as yogurt and applesauce in less expensive, larger containers and spoon into fun plastic containers.

3. Use refillable water bottles
Although those bottles of Ozarka sure are handy, they’re not very environmentally conscious (some studies even suggest they may leak toxic chemicals). Instead, purchase a made-to-last water bottle and fill it each morning for your child to take to school or drink throughout the day. To keep it cold, fill half-way with water the night before and place in the freezer. In the morning, add water and go.

4. Purchase locally grown fresh fruits and vegetables from the Farmer’s Market
Since the average meal travels approximately 1,300 miles from its origin to your plate, buying local-grown food helps the environment by cutting down on fuel use, in addition to providing healthier produce that retains more of its antioxidants. Kids will love the novelty of visiting the farmer’s market, and they may surprise you by trying new fruits and vegetables. Local farmer’s markets to visit include Fairview Farms Farmer’s Market, I-75 at Parker, open Tuesday-Sunday 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. May through October; and Dallas Farmer’s Market located in the southeastern corner of the central business district in downtown Dallas at 1010 South Pearl St., open Sunday thru Saturday 7 a.m. to 6 p.m.

5. Create a Certified Wildlife Habitat
Kids can create a haven for wildlife in their own backyard, and then certify their yard with the National Wildlife Federation. Just visit their website at www.nwf.org/backyard, follow the suggestions listed to provide elements from key areas (food sources, water sources, places for cover, places to raise young and sustainable gardening), then send in your application with a $15 fee. In addition to feeling good about helping wildlife, your child will get a personalized certificate that recognizes their NWF Certified Wildlife Habitat™, a free NWF membership which includes a full year’s subscription to the award-winning National Wildlife® magazine, a free subscription to the quarterly e-newsletter, Habitats, full of insightful tips and information on gardening and attracting wildlife year after year, and their name listed in NWF’s National registry of certified habitats.

6. Recycle
Whenever possible, recycle your family’s trash. Teach kids what is recyclable (pretty much all plastic containers such as milk, water bottles, juice bottles, paper, glass, aluminum cans and foil) and fill your recycle bin. Set a good example and use reusable canvas bags at the grocery store.

7. Learn to Garden
Based on the recognized Junior Master Gardener curriculum, the City of Plano is offering gardening for kids in grades 2-4 on Wednesdays September 8 thru October 29 from 3:30-5 p.m. Children will get hands-on experience in gardening skills (soil preparation, planting, plant identification, plant care, harvesting) as well as learn about gardening for wildlife, the basic ecological cycles and the processes that affect the garden. Contact Erin Hoffer 972-769-4228 or Deb Bliss 972-769-4313 for more information.

8. Make a compost station in your back yard
First, you will need a plastic bin or wooden box with three 1/2" holes drilled into the bottom for drainage. Fill the box with damp paper and cardboard shreddings. Add red worms (available online or at a bait shop). Don’t use earthworms, as they will not survive. Let your kids chop up their leftovers from dinner—bread, pasta, fruits and veggies, and bury them under the bedding in the box (if you put them on top, it may attract fruit flies). Do not put meat in the box as worms are herbivores and won’t eat meat (plus, you may attract animals you don’t want). Then let the composting begin! Over time, as the worms magically turn your trash into "castings," you can scoop some out to fertilize your garden.

9. Teach kids to appreciate the outdoors and our natural resources
Encourage your kids to play and spend time outdoors, grow a garden and take nature walks. Some good places to take nature walks nearby include the Heard Museum in McKinney off FM 1378, one mile east of Highway 5 and the Arbor Hills Nature Preserve in Plano off Parker Road, just west of Midway. The Connemara Conservancy at Alma and Bethany also offers guided nature walks for all ages and work day opportunities for kids ages 10 and older (check their website at www.connermaraconservancy.org for dates and more information).

10. Check out your ecological footprint
Kids can see what ecological footprint they are leaving, and how the choices they make impact the environment, with a fun, interactive tool at www.kidsfootprint.org.

11. Conserve Water
Did you know the average home water use for each person in the United States is 50 gallons per day? Kids can help conserve water by turning the tap off while they brush their teeth, setting a timer to spend less time in the shower,and filling a pitcher with tap water to keep in the refrigerator for when they get thirsty instead of running the tap.

12. Adopt an endangered animal
Teach your kids the value of giving as well as the importance of protecting our endangered species by adopting one of a number of endangered species such as the otter, wolf, polar bear or sea turtle through the Defenders of Wildlife Adoption Center. Your $25 adoption fee includes a certificate of adoption, a 5x7 animal photo, a kid’s wildlife activities book and a plush toy of the animal that is being adopted. Visit www.WildlifeAdoption.org.