EVERY DAY IS AGREENDAY

TIME TOGETHER is the gift of grandparenting!

Every day along the way…sharing moments of work and play.

Every age and every stage of their growth and development…all their interests and wishes…we, as grandparents, celebrate the joy of being together and know that every day is special.

Your perspectives expand when you see life through their eyes.

AGES and STAGES of DISCOVERY

2-3 year olds: COPY CATS They watch you and absorb your words and actions…nothing goes unnoticed.

4-6 year olds: EXPLORERS They are Interested in everything. Their own ideas emerge and they start putting the facts together.

6-8 year olds: DISCOVERORS Their knowledge is so impressive as they start to understand the cause and effect the environmental issues.

What Can We Do?

As grandparents, we have a unique role to play in being a part of the green journey with our grandchildren: INFORMATION and INSPIRATION.

This website provides links to an excellent resource on World Environmental Problems that need our help. Explore and gather the facts. Informed Grandparents can inspire! There are so many LITTLE ways you and your grandchildren can make a BIG impact!

When we all join together, it is as easy as A-B-C.

A: AWARENESS IS THE ANSWER. Learn all you can about where you live.
B: BE A BELIEVER that you can make a difference.
C: CLAIM A CAUSE (or 2 or 3) and COMMIT to making a CHANGE.

FIND the GREEN FACTS:

EVERYTHING CONNECTS
Why Nature Matters
The mission of Everything Connects is to inspire you, educate you, and empower you to make a difference in your life, for all life, and for all ecological foundations of life. Watch the video...it says it all

https://www.everythingconnects.org

How Large is Your Carbon Footprint?

The size of your carbon footprint indicates how much impact you have on the environment

NASA: www.climatekids.nasa.gov/how-to-help
FOR THE WHOLE FAMILY: https:// www.footprintcalculator.org

ENERGY STAR: How Big Is Your Carbon Footprint?

LEARNING TOGETHER…..

QUESTIONS and ANSWERS

THE 4 W’S

WHAT WHY WHEN WHO

Every GREEN activity you do comes with the 4 W Questions. The When and Who are the most important focus. And the answers are easy!

WHEN? NOW WHO? ALL OF US

How do we as grandparents learn about all the environmental problems facing us? Information is everywhere. Simple facts and your simple acts are the best teaching and learning tools you have!

It is not WHAT you are teaching…it is HOW you are reaching grandchildren by the things they observe watching you live GREEN.

It is not what you know or don’t know. It is about where to find the information to share with these young discoverers. Do the research together.

NASA KIDS and NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC KIDS provide resources for environmental topics plus ecology activities and games.

https://climatekids.nasa.gov/kids-guide-to-climate-change

http://www.kids.nationalgeographic.com

KIDS FOR SAVING EARTH.ORG Kids for Saving Earth provides educational materials, posters, Earth music and a highly acclaimed web site featuring printable environmental education .

https://kidsforsavingearth.org

Ordinary tasks are opportunities to share GREEN wisdom.

COOKING and GARDENING

A Man Teaching A Child To Cook Image In Color

DISCOVERY WALKS and NATURE TALKS

TRAILS to EXPLORE in parks or the shore

Everyday Adventures are fun times introduce ECO-VOCABULARY:

GROCERY SHOPPING:

ORGANIC products and produce

LOCALLY GROWN and SUSTAINABLY made items.

CSA COMMUNITY SUPPORTED AGRICULTURE

Checking out the PACKAGING is a perfect time to discuss RECYCLING, one use plastic and wasteful use of materials.

INGREDIENTS: PRESERVATIVES GMO ETHNIC specialties

FARMER’S MARKETS *See Cooking Green

LOOK OUT THE WINDOW

TELL ME WHAT YOU SEE

I see the sky so blue

Smiling over you.

I see the clouds of white that disappear at night.

I see the leaves on the trees

Swaying in the breeze.

Tell me what you see!

No grandchild is too young to look out the window and be introduced to the beauty of nature. Point out the birds, flowers, squirrels and trees and all the many things visible from a window! Looking and seeing together in the beginning of awareness of the world around us.

THE WORLD AROUND US

Outdoor adventures are perfect grandparent activities to celebrate nature and the gifts of creation. Every faith tradition has nature connections; Judaism, Christianity, Islam, Hinduism and Buddhism.
Religious scriptures and traditions invite us to recognize the Creator’s handiwork in the beauty of nature that surrounds us. As we show gratitude for the gifts of creation it connects us to how our actions affect the environment. People who practice Eco-Spirituality, faith is connected directly to the natural world and humankind’s place in it.
Creation speaks to us through nature’s sacred moments of connection and gratitude.

STOP, LOOK and LISTEN

STOP: Take your time to look
Can you see it?

Make a list : Sunlight through trees, sparkling water, rainbows, seasons changing, flowers blooming, butterflies

STOP: Take your time to listen

Can you hear it?

Make a list: Wind whispering through the trees, bees buzzing, birds singing, crickets chirping, frogs croaking, squirrels chattering

CHILDREN AND NATURE.ORG https://www.childrenandnature.org/contact-us/

REGULAR TIME OUTDOORS HELPS CHILDREN THRIVE. But over the past few generations, childhood has moved indoors. On average, today’s kids spend up to 44 hours per week in front of a screen, and less than 10 minutes a day playing outdoors. And for too many kids, regular and safe access to nature is determined by race, income, identity, ability and postal code.

A WALK IN THE PARK

A walk any time is an adventure in observation. Each child will see different things and see things differently. The youngest children will create imaginary scenarios to go along with the time and place, older children will use their observation powers to find the unexpected treasures! What do you need for a day in the park? NOTHING! (Except water and wipes!) But as grandparents, preparing and packing is all part of the adventure!

FAVORITE FIVE TRAIL MX

Each grandchild will have unique recipes for their special mix.

SCAVENGER and TREASURE HUNTS

Outdoor Treasure Hunt Map.pdf

Gratitude Scavenger Hunt.pdf

Click here for HABITAT SCAVENGER HUNT

MAKE-A-MAP TREASURE HUNT
Ages 8-12

Google Maps work for older kids

I draw an outline of the park or area. I include boundaries
trees , paths and trails and lake or stream.

I take photos of all parts of the area…anything recognizable to be the clues… .(in a yard it is easy to have plants, deck, mailbox) Pine cones, rocks, tree branches low to the ground, shells on the beach (There are snail shells in Minnesota) Sandpiles, playground (clues can be taped under the swing seat and the clue can say High in the Sky for example)

Have photos developed at a I hour place (Walgreens for example) Make one collage sheet of the photos. Cut the individual photos into puzzle pieces… put each puzzle in an envelope…number envelopes. Make a guide for yourself. Make a plan on the order to hide the clues
Hide the clues and write them down so you know where they are
CLUE 1 Give each child a map Star stickers are fun to mark the place they find the clue.
Start the hunt with an invitation: We are going on a treasure hunt Come and join the fun… There will be some special clues and a prize for everyone.

Child opens Clue 1 It is a puzzle of where Clue 2 can be found Put the Puzzle together. Go to where the photo leads to Clue 2
Clue 2 and all clues after are puzzles of the photos leading them through all the clues.

Last clue is the Treasure or tells where the Treasure can be found by having a whole picture of a new place in the park or yard.

R-E-C-Y-C-L-E RECYCLE ME

When a pile of trash in the park I see
It always says… RECYCLE ME!
When I see paper under a tree
It always says… RECYCLE ME!
Plastic bottles piling up all around
In the water and on the ground.
Waiting for you and waiting for me
It always says…RECYCLE ME!

If you want to combine your nature time with “Clean Up“, it’s an easy addition
or choose a special “Pick Up Day “

R-E-C-Y-C-L-E ME

PICK-UP PREPARATIONS

PICK UP AND SORT GAME: Pick up what items you find, put them in large trash bag and sort into the proper recycling bags in the car.

YOU WILL NEED: Box in the trunk of the car that can hold 4 paper bags upright.
Label bags: Plastic, Paper, Glass and Trash

** Do not allow children to pick up food scraps or glass bottles.

Disposable gloves

Grabber tool…optional

Large trash bag

FUNDAMENTAL ECO-VOCABULARY

The 3 R Words plus 1

REDUCE REUSE RECYCLE

REFUSE

ECOLOGY ECOSYSTEM

ENVIRONMENT

HABITAT

BIODIVERSITY

COMPOST DECOMPOSE

BIODEGRADABLE

POLLINATORS

CLIMATE CHANGE

CARBON FOOTPRINT

ECOLOGY is the branch of science that deals with the relationship of organisms to one another in their surroundings.

ENVIRONMENT is the surroundings in which people, animals and plants live in the natural world.

ECOSYSTEM is the complex network and interconnection of all living things

HABITAT is the natural home or environment for animals, plants and other organism

BIODIVERSITY is the variety of life in the world or in a particular habitat or ecosystem

BIODEGRADABLE is a substance being capable of being decomposed by bacteria or other living organisms

DECOMPOSE is the natural breakdown or organic materials.

This process equals COMPOST

CARBON FOOTPRINT is the amount of carbon dioxide released into the air because of your own energy needs. You need transportation, electricity, food, clothing and other goods. Your choices can make a difference.

CLIMATE CHANGE describes a change in the typical weather for a region such as high and low temperatures and the amount of rainfall over a long period of time.

NASA CLIMATE KIDS https://climatekids.nasa.gov/

POLLINATORS see Planting for Pollinators in Grand Gardening

SAY NO TO PLASTIC

“UNWANTED” TREASURE HUNT

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A fun way for kids to teach parents and grandparents about single use plastic.

Have grandchildren look through the cupboards (with parental approval and help) in a simple game of I Spy for single use plastic. Keep a chart and take pictures to document the finds.

Team up with another family and have a weeklong challenge to see who finds the most “Unwanted” Treasure and then have a Plastic Free Picnic together. Check out Cooking Green for great kid food picnic ideas.

TRACK THE FACTS

Kids love to keep track of the projects and progress. A special notebook is all you need to make record keeping a fun task.
For the tour of the house, make a check list so the notetaker can write as you go through and create a project list for anything that needs to be discussed.