Category: Environment

End of Summer Activities

Summer is quickly coming to an end. Soon, either virtually or in-person, school will back in session. Homework and work commitments will rapidly fill your schedule. Practicing social distancing and other guidelines in your area, you and your family can enjoy numerous fun-filled activities.

Do you need some inspiration? Check out the following list.

20 End of Summer Activities for the Entire Family

  1. Go on a hike
  2. Go on a nature walk
  3. Go camping (yes, the backyard counts)
  4. Make a fort in the backyard
  5. Blow bubbles
  6. Water balloon fight
  7. Play in the sprinkler
  8. Go for a bike ride
  9. Host a treasure hunt or scavenger hunt
  10. Go on a picnic
  11. Go on a walking tour of local sites
  12. Gather rocks to paint
  13. Go swimming
  14. Go out for ice cream
  15. Go on a scenic drive
  16. Have a craft day
  17. Host a game night
  18. Go stargazing
  19. BBQ
  20. Have a bonfire

The recent health crisis is a cause for concern. Staying safe and healthy is always a priority. But you can still enjoy the outdoors.  Get outside with your family, including the dog. Enjoy the remaining days of summer. A simple nature walk or hike can transform into long-lasting memories for your family. Grab your camera and go.

How to Help the Monarch (and Other) Butterflies

Celebrated the first Saturday in May, today, May 2, 2020, is National Start Seeing Monarchs Day. Orange, lined with black, and a mixture of white spots, the Monarch butterfly is easily recognizable in the wild. Due to various events causing a reduction in natural habitat, the Monarch butterfly is declining.  With your help and simple steps, there is hope for these beautiful winged creatures.

Ways to Help Monarchs and Other Butterflies

Are you wondering how to help the Monarchs and other butterflies? Check out the ideas below to promote the wellbeing of butterflies (and bees) in your area.

  1. Avoid Harmful Pesticides: Like other insects, when you spray your garden or lawn with pesticides, monarchs die. Avoid using harmful pesticides, go green. Find other options to reduce weeds in your yard.
  2. Plant Milkweed: A perennial milkweed is a native plant throughout the United States and Canada. The wild flowering plant promotes biodiversity, which helps the Monarchs during their natural migration path. Planting a small patch is a great way to improve the Monarch butterflies’ chances of survival.
  3. Place Monarch Waystation in Your Yard: A Monarch Way station is a safe place where the butterflies can lay their eggs. A Monarch waystation generally consists of milkweed and other native plants that help provide food for the butterfly population.
  4. Local Community Cleanup Efforts: Get involved by learning ways to protect the environment. Many communities host cleanup efforts for wildlife areas. (Please note: Right now, community cleanup and other events are delayed due to the pandemic.)
  5. Learn About Climate Change: Butterflies and other wildlife are at risk. Changing weather patterns disrupt their typical migration path. Learning about climate allows you to take steps to help the Monarchs and the rest of the insect world.
  6. Research: Learning about the lifecycle of Monarchs and other butterflies (bees too) helps in protecting the species. When you learn about the insects, you can create habitats, waystations, or gardens with their welfare in mind.
  7. Donate: If you are unable to plant your own milkweed or create a waystation, consider donating to a cause that promotes the protection of Monarchs. Many local organizations work with farmers and other industrial sites to save areas for butterflies. Other places create habitats for butterflies. Do Internet research to find an organization near you.
  8. Get Social: Even if you cannot donate, use your social media accounts to spread the news about preserving the Monarchs’ habitat. Social media blurbs have the potential to reach millions of people.
Many different species enjoy Milkweed.

Can you imagine a world without butterflies? In their natural habitat, the winged creatures are magical to witness. Learn about Monarchs and other insects to help keep the magic alive for generations to come.

 

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How to Help the Environment

Every day the media delivers devastating news about the daily impact people have on the environment. Watching the disturbing images may leave you feeling overwhelmed. Do you want to change? Take small steps in your every day to make a difference.

Small Ways You Can Help the Environment

Incorporating environmentally-friendly acts into your lifestyle produces positive results. The simplistic of some of the tasks means the entire family can participate.

Go Energy Efficient

  • Turn off lights when leaving a room.
  • Turn off the computer or other technological devices when not in use.
  • Use less hot water when doing the laundry or taking a shower.
  • When heating your home, lower temperature by two or more degrees during the winter months to keep your furnace from running continuously. Or during the summer months to save on air conditioning consumption increase the temperature.
  • Allow laundry to air dry by using a clothesline or hang shirts on the shower rod.

Recycle

When possible, recycle. Set up recycling bins in your home or garage. Easy access to the containers allows the entire family to participate.

Items to place in recycling include:

  • Newspapers
  • Magazines
  • Glass
  • Metal
  • Plastic shopping bags (Many supermarkets such as Wal-Mart and Kroger have a box set up for returning plastic shopping bags.)
  • Cardboard
  • Batteries
  • Technological devices (Depending on where you live, computer parts, and other components may require a particular recycling area.)

Use Reusable Items

Purchasing reusable items is one of the best ways to help the environment. Not only do you reduce waste, but you also save money.

  • Use rechargeable batteries
  • Reusable water bottle or travel bug
  • Reusable shopping bags
  • Reusable sandwich wraps or a sandwich container
  • Reusable lunch box or bag

Simply consider the areas where your purchase may result in a single-use consumption. Reducing waste helps the environment. When purchasing household items, look for eco-friendly products.

Eat Your Veggies

Once a week, skip beef consumption. Make a vegan based meal. Processing beef requires numerous resources. Skipping a beef-based meal is actually good for the environment.

Donate Unwanted Items

Do you have kitchen appliances collecting dust? Or unwearable clothes in your closet? Donate the items to your local charity. Most donations are tax-deductible.  When someone buys an already made product, you help the environment.

Plant Trees and Flowers

If you are able, plant trees and bee-friendly flowers to help the environment. Consider growing a small vegetable garden.

Advocate

Small acts are essential for the environment. Telling others of your efforts inspires further activities. Use social media to share your accomplishments.

Community Involvement

Many organizations offer environmentally friendly activities. Cleaning up rivers, highways, or parks generally are part of spring events. Volunteer your time. Do the cleanup as a family or friend activity. Meet others who share your passion for helping the environment.

 

National Wildlife Day: How You Can Help

According to the National Day Calendar, today, September 4th is National Wildlife Day. The news of the Amazon rainforest burning is devastating. As you watch the devastation unfold, you may be wondering how you can help the wildlife in your area. Small steps to help local wildlife have a more significant impact on the community. 

Be an Advocate

Helping wildlife and the planet requires changes. Be aware of any new petitions, proposals, or other policies that could harm the environment. Contact your state’s officials to voice your opinion. Make your voice heard for protecting wildlife and the environment.

Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle

The slogan, reduce, reuse, and recycle is well known. Implementing changes in your daily life helps the environment. 

 

  • Reduce: Plastic bags, bottles, straws, styrofoam, and other single-service plastic items are bad for the environment. Improper disposal of non-biodegradable items harms the local wildlife and planet. Properly disposing of consumer waste is only half of the problem. Reducing waste is the other part. 

 

  • Reuse: Make a pledge to reuse items. Donate unwanted clothing, toys, books, kitchen appliances, and more to local charities. 
  • Recycle: Participate in recycling programs in your area. Set up bins in your home to remind yourself and family members to recycle.

 

 

Be a Mindful Consumer

When purchasing new items, do your research. Learn about the company’s recycling and environmental record. Never buy any type of thing that threatens the welfare of an endangered animal. 

Save Energy

Take the necessary steps to save energy in your home or business. 

  • Turn off lights when leaving a room. 
  • Unplug unused appliances. 
  • Get a maintenance check on your furnace to run at an efficient rate. 
  • Monitor your heat or airconditioning temperatures. 
  • Wash clothing in cold water. 
  • Reduce your shower or bath times. 
  • Hang clothes on the line. Airdrying saves energy. 

Discover Your Green Thumb

If you are a property owner, plant trees, shrubs, and native flowers. The plants provide necessary shelter to local wildlife. Flowers attract bees and other insects to help the environment. Create a habitat to welcome birds and other animals to your yard. Offer watering areas, feed the birds or other animals, and provide shelter areas. 

Avoid Chemicals

Weedkiller, pesticides, rat poison, and other chemicals hurt wildlife and the environment. Using these types of products creates an uninhabitable environment and death to wildlife. 

Volunteer

Communities and other organizations host cleanup programs to help remove unwanted materials from natural resources. Volunteering an afternoon or an entire day has the potential to help reduce harmful items from the environment. 

Donate

Research organizations helping to protect wildlife and the environment. Make a donation. Reputable organizations will put the money to good use. 

Taking steps to help wildlife and the environment should be a daily commitment. Celebrate National Wildlife Day with a pledge to yourself to locally help the wildlife and habitat. 

 

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