WHMI Strong Families Strong Wyoming

Wyoming’s First Lady presents
Family Night
Goes
Green!
12 Months of “GREEN” Family Fun!
Family Conversation Starters
Tips to Help YOU Make a Difference
Monthly Family Fun Activities
Fun “Green” Facts
2009
And Much, Much More!
Get Your Family Going Green!
WHMI Strong Families Strong Wyoming
1-866-WYO-FAMS www.WYOFAMS.org
Dear Wyoming Families,
Strong and happy families spend time together, connecting,
sharing, loving and learning! This year’s family activity book
“Family Night Goes Green” is full of wonderful opportunities for your family to do just that - connect, laugh, share, and learn!
We know that children who spend time with their parents are much
less likely to get into trouble, use drugs or abuse alcohol, and they
Nancy Freudenthal,
get better grades. Children tell us that they enjoy spending time
with their parents and want to spend even more time with their families. Family Night is
a wonderful way to get into the habit of spending time together!
So, I encourage you to share a meal and some great conversation on Family Night,
and then pull out the “2009 Family Night” book. Have fun together and learn more
about what you can do to Keep Wyoming Green! In doing so, you will improve your
family’s communications, strengthen your family’s bonds, build character and most
importantly, have fun together!
Connect, Laugh, Share and Learn - Together! Thank you for caring about one of
Wyoming’s Most Precious Resources, Your Family!
Sincerely, Nancy Freudenthal
First Lady of Wyoming
THANK YOU TO PARTNERS:
WHMI and Wyoming First Lady Nancy Freudenthal
are pleased to have the following partners on the
2009 Family Night Goes Green:
The Wyoming Department of Family Services
The Wyoming Department of Education
The Wyoming Department of Workforce Services
The Wyoming Department of Environmental Quality
The Wyoming Department of Health (the First Lady’s
Initiative to Reduce Underage Drinking), and
Wyoming 4th Grade Teachers Statewide!
Thank you for your SUPPORT!
Together we are working to build strong Wyoming families!
Welcome to
Wyoming First Lady’s
Family Night
Goes
Green!
2009
These are the SOURCES we used to find our information! If you liked the information
or activities, visit these sites to find more information on Going Green.
KIDS: Always get your parent’s permission before going online!
SOURCES:
1. http://www.epa.org
2. http://www.carbonfootprint.com/athome.html
3. http://www.energystar.gov
4. http://www.eia.doe.gov/kids/energyfacts/index.html
5. http://www.savewateramerica.com
6. http://www.pewtrusts.org
7. http://fightglobalwarming.com
8. http://hybrid-car.org
9. http://wikianswers.com
10.http://greennature.com
11.http://www.thegreenguide.com
12.http://www.thinkgreen.com
13.http://www.nyc.gov/html/nycwasteless/downloads/pdf/rrr-kit/chapter1_4-5.pdf
All information, ideas and activities contained in this booklet were taken, in whole or in part, from the listed sources
either from their web sites or other published materials. High Country Consulting, LLC and the Wyoming Healthy
Marriage Initiaive belive all information contained in this booklet is complete and accurate. However, neither HCC
or WHMI are experts in the field of environmental science and you are encouraged to visit the listed web sites or
review the listed references and review the sources of this information for yourself and your family. HCC and WHMI
encourage all individuals to do this prior to trying any of the ideas, strategies or activities listed in the booklet.
Hey Mom and Dad! This year, Family Night Goes Green! Whether you are
a family of two or ten, going green and reducing your environmental impact
is a good thing. It is healthier for the environment and healthier for people,
too! That double benefit is what makes it worth your while as a family to take
a little extra time and effort to make healthier, greener practices a part of your
family’s lifestyle.
Lots of families want to understand and do more in the area of environmental
protection, but it can be difficult to run a household with children and reduce
your environmental impact at the same time. So, this year Family Night is
going GREEN and providing you with 12 monthly topics on environmental
issues that includes: Family Conversation Starters, Fun Facts, Going Green
Tips, and Family Activities. Family Night Goes Green is designed to help
your family talk about the issues and do your part to help protect Wyoming at
the same time! You can even log onto www.WYOFAMS.org for more Going
Green Tips and Activities!
We hope you enjoy this year’s Family Night Goes Green booklet!
Sincerely,
WHMI Strong Families Strong Wyoming
www.WYOFAMS.org
Whether you say Green, Eco, Environmentally
Friendly or just plain Ecological, Green is the
newest word out there! That’s why this year’s
Family Night Resource will focus on our Earth, our
State’s natural resources, and how to keep both
beautiful!
Remember, Family Night is designed to bring your family closer
and to get everyone talking! Nothing is better than sharing a
meal, good family conversation and even adding a family
activity that’s good for the planet too! We believe that Stronger
Healthy Families mean a Stronger Wyoming! We want to
encourage you to make mealtime family time in your home.
Children that eat regular dinners with their family:
• Are at half the risk for substance abuse
• Are less likely to have friends who use illicit drugs
• Are more likely to get better grades in school
• Are at a lower risk for thoughts of suicide
• Are more likely to say that their parents are proud of
them(Adapted from the Ten Benefits of Frequent Family
Dinners-Columbia University)
The Power of Parenting
Whether you’re cooking a
gourmet meal, ordering food
from your favorite take-out
place or eating on the go, rest
assured that what your kids
really want during dinnertime
is YOU! Family meals are the
perfect time to talk to your kids
and to listen to what’s on their
mind. The more often kids eat
dinner with their families, the
less likely they are to smoke,
drink or use drugs.
WHMI Strong Families
Strong Wyoming
Here are some Family Night Tips:
1. BE POSITIVE! Everyone in your family will have a different level of reading,
understanding, thoughts, and even knowledge of all things “green”…
remember to encourage each family member!
2. LISTEN! LISTEN! LISTEN! During the open-ended “Talk About It!” questions,
each family member has the opportunity to express their opinion on a subject
matter. This may be a good time to talk about what an opinion is (someone’s
specific thoughts and feeling on a matter that cannot/should not be judged as
“right” or “wrong”) and to ask questions such as, “Why do you feel that way?”
instead of arguing the issue.
3. REMEMBER YOUR OBJECTIVE! The object of Family Night is to have Good Quality Family Time…so
turn off the television, put away the cell phones, share a mean and enjoy the fun and conversations that your
family will remember for years to come!
4. HOW TO USE THIS BOOKLET:
• Gather your family and tell them to be ready for some “Green Family Fun”
• Open the booklet to the specified and simply read the introduction paragraph and the Fun Facts of that
month. If you have a child or children that can read, ask them to take turns reading aloud. Be prepared to
help with big words or to provide definitions of words they may not understand.
• Then read the Going Green Family Activity and simply follow the directions. Most activities will take about
15-20 minutes and don’t require any complicated supplies, usually a pencil and paper is all it takes.
• We’ve also provided Going Green Tips for your family each month! Remember, Going Green can seem
overwhelming, that’s why the booklet is focused on just one subject at a time! Even small steps can
make a big impact! You may want to post some of the Going Green Tips in a place where your family will
see them often.
• After the activity, share a meal as a family! It doesn’t matter if it’s breakfast, lunch or dinner or even
breakfast for dinner! The simple act of sharing a meal with the ones you love can strengthen your family!
During dinner, use the Talk About It! Questions to stimulate discussion among family members!
• Above all else, enjoy this time with your family! Remember, Families that Play Together, Stay Together!
•
Stronger Relationships Mean Stronger Families
Who We Are:
WHMI Strong Families Strong Wyoming, working
under a federal grant, strives to strengthen
communities across our state by: regional lending
libraries; offering classes, trainings and resources
aimed at increasing the number of strong healthy
marriages and relationships; teaching teens the
value of healthy relationships; encouraging
pre-marital education for engaged couples or
couples living together; providing marriage
enrichment courses for committed couples; and
teaching the skills necessary for strong
relationships.
Our Goals:
WHMI Strong Families Strong Wyoming believes
that strong and healthy families are our state's most
important assets. Our goal is to provide couples and
individuals the opportunities, the tools and information they need to strengthen their
marriages and families. WHMI is helping
Wyoming build stronger, healthier and happier
relationships!
How to Get Involved:
• Visit us on the WEB to Learn More
(www.WYOFAMS.org)
• Check out UPCOMING CLASSES in your
neighborhood
• Borrow a Book or DVD from our extensive online
LENDING LIBRARY
• Download (or call to receive) free BROCHURES
filled with tips and tools to help you succeed in
the relationships that matter most to you
• Sign up to receive our Bi-Monthly NEWSLETTER
filled with articles on Marriage, Family, Parenting
and many other useful topics.
WHMI Strong Families
Strong Wyoming
www.WYOFAMS.org 1-866-WYO-FAMS
SEPTEMBER:
Wyoming ENERGY EFFICIENT
So how do you use less energy? If you want to stay warm, you need
energy. If you want to light your house, you need energy. If you want to
drive to the mall, you need energy. Seems like we need more, not less,
energy!
In Wyoming, we have several sources of energy: Coal, Natural Gas,
Oil, Wind, and Solar Energy. Some of Wyoming’s sources of energy are
renewable and others are non-renewable. So what can you and your family
do to help preserve our non-renewable energy resources when it seems we
use more and more? We can become more Energy Efficient!
When we are energy efficient we use less energy to do something as good
as or better than before. We have to remember there is a limited amount of
non-renewable fuel sources such as coal or gas. Did you know that almost
50% of the electricity in the US comes from coal.(4) Even if we don’t run out
we can damage our environment by using too much or wasting energy.(4)
FUN FACTS!
Fun Facts! Be More Energy Efficient - Don’t
let the (Energy) Vampires Get You!
Did you know that energy vampires lurk in your house? You might think that
vampires only come out at night or during Halloween. Well, guess what?
They are everywhere, all of the time, working 24 hours a day, using energy at
your house; and they are adding some 20 percent each month to the amount
your family pays for energy. (5)
Vampire energy is a type of energy used by things that consume electricity
twenty-four hours a day, even when they are turned off or not being used.
TVs, VCRs, DVD players, computers/ printers, stereos, microwaves, coffee
machines, washers/dryers, rechargeable power tools, etc. are the everyday
secret users of vampire energy. You think you have turned them off, but they are
still running. In fact, did you know that a TV with a remote uses energy while the
TV is off? And don’t forget about those little clocks on microwaves and VCRs-with every blinking second, they, too, are using vampire energy and adding to
your monthly energy bill. According to energy experts, the amount of energy
used by these vampire consumers can add up quickly. Vampire energy amounts
to about five percent of energy consumed in the United States and usually costs
consumers more than $3 billion each year. That’s a lot of money!
Going Green Family Activity
Find and eliminate the energy vampires in your home! It could save your family some green - the money kind!
Take a room-by-room tour and locate and eliminate those pesty energy vampires. Here are some steps to get you started:
1. Gather the family and explain that you will be conducting
a mini energy audit (looking for the energy vampires!) in your home. Explain what energy vampires are, and then tell your family that they will be looking for specific ways your family can reduce the number of energy users in your home and make it more energy efficient.
2. Give each family member a pad and pencil; and then assign them a room or area of the house to
audit. Set a time limit and send them off!
3. Once everyone is finished, gather them back together and
review each family member’s list brainstorming ways to reduce
or eliminate the identified energy consumption!
4. To learn more log onto www.energystar.gov and learn what
you can do this fall to save energy, save money and help
protect our environment right in your own home. Log onto www.energystar.gov and click on “home tips”.
Can You Define That?
Renewable Energy is energy generated from natural resources - such as sunlight,
wind, rain, tides, and geothermal heat - which are renewable or naturally replenished.
In 2006, about 18% of global final energy consumption came from
renewable energy sources.(11)
Non-renewable Energy is any energy resource that is not replaced or is replaced
only very slowly by natural processes. Some mail examples of non-renewable energy
resources are the fossil fuels - oil, natural gas and coal. Fossil fuels are continually
produced by the decay of plant and animal matter, but the rate of their production is
extremely slow. If we use more than is being produced, those resources get “used
up” and are not available to us any longer.(11)
September’s Going GREEN Tips
1.Kids: Unplug your MP3 player, phone and camera chargers when
not in use.
2.Mom & Dad, unplug appliances when not in use.
3.Set your computer to go to sleep after 5 minutes of non use.
4.Turn off the lights when you leave a room and use natural light as
much as possible.
5.Instead of using the AC or heater, teach kids to put on a sweater or
hat when they are cold or to open a window on each side of the
house to create a breeze when they are hot.
6.Use your microwave or toaster oven to reheat or cook small portions.
You can reduce cooking energy by as much as 80 percent when
using your microwave for small portions.(12) This also helps save on a/c
costs in summer, since less heat is generated when compared to
using a stove or oven.
7.Learn to read your household energy meter … this may help you
identify peak energy times in your household and work to reduce
your energy usage!
TALK ABOUT IT!
At dinner tonight talk about it...
• What are two ways you can be more Energy Efficient?
• In the future, what do you think cars will run on instead of gasoline?
Looking for more fun? Go online to
www.cvps.com/cowpower/Environment.html and click on
Mrs. Cow to take a tour Cow Power Farms and learn about a new
(and unusual) source of energy - cow manure!
OCTOBER:
Wyoming WATER CONSERVATION
Imagine living in a house without running water or modern washing appliances... For
some this might be utopian paradise but for most it would be a nightmare. Running
water is an incredibly valuable resource with an almost endless list of applications and
uses in and around the home. So it’s important for each of us to consider how we use
and conserve water in our daily life.
FUN FACTS!
• Did you know that about 40% of your household water
usage is in the bathroom?(6)
• Wyoming is home to OVER 55 lakes, reservoirs, rivers,
streams and creeks and each of those water sources are
home to many different animal species too!(10)
• In 2006, the average American used 167 disposable water
bottles, but only recycled 38.(1)
• And did you know a leaky toilet can waste 200 gallons of
water per day?(2)
• A 10-minute shower can use less water than a full bath.(4)
Going Green Family Activity
Play the Water Family Game at http://www.thewaterfamily.co.uk/index2_content.html.
In this game your family will have loads of fun while learning how to cut down
their water usage in both their home and garden. To win you will have to make
decisions about your family’s use of water! This family activity might be best
when played with just two family members… so mom or dad get your 4th grader
and join him/her at the family computer terminal.
No internet at home? Make it a family trip and visit your local library to log on,
most libraries have free use of computers and internet.
October’s Going GREEN Tips
1.Bottle your own water! Use a reusable travel mug or bottle and get your
water from the tap! Visit www.foodandwaterwatch.org and take the
pledge to take back the tap, promising to choose tap water over bottled
whenever possible and meanwhile, invest in a safe, reusable bottle for
every member of the family.
2.Don’t let the water run when you are brushing your teeth.
3.Take 5 minute showers for 1 week!
4.Check all sinks, toilets, and faucets for leaks or drips… have them fixed.
A leaky faucet or toilet can waste gallons of water.
5.Wash fruits and veggies in a bowl to conserve water. You can use the
left over water to water houseplants or a dry spot on your lawn!
6.Run your washing machine and dishwasher only when they are full. You
can save up to 1,000 gallons a month.(12)
TALK ABOUT IT!
•
T
onight at dinner ask you family what life
might be like without clean water? What
changes would they need to make in their
daily lives? How might it affect their health?
Our state and nation?
hat fun things do you like to do that involve water? (Remember,
•
water can also be in a solid state, like ice, for you to enjoy too!)
W
Tips for Good Family Communications
1. Give everyone a chance to talk or answer, even the youngest member of the family wants to be heard.
2. Listen to understand the other person, not to change him or her.
3. Ask lots of questions to clarify what is being communicated like – Why? Or What do you mean?
4. Remember everyone is entitled to his or her own opinion, ideas and thoughts.
5. Refrain from interrupting, arguing, criticizing or giving unrequested advice.
6. Relax and have fun.
7. Listen to understand the other person, not to change him or her.
8. Ask lots of questions to clarify what is being communicated like – Why?
Or What do you mean?
9. Remember everyone is entitled to his or her own opinion, ideas and thoughts.
10. Refrain from interrupting, arguing, criticizing or giving unrequested advice.
11. Relax and have fun.
A Special Thanks to one of our Family Night Partners The Wyoming Department of Workforce Services
NOVEMBER:
Traveling Wyoming? Then TRAVEL LIGHT!
Wyoming is a very large state when it comes to land size – did you know that
Wyoming is 97,813 square miles? We are the 9th largest state in the US, but are
smaller than almost all other states in population? WOW! That means that to get
from one town to another, we “Wyomingites” have to travel long distances!
Ever since Henry Ford turned cars into must-have items, automobiles and
America have been intertwined. But the road from Ford's Model Ts to today's
cars has been bumpy and uneven. Nowadays, we have a wider selection of
vehicles that go much further and faster. But when it comes to fuel-efficiency,
we're pretty much back with the Model Ts. Astoundingly, the Ford Model T’s
28.5 miles per gallon (mpg) beats the mileage of many of today's vehicles.(8)
While Americans use many different modes of transportation the car is the most
common. For the average, car-owning American, driving is in the top two daily
pollution-causing activities. (Electricity use is the other big one). On the bright
side, the vehicle you choose and the way you drive it may presents your family
the greatest opportunities to trim your global impact.(8)
FUN FACTS!
• Did you know that 70-80% of Americans own cars?(10) And the
average American drives his/her car 12,000 to 13,000 miles per year.(10)
• Carpooling with just one other person automatically reduces your car
emissions by half and saves over 525 gallons of gasoline each year!(13)
• Car tires are now being recycled to produce materials used to coat
running tracks!
• The Federal Highway Association estimates that there are over
5,700,000 miles of paved roads in the United States! That’s a lot of drive
time!
• Ten seconds of a car idling uses more fuel that restarting the engine.(13)
• Using your vehicle’s air conditioner during stop-and-go traffic can
increase fuel consumption by as much as 20%.(13)
• Walking and cycling can improve your health. You can burn up to
350 calories per hour! Walking may also help reduce blood pressure,
strengthens bones, save gallons of gasoline and helps you save on
parking fees too!(13)
Going Green Family Activity
As a family, start a “Car Usage Journal” and maintain it for two months.
On an old sheet of junk paper (paper printed on one side, an old bill, or even
an old envelope), make two columns. Column one is “Number of Trips” and
Column two is “Miles We Drove.” Start making a note of each car trip you take
and put a tally mark in column one, then keep track of the number of miles
your family drives. Add up the totals for the first month, then challenge your
family to reduce those numbers in month two. “Changing your car habits is one
of the most dramatic ways to reduce your environmental impact,” says Jodi
Helmer, author of The Green Year: 365 Small Things You Can Do to Make a
Big Difference. Getting a clear picture of exactly how car-dependent you are
can help in finding ways to cut back.
Some things that may help reduce your mileage and the number of trips is
to plan all of your errands on one day, and to consider waiting to pick up one
thing from the store until someone is already headed to town for work or
school. Making two trips into one trip will really help! And it will help save gas
money too!
7 Secrets to Successful Family Dinners
1.Start the pattern of family dinners when children are young
2.Encourage your children to create menu ideas and participate
in meal preparation
3.Turn off the TV and let your answering machine answer calls
during dinnertime
4.Talk about what happened in everyone’s day: school, work,
extracurricular activities or current events
5.Establish a routine to start and end each meal. Light candles
or tell a story
6.After dinner play a board game or
serve dessert to encourage the family
to continue the conversation
7.Keep conversation positive and make
sure everyone gets a chance to speak
www.casafamily.org
A Special Thanks to one of our Family Night PartnersWyoming Kids First
Going GREEN Tips
1.Travel Light - Walk, Bike, Skate, Carpool, take Public Transportation when
possible instead of using a vehicle. You’ll also get the benefit of taking in the
world and all its wonderful sights, sounds and smells that only come from
being in the world.
2.Carpool to activities. Check with your child's daycare or school teacher
to find out if other kids live nearby and plan carpools to school and other
activities.
3.Turn off the car instead of idling when waiting in a carpool lane for the kids
at school. When a car idles for more than 30 seconds, it's actually using
more gas, therefore putting more greenhouse gas pollution into the air then
if it was turned off. (1)
4.Check your vehicle - getting regular service checks, changing the car’s oil
every 3,000 miles and having your tires rotated is a great way to cut down
on pollution!(13)
5.Avoid driving at high speeds; For every mile-per-hour over 55 mph, the
average car or truck loses almost two percent in gas mileage, wasting
billions of gallons of gasoline in the U.S. each year.(13)
6.Rotate tires every 5,000 miles; Tires do not wear evenly on all sides. The
condition of your tires affects your gas mileage. By choosing the proper tire
for the car and maximizing their useful life with good care, you can help
reduce the number of old tires that get thrown away every year.
7.When its time to purchase a new family car, shop for a more fuel efficient
model.
TALK ABOUT IT!
At dinner tonight ask your family...
H
T
ow do you think transportation will differ for Americans in
the future? In 2025? 2050? The year 3000? Flying cars?
hink about where you live. Can you walk to the store from
your home? How about to school? Or work? List a few
places your family can get to without using a vehicle.
DECEMBER:
Reduce Waste - If not you, WHO?
Each year, Americans generate millions of tons of waste in our homes and
communities. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is challenging
all citizens to conserve our natural resources by committing to Reduce,
Reuse, and Recycle at home, in your community, and at the office. (2) When
you avoid making garbage in the first place, you don't have to worry about
disposing of waste or recycling it later.
FUN FACTS!
• The average family produces about 30 pounds of garbage each week! (11)
• Every year around the holidays, families put out more garbage than usual. This extra
garbage comes from big family dinners, parties, and gift giving with lots of packaging
and wrapping. All that holiday waste goes into the landfill. The holidays are a great
time to give a gift back to the planet by being more conscientious about reducing
waste. Read the “Going Green Tips” for ways to reduce waste this holiday season!
• Junk Mail is a huge waste in the US. In 2001, 5.56 million tons (remember that a ton
is equal to 2,000 pounds) of advertising mail was shipped in the US. Of that total,
only 1.23 million tons was recycled, that’s only 22% of the total. How much garbage
was left? Can you do the math? (Take 5.56 million tons and subtract 1.23 million tons
= 4.33 million tons of trashed junk mail in America!) That’s a lot of junk mail! (11)
• Did you know that Americans throw away enough office paper each year to build
a 12-foot high wall stretching from New York to San Francisco – that’s 10,000 or
so sheets per person! You can log onto www.reduce.org to learn more about
becoming a paper-less home office and tips to reduce waste.
Did you know...
Between 1960 and 2007 the amount of waste each person creates has almost doubled from
2.7 to 4.6 pounds per day. The most effective way to stop this trend is by preventing waste in
the first place. Waste prevention, also known as "source reduction," is the practice of designing,
manufacturing, purchasing, or using materials (such as products and packaging) in ways that
reduce the amount or toxicity of trash created. Reusing items is another way to stop waste at the
source because it delays or avoids that item's entry in the waste collection and disposal system.(2)
Source reduction, including reuse, can help reduce waste disposal and handling costs, it can also
conserves resources and reduces pollution, including greenhouse gases that contribute to global
warming. (2) . Changing your habits is the key — think about things you can do to reduce your
waste when you shop, work and play. There's a ton of ways for you to reduce waste, save yourself
some time and money, and be good to the Earth at the same time.
Going Green Family Activity
Have a Low Waste Holiday Party. Whether you are hosting the party or
simply attending, think green! After all, green is a color of the holiday season!
Here are some tips to help you:
• Need to send invitations? Use an online “eVite”…no wasted paper and
they have customizable designs that get emailed to the invitees. Check
them out at www.evite.com or www.sendomatic.com.
• If you know that Aunt Sally lives near the Jones’s, ask the Jones’s if they
would mind giving Aunt Sally a ride. This is perfect for the holidays, it’s
not only helping the environment by carpooling, and it’s also helping
someone in need!
• Ask everyone to bring their packages wrapped in recycled paper. Make
sure to keep a bag to save the bows and ribbons to use and re-use…it’s
just another way to recycle.
• Don’t use paper or plastic plates, bowls, or utensils. Use re-usable
dinnerware.
• For potluck events, encourage friends and family to bring their dish to
share in a take home re-useable containers.
• Have a children’s re-gifting party. Have each child choose a gently used
toy and bring it wrapped to the party. Then play the “White Elephant”
game with it until everyone has a gently used toy that is new to them.
Life is all about the Relationships we have with our friends, in dating and marriage, and with our
families. Take the first step
toward more meaningful relationships by
registering for a class! Visit us on the web at
www.WYOFAMS.org to find classes in your area!
WHMI Strong Families
Strong Wyoming
December’s Going GREEN Tips
1.Re-use old holiday or birthday cards! Turn them into new cards and gift tags by
cutting off the “photo” or “message” side and using them as postcards or cut just
the design out for a cute recycled gift tag.
2.Newspaper can be a chic (and cheap) recyclable holiday gift wrap. What’s more
classic than black and white? Tie it with a bright red or green ribbon for winter
holidays, or use fun colors like pink, lime green, orange or yellow for birthdays!
3.Make your own recycled wrapping paper from a brown paper grocery sack
and a potato stamp. To make a potato stamp, take a large potato, cut it in
half lengthwise. Copy a design on the surface then have an adult carve away
the outside. Simple designs work best (like a tree or snowman). Then dip the
potato into paint and stamp onto the bag. Let the design dry completely before
wrapping. This is a fun family activity too!
4.Borrow a toy or game instead of buying it, you can even do a Game Exchange
with friends. Everyone brings a game (with all of the pieces) and everyone
trades. Everyone goes home with something “new to you.”
5.Use a reusable cloth bag when shopping.
6.Buy gifts with little packaging or shop for “gently used” merchandise at thrift
stores or consignment shops! Just because it isn’t brand new, doesn’t mean it
can’t be “new to you.”
7.Reduce the amount of advertising “junk” mail by logging on to the Direct Mail
Association’s website at www.dmachoice.org/consumerassistance.html It’s
easy to do and you’ll be reaching some of the biggest direct marketers in the
country.
8.Reuse newspaper, boxes, shipping "peanuts," and "bubble wrap" to ship holiday
packages.
TALK ABOUT IT!
Tonight at dinner ask each family
member to come up with at least
2 ways they can reduce waste this
holiday season. Take some time, use
your imagination and find ways for your family to cut down on
waste. We have included some
tips to get you started thinking and talking about a
“Low Waste Holiday”.
JANUARY:
HAZARDOUS WASTE
Hazardous waste is waste that is dangerous or potentially harmful to our
health or the environment. Hazardous wastes can be liquids, solids, gases,
or sludges. They can be discarded commercial products, like cleaning fluids
or pesticides, or the by-products of manufacturing processes.
Business such as metal finishers, gas stations, auto repair shops, dry
cleaners and photo developers produce many toxic waste products. Think
that industry is the only source of hazardous waste, you may be surprised!
There is hazardous household waste as well. For example, does your family
use any of the following items?*
•
•
•
•
•
Automotive Products (such as gasoline, antifreeze and batteries)
Oil-based paints and paint thinners
Pool Chemicals
Pesticides, Herbicides and other garden products
Household Cleaning Products
*There are nontoxic alternatives to many of these products that, when disposed of,
not constitute hazardous waste. Check with local “green consumer” organizations for
alternatives. Go to February to learn how to make your own Non Toxic Cleaners.
FUN FACTS!
• The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has a list of more than 500
specific hazardous wastes.
• Did you know that many hazardous waste products are dangerous in
several ways? They often catch fire easily, are reactive or unstable
enough to explode or release toxic fumes into the environment, and are
often capable of corroding metal containers such as the tanks, drums
and barrels they are often stored in.
• Pouring chemicals down the drain, dumping them on the ground, or
putting them in the trash is dangerous and harmful to the environment.
• Wondering if something is hazardous waste? Check the label for words
like “Caution,” “Warning,” or “Danger”. You can also contact your local
solid waste facility or city department and ask how you should dispose of
certain products.
Going Green Family Activity
Get your family together and clean out the old chemicals and potentially
hazardous waste products in the garage. Then (and most importantly) dispose
of them properly. Call or log onto the Wyoming Department of Environmental
Quality at http://deq.state.wy.us/shwd/ to find out How and Where to
properly dispose of these items.
Anything that is flammable, corrosive, toxic, poisonous, reactive, or explosive
is hazardous and should not be put in your trash. Look for words like
"Caution," "Warning" or "Danger" on the label.
Common hazardous waste items around the house include paints and
solvents, lawn care chemicals, household cleaning products and automotive
products. Products such as batteries, thermometers and fluorescent lights are
also hazardous.
Paints and
Solvents
Solvents Latex paint, oil-based paint, furniture strippers,
paint thinners, etc.
Lawn Care
Chemicals
Fertilizers, pesticides, pool chemicals, herbicides,
insecticides, fungicides, etc
.
Cleaning
Products
Bleach or products containing bleach, ammonia or
ammonia-based products, all-purpose cleaners,
furniture polish, spot removers, scouring powder, oven
cleaner, bathroom cleaners, bug spray, etc.
Automotive
Products
Products Motor oil, oil filters, gasoline, anti-freeze,
lubricants, car batteries, brake fluid, transmission fluid,
car wax, metal polish, etc.
Going GREEN Tips
1.Replace old batteries with rechargeable, make sure you properly
dispose of all batteries.
2.Select nonhazardous or less hazardous alternatives for certain items
(e.g., cleaning products and pesticides)
3.Share products that contain hazardous chemicals instead of throwing
out leftovers, reading label directions carefully, and using the smallest
amount necessary are ways to reduce waste toxicity.
TALK ABOUT IT!
Acid rain is a problem that affects us all—whether
it is damaging your car, defacing historic statues,
harming trees in a once-beautiful mountainous
forest, or destroying the fish population in a lake. The
message to spread, however, is that we can all make a difference and help reduce
the presence of acid rain. Ask each member of the family to try and name at least 1
potentially hazardous material commonly found in home. Can your family identify
a non hazardous alternative? Brainstorm ways your family can reduce Acid rain or
hazardous waste materials in your home.
Finding time for family
Finding time for family can be a challenge, so we want to
encourage you to make dinner time in your home an important
family activity. Here are some simple ideas to get you
started…Gather the family together and make up a weekly
menu… try and include everyone’s favorite. Give everyone a
“dinner time responsibility” like setting the table, preparing or
serving the meal, and clearing or cleaning the dishes. During
your meal, spend time talking about what is happening in each family member’s life.
In this booklet you will find some “Going Green Tips” and Fun Family Activities for
each month of the year. We hope you will use the information (adapt it as needed
to fit your family) to get you family spending more time together.
A Special Thanks to one of our Family Night Partners
The Wyoming Department of Education
FEBRUARY:
Do It Yourself (Non-Toxic) Cleaners
The least-toxic cleaners you can find are the ones you make yourself.
They're effective too: According to a study at Virginia Tech, spraying
hydrogen peroxide and vinegar right after one another is just as
effective at killing germs as chlorine bleach.
FUN FACTS!
Did you know that (ounce for ounce) homemade
cleaning formulas cost about one-tenth the
price of their commercial counterpart—and that
includes costly, but worthwhile essential oils, and
concentrated, all-purpose detergents for homemade
recipes? That’s what we call, “Saving the Green!”
Going Green Family Activity
Help your family make their own household cleaning products!
On a Saturday morning (or whatever day your family cleans the house) get the family
together and announce you’re going to clean GREEN! Let your kids help in selecting
the cleaning products they want to make and use! Check to make sure you have
the household items needed to make the selected cleaning recipes. Supervise the
preparation process. CAUTION: KEEP ALL CLEANING PRODUCTS OUT OF THE
REACH OF SMALL CHILDREN. Here are a few easy cleaner recipes to kick-start
your Saturday chores.(12)
WHOLE HOUSE
All-Purpose Cleaner
1/2 cup borax
1 gallon hot water
Mix in pail (or use smaller amounts in a spray bottle: 1/8 cup borax to 1 quart of hot water) dissolving the borax completely; wipe clean with rag.
FLOORS
Wood
1/4 cup white vinegar
1 gallon warm water
Mix in mop bucket, rinse afterwards.
Linoleum
1 cup white vinegar
2 gallons warm water
Mix in mop bucket, rinse afterwards.
SAVING THE
FURNITURE POLISH
1/2 cup white vinegar
1 teaspoon olive oil
Mix and apply with a clean rag to dust and polish. Reduce the olive oil if wood looks too oily.
GREEN!
TOILET BOWL CLEANER
Baking soda
White vinegar
To clean and deodorize, sprinkle toilet bowl with baking soda, add white vinegar and scrub with a toilet brush.
TUB AND TILE CLEANER
1/2 lemon
Borax
Dip the face of the lemon half in borax to create a hand-held scrubber for dirty areas. Rinse and dry the surface afterwards.
GLASS CLEANER
1/4 cup vinegar or 1 Tbsp lemon juice
2+ cups water
Fill a clean spray bottle with water and either white vinegar or lemon juice; wipe with a rag or old newspaper.
STOVETOP AND OVEN GREASE REMOVER
1/2 tsp washing soda
1/4 tsp liquid soap
2 cups hot water
Add washing soda and soap to hot water in spray bottle. Since washing soda is caustic, wear gloves.
CAUTION: KEEP ALL CLEANING PRODUCTS OUT OF THE
REACH OF SMALL CHILDREN!
February’s Going GREEN Tips
The EIGHT ESSENTIALS Cleaning Ingredients!
These eight items make up the basic ingredients for nearly every
do-it-yourself cleaning recipe:
Baking soda: provides grit for scrubbing and reacts with water,
vinegar or lemon by fizzing, which speeds up cleaning times
Borax: disinfects, bleaches and deodorizes; very handy in laundry
mixes
Distilled white vinegar: disinfects and breaks up dirt; choose
white vinegar over apple cider or red vinegars, as these might stain
surfaces
Hydrogen Peroxide: disinfects and bleaches
Lemons: cut grease; bottled lemon juice also works well, although
you might need to use bit more to get the same results
Olive oil: picks up dirt and polishes wood; cheaper grades work
well
Vegetable based (liquid castile) soap: non-petroleum all-purpose
cleaners
Washing soda: stain remover, general cleaner, helps unblock
pipes; should be handled with gloves due to its caustic nature.
Washing soda is usually found in the laundry aisle of grocery and
drug stores.(12)
Don't forget to pick up an empty spray bottle at the hardware store, and
keep those old rags and used toothbrushes for wiping up and scrubbing.
TALK ABOUT IT!
T
onight at dinner ask family members
what they thought of the natural cleaners
they used. Did they work as well as
traditional store bought cleansers? Do they
think using natural (home made products)
will help the environment? How? Why?
MARCH:
Know Your Carbon Footprint
Inevitably, in going about our daily lives — commuting, sheltering
our families, eating — each of us contributes to the greenhouse
gas emissions that are causing climate change. Yet, there are many
things each of us, as individuals, and families can do to reduce our
carbon emissions. The choices we make in our homes, our travel,
the food we eat, and what we buy and throw away all influence our
carbon footprint and can help ensure a stable climate for future
generations.
FUN FACTS!
Question: What is a Carbon “Footprint? ”
Answer: A carbon footprint is a measure of the impact our activities have on
the environment, and in particular climate change. It relates to the amount of
greenhouse gases produced in our day-to-day lives through burning fossil fuels for
electricity, heating and transportation etc. The carbon footprint is a measurement
of all greenhouse gases we individually produce and has units of tonnes (or kg) of
carbon dioxide equivalent.
To learn more visit http://www.carbonfootprint.com/athome.html
Going Green Family Activity
Calculate your family’s Carbon Footprint online using the carbon footprint
calculator provided at both sites below:
• Carbon Footprint
http://www.carbonfootprint.com/calculator.aspx
• The Nature Concervancy
http://www.nature.org/initiatives/climatechange/calculator/
No internet at home? Make it a family trip and visit your local library to log on, most
have free use of computers and internet.
March’s Going GREEN Tips
Reduce your family’s carbon footprint around the home (3)
Reducing energy usage in your home! Within your home try to:
1.Reduce the use of electrical appliances
2.When replacing appliances, try to buy appliances which use less
power and have a good energy rating
3.Turn things off when not in use
4.Replace standard light bulbs with their low energy equivalents
For more tips visit http://www.carbonfootprint.com/athome.html
TALK ABOUT IT!
At dinner tonight ask family members what they
think a carbon foot print is? Ask how your family
might contribute or help reduce their carbon foot
print.
Ten Benefits of Frequent Family Dinners
The more often children and teens eat dinner with their families, the less likely
they are to smoke, drink, and use drugs. Children and teens that have frequent
family dinners:
1. Are at half the risk from substance abuse compared to teens who dine
with their families infrequently
2. Are less likely to have friends or classmates who use illicit drugs or abuse
prescription drugs
3. Have lower levels of tension or stress at home
4. Are more likely to say their parents are proud of them
5. Are more likely to say they can confide in their parents
6. Are more likely to get better grades in school
7. Are more likely to be emotionally content and have positive peer
relationships
8. Have healthier eating habits
9. Are at lower risk for thoughts of suicide
10.Are less likely to try marijuana or have friends who use marijuana
Information provided by The National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse at
Columbia University.
A Special Thanks to one of our Family Night Partners
The Wyoming Department of Health
APRIL:
RECYCLE
We've all heard of the three R's: reduce, reuse and recycle. They are very
important especially to us in the United States as we lead the world in
generating garbage. The USA is currently generating an average of 4.5
pounds of waste per person day(13). One thing we can do to reduce the
amount of garbage that needs to be disposed of is recycling.
Recycling is the process of collecting, processing, remanufacturing, and
reusing materials instead of discarding them. This helps conserve raw
materials and reduces the amount of material going into landfills. Recycling
has many environmental benefits as well, including energy savings,
conservation of natural resources, financial savings, and pollution reduction.
FUN FACTS!
• Did you realize that recycling just one aluminum can saves the energy it
takes to run a TV for 3 hours? Or burn a 100-watt bulb for four hours?(13)
• It only takes 14 PET (Polyethylene Terephthalates) plastic bottles to
create enough fiber fill (the stuff that keeps you warm) for a ski jacket!(13)
• Before you toss a glass bottle into the garbage, consider this: The energy
savings from recycling just one bottle will power a computer for 25
minutes!(4)
• Recycling helps our planet’s mineral supply too! Aluminum, for example, is
a mineral and it is expensive to mine aluminum ore. That’s why recycling
is so important. Aluminum can be used again and again.
• On average, American’s drink one beverage from aluminum cans every
day, but we only recycle about 50% of those cans.(13)
• During World War II, Americans saved aluminum foil and even peeled off
the silver wrapping from chewing gum wrappers to contribute to the war
effort. Today we can recycle foil and cans to conserve energy and protect
the environment – two other patriotic causes!(13)
• An aluminum can is able to be returned to the shelf, as a new can, as
quickly as 60 days after it’s put into a recycling container! That’s fast
recycling!(13)
Going Green Family Activity
Create a Family Recycling Center!
Start by tracking your household garbage for a week (what’s in there?) Then
follow these Simple Steps to creating a successful recycling program in your
home! Tips provided by www.thegreenguide.com.(11)
1.Call your local recycling center or City Solid Waste Department to
determine what types of materials they accept, where you can drop off
the recycling materials and if they provide recycling bins. Most cities
have public and private recycling center, look in your phone book or
call city hall to see what’s recyclable in your town.
2.Purchase or make the number of recycling bins to match the number
of different types of materials you will recycle (i.e, one bin for cans, one
bin for plastics, one bin for glass).
• Old cardboard boxes or laundry baskets make great “low cost”
recycling containers
3.Place the recycling bins in an accessible area called the 'family
recycling center.'
4.Place an extra bin in the kitchen with a sign on it saying 'Place All
Recyclable Materials Here.'
5.Assign one member in the family the daily recycling chore. (Make sure
you rotate the responsibility!)
6.If you have curbside pick-up, remember to put the bins out on the
assigned day or If you must take your recyclables to the recycling
center, choose a regular day each week.
7.Once a day (or more if needed), rinse and crush the items in the
'kitchen' recycling bin.
8.Take the rinsed and crushed items to the family recycling center.
9.Sort the items and place them in the appropriate bins. Label recycling
bins to ensure materials are separated correctly.
WHMI Strong Families
Strong Wyoming
Want to learn more about
WHMI Strong Families Strong Wyoming?
Visit us on the web at www.WYOFAMS.org
Going GREEN Tips
• Visit your local recycling center and find out
what materials they accept for recycling.
Then set up your bins accordingly. To find the
recycling center nearest you, call:
1-800-CLEANUP
• Put storage bins in place - The key to a successful home recycling
program is the storage bin setup. Once you learn which materials your
local recycling center accepts set up a corresponding storage bin system.
The garage is a good place to locate the bins; if using an open car port
the lids will need to be covered to secure the contents from pests and
wind. Once your system is set up, recycling is easy!
• In addition to recycling Start a compost pile in your garden so that
you can recycle all your organic household waste. This can include
newspaper and lawn clippings. Eventually you'll have rich compost to add
to your garden.
• Join the Freecycle™ movement - the idea is simple: you give away for
free what you have and don’t need and you receive for free what you
need, but don’t have. This ‘free cycle’ of goods keeps lots of useful stuff
out of landfill sites Freecycle is about thinking globally and recycling
locally.
TALK ABOUT IT!
T
onight at dinner, talk about things your
family can begin to recycle. Can you start
a stack of newspapers, printed flyers and
magazines? How about saving milk jugs and plastic water bottles for
recycling? Or how about saving aluminum cans? Where can your family
house these items until it’s time to drop them off?
REDUCE
REUSE
RECYCLE
MAY:
Natural Resources & Wild Places
Wyoming is considered one of the last “Wild Places”…this is because we have
some wonderful natural resources: stunning views and vistas, amazing wildlife,
National Parks, lakes, rivers, streams, mountains, trees, and many other wild and
wonderful places. If we want Wyoming to remain beautiful, we have to do our
part!
FUN FACTS!
Did you know that ¾ of the earth’s surface is covered with water
(oceans)? And of the remaining ¼ of the surface area, only half of that
(1/8th of the total) is useable land? With the ever growing population and
associated resource development including logging, mining, and oil and
gas drilling; protecting these global treasures is a difficult challenge. The
world’s wildest places, the last refuges for nature, are under constant
pressure. Let’s all do more to Keep Wyoming Wild!
Characteristics of Strong Families
1.Strong families spend time together.
2.Strong families encourage one another.
3.Strong families talk and listen to each other.
4.Strong families handle stress and disagreements with
grace.
5.Strong families work together and promote
responsibility.
6.Strong families play and have fun together.
Thank you to Dave and Claudia Arp, authors of bestselling “10 Great Dates”.
A Special Thanks to our newest Family Night Partner
The Wyoming Department of Environmental Quality
Funding for this project was made available from the Wyoming Department of Environmental Quality,
Pollution Prevention Program through a grant from the U.S. EPA.
Going Green Family Activity
Create your own wild spaces and expand your family’s green
areas! Plant a family garden!
When it comes to making a family garden, half the fun is in the designing. Here's where your
backyard reflects your family's own style, your garden's conditions, and your region's climate.
There are plenty of resources to advise you on the last two, but you're the expert when it
comes to creating a garden that matches your family's personalities. Brainstorm together. Try to use some part of everyone's ideas. The best words of advice for
a first garden are to start small (and add on or up). One easy design is to divide one-footsquares with paths, adding as many as you'd like in whatever pattern suits your spot. The
paths can be made of stones, bark mulch, newspaper covered with straw, or even boards.
Kids plant something different in each square. The design is tidy and manageable. Circular
gardens are fun, too. Slice them, pie-fashion, with the paths.
Choose the plants last. But before you do, here are some practical landscape considerations
by kidsgardening.com to think about as you fill that bit of earth:
• As you choose your location, think inside out. Place the garden/play
area where you can see it from your kitchen window or other rooms
you spend a lot of time in.
• Look up and down. Before you dig, be aware of any power lines, pipes,
septic systems, or other existing limitations.
• Create your space. A fence or wall adds privacy and sets boundaries
for kids and gear.
• Choose your materials wisely. They should resist rust, rot, and
roughhousing. Surfaces should be comfortable and safe for bare feet
but not too slippery when wet.
• Give yourself room. Make paths that are at least 2 feet wide.
• Create a garden place for family gatherings. No space? At least make
room for kids' outdoor lunches. You don't have to build a deck; a simple
fire pit for roasting marshmallows in a country yard or a canopy in a
corner of an urban lot will do.
Enlist kids to help in the garden at every stage and give them their own plants to nurture.
Consider starting with sunflowers, carrots and pole beans. Check out www.kidsgardening.
com for more ideas. And contact WHMI (we will send you your first packet of seeds! FREE!)
1-866-WYO-FAMS or www.wyofams.org .
May’s Going GREEN Tips
1.As the weather heats up, remember to conserve water outside your
home as well as inside! Raising the level on your mower ½“ and planting
native trees, shrubs and flowers will all help lower the amount of water
needed to keep them alive and blooming. Now that’s what we call Green
for the Green!
2.Have your kids use a push mower instead of a gas mower and leave the
grass cuttings on the lawn as natural fertilizer.
3.Be a smart landscaper, select trees and shrubs native to your
environment. Because they are native to the area, they are used to the
water, soil and sun levels of the area and take less effort (and water) to
maintain.
TALK ABOUT IT!
Tonight at dinner consider this opinion about wild
places…
The idea of untouched wilderness is at the core of the
American experience—offering opportunity for recreation and reflection, sanctuary
to wildlife and protected landscapes and a legacy for future generations. Yet, only
2.5 percent of our federal public land outside of Alaska is permanently protected as
wilderness—free of roads and industrial development and forever available for hiking,
hunting, fishing and a wide range of other recreational pursuits.(7) What do your family
members think about these statements? Do they think wild areas are important?
Should we set aside more or less land for this purpose? What will it mean to you,
your family, local business, state/national government? Remember there is no right or
wrong answers each family member is entitled to their opinion.
Did you know...
We have a Lending Library?
WHMI Strong Families
Strong Wyoming
If you are looking for a Book, DVD or Audio CD on Marriage,Family, Parenting, Conflict Resolution,
Communication, Stepfamily Living, & Many Other Topics...GET THEM HERE! FREE! It’s Easy!
Log onto www.WYOFAMS.org or call us at 1-866-WYO-FAMS to review the list of more than
250 Books, DVD’s and Audio CD’s available for you to borrow, at no cost to you!
The list gives a brief description of each resource.
• Select up to 2 resources and submit your request online to [email protected] or by phone!
• Watch the mail for your resource! It will arrive in about 2-3 weeks.
• Because we know how busy you are, we’ll also send you a postage paid envelope
to return the borrowed resource. . . just seal it up, drop it in the mail and it’s done!
JUNE:
SHOP GREEN!
If you truly want to live ‘green’ you have to think green! How? When you
make a purchase, think of the ordinary as well as the unusual eco-friendly
products created from recycled materials.
FUN FACTS!
• Buy Recycled? If every
household in the U.S. replaced
just one roll of virgin fiber paper
towels (70 sheets) with 100% recycled
ones, we could save 544,000 trees.(1)
• Paper or plastic? How about neither.
Each year the United States uses
30 billion plastic and 10 billion paper
grocery bags, requiring approximately
14 million trees and 12 million barrels
of oil1. Cities across the country have
begun efforts to ban plastic bags in
stores, but everyone can do their part
for the environment by keeping a
reusable bag handy for shopping trips.
(1)
• In North America, fruits and
vegetables travel an average of 1,500
miles before reaching your dinner
table.(1)
How can you shop “Greener”?
Focus on two main
categories:
1) products that help you
live lighter on the earth or
2) products made out of recycled or
sustainable materials.
Did you know that there are
companies and artists that make flip
flops out of old recycled tires? Or
jewelry out of 100% post-consumer
recycled skateboards (aka old, used
or broken skateboards)? Or swimming
suits fashioned out of fabric that’s made
from recycled plastic soda bottles?
Shopping with the planet in mind can
make a big difference. The choices you
make now can have direct effect on the
quality of life we leave for our children’s
children.
WHMI Strong Families Strong Wyoming Believes
You Can be a Family Night Star
PARENTS: Did you know that when teens were asked who had the most influence in
their lives about big decisions, such as whether to drink alcohol or try drugs, teens listed
“Parents” as their number one influence? You have the power to help keep your kids
substance free! Become a Family Night STAR by committing to:
Spend time with my kids by having dinner together;
Talk to them about their friends, interests and the dangers of drugs
and alcohol;
Answer their questions and listen to what they say;
Recognize that I have the power to help keep my kids substance free!
For more information visit: www.casafamily.org
Going Green Family Activity
Fix dinner tonight using only locally grown or organic ingredients!
Visit Your Local Farmer’s Market! Call your local Chamber of Commerce to ask
when and where the closest farmers market is located. Don’t have a Farmer’s Market?
Then go visit a local farm (many will sell their goods by placing a road side sign up in
early spring!). Eat local!
Consider organic! A bit like the carbon offsets of agriculture, organic farming not
only consumes 37 percent less energy than conventional farming, but in one year,
an acre of organic crop soil will pull up to 7,000 pounds of CO2 from the atmosphere,
according to the Rodale Institute. That's more than half of the average vehicle's total
emissions over the course of a year. So while the premiums we often pay for organic
food can feel extravagant, the benefits can be priceless.
Going GREEN Tips
Here are 10 Tips for Greener Shopping from
www.shopping green/msn.com:
1. Buy in Bulk — Size matters. When you buy the largest quantity of a product
you can use, you help reduce the waste in packaging. About one third of America’s
trash is just the packages all our stuff came in and about 10 cents of every dollar
we spend goes to pay for the packaging we throw away.
2. Buy recycled products — If there were no market for recycled products, there
would be no incentive to recycle. Buying products made from recycled materials
closes the loop. You now have the option to buy many household paper items
“recycled! Try paper towels, computer printer paper and more with recycled fibers!
Try and choose products with the highest percentage of "post-consumer" recycled
content.
3. Avoid single-use products — Disposable razors and cameras, plastic cups and
plates — all head directly to the landfill after only one or two uses. Buy products
that last.
4. Use rechargeable batteries — Conventional batteries contain cadmium and
mercury and should be treated as hazardous waste. Rechargeable batteries last
longer, cost less to use and help keep toxins out of the waste stream.
5. Buy used or re-furbished products — Used books save trees and re-furbished
electronics save you money. When you shop online auctions or buy used products,
you’re doing your part to help minimize waste by maximizing use.
6. Buy low-flow showerheads — Using aerators in your faucets and installing
low-flow showerheads can cut your family’s water bills by 50% while helping to
conserve our water supply.
7. Buy energy-efficient appliances — When it’s time to replace a washer, dryer,
refrigerator or any other household appliance, always look for the Energy Star label.
It ensures that the product has met energy efficiency standards set by the EPA
and Dept. of Energy. You’ll not only help reduce carbon emissions, but you’ll enjoy
immediate savings on your power bill.
8. Buy compact fluorescent bulbs — This is one of the easiest things you can
do to save energy and money. Compact flourescent bulbs last ten times longer
than the incandescent variety. Replacing three incandescent bulbs with compact
fluorescents saves $60 and 300 pounds of CO2 a year.
9. Try organic and non-toxic alternatives to household chemicals and
pesticides — According to the EPA, the average American home is 2-5 times
more contaminated than the area just outside of it, mostly due to the presence and
residues of household cleaners and pesticides. Americans currently use 80-million
pounds of pesticides a year, most of which drains into streams or seeps into the
water table.
10. Buy tires with a long lifespan or buy retreads — There are over 3-billion
discarded tires in the U.S. with over 200-million more added each year. They pollute
landfills, present a fire hazard and waste oil. When you shop for tires, look for the
longest-wearing types you can find and keep them properly inflated to reduce wear
and save gas. Retreading saves about 400-million gallons of oil each year.
TALK ABOUT IT!
onight at dinner, talk about what you’re
T
eating (This month’s FAMILY ACTIVITY
see above… organic or grown local)…
• Was it a challenge to find locally grown or organic
products?
• Did they taste better?
• How are they difference from what you typically buy
and use?
• What can you do as a family to help local farmers?
JULY:
Climate Change
The Earth's climate has changed many times during the planet's history, with
events ranging from ice ages to long periods of warmth. Natural factors such
as volcanic eruptions, changes in the Earth's orbit, and varying energy from
the Sun have affected the Earth's climate. Beginning late in the 18th century,
human activities associated with the Industrial Revolution have also changed
the composition of the atmosphere and therefore very likely are influencing the
Earth's climate.(2)
FUN FACTS!
Question: What is the greenhouse effect?
Answer: The Earth’s greenhouse effect is a natural occurrence that helps
regulate the temperature of our planet. When the Sun heats the Earth, some
of this heat escapes back to space. The rest of the heat, also known as
infrared radiation, is trapped in the atmosphere by clouds and greenhouse
gases, such as water vapor and carbon dioxide. If all of these greenhouse
gases were to suddenly disappear, our planet would be 60°F colder and
would not support life as we know it. Human activities have enhanced the
natural greenhouse effect by adding greenhouse gases. Want to learn more?
Go to: http://www.epa.gov/climatechange/downloads/Climate_Basics.pdf
Going Green Family Activity
Climate Change, What Can your Family Do? Gather your family and take
the Quiz! Climate change is one of the biggest challenges facing our world
today. How much do you know about climate change? Take The Nature
Conservancy Climate Change Quiz on the next page and find out.
1. Climate change exacerbates which of the following natural phenomenon?
a. coral bleaching
b. hurricanes
c. drought
d. all of the above
2. What approximate percentage of carbon emissions is caused by cutting down forests?
a. 10 - 15 percent
b. 15 - 20 percent
c. 20 - 25 percent
d. 25 - 30 percent
3. Americans make up a little less than 5 percent of the world population. Annual carbon
emissions in the U.S. represent what percentage of the world total?
a. 5 percent
b. 15 percent
c. 22 percent
d. 33 percent
4. What percentage of U.S. carbon emissions is generated by individuals driving cars and
trucks?
a. 5 percent
b. 10 percent
c. 20 percent
d. 33 percent
5. Which uses the most electricity in the average U.S. home?
a. Water heater
b. Refrigerator
c. Heating and air conditioning
d. Lights
6. The death of the last of which animal marked the first documented species extinction driven
by climate change?
a. Golden toad
b. Polar Bear
c. Dodo
d. Stellar’s Sea Cow
7. Average global temperatures have risen by approximately how much over the 20th century?
a. 0.5 degrees Fahrenheit
b. 1 degree Fahrenheit
c. 1.5 degree Fahrenheit
d. 2 degrees Fahrenheit
8. Climate change is projected to increase the spread of which of the following diseases?
a. Lyme Disease
b. Malaria
c. West Nile
d. All of the above
Answers: d, c, c, c, c, a, b, d.
For more information see The Nature Conservancy website at http://www.nature.org/initiatives/
climatechange/activities/
July’s Going GREEN Tips
So what can your family do?
Making a few small changes in your home and yard can lead to big reductions of
greenhouse gas emissions and save money. Explore the EPA’s list of simple steps
you can take around the house and yard to reduce greenhouse gas emissions:
1- Change 5 lights: Change a light, and you help change the world. Replace the conventional bulbs in your 5 most frequently used light fixtures with bulbs that
have the ENERGY STAR and you will help the environment while saving money
on energy bills. If every household in the U.S. took this one simple action we would
prevent greenhouse gases equivalent to the emissions from nearly 10 million cars.
2- Look for Energy Star qualified appliances/products: When buying new
products, such as appliances for your home, get the features and performance you
want AND help reduce greenhouse gas emissions and air pollution.
3- Heat and cool smartly: Simple steps like cleaning air filters regularly and
having your heating and cooling equipment tuned annually by a licensed contractor
can save energy and increase comfort at home, and at the same time reduce
greenhouse gas emissions. When it's time to replace your old equipment, choose a
high efficiency model, and make sure it is properly sized and installed.
4- Seal and insulate your home: Sealing air leaks and adding more insulation to
your home is a great do-it-yourself project.
5- Use green power: Green power is environmentally friendly electricity that is
generated from renewable energy sources such as wind and the sun. There are two
ways to use green power: you can buy green power or you can modify your house
to generate your own green power.
6- Spread the Word: Tell family and friends that energy efficiency is good for their
homes and good for the environment because it lowers greenhouse gas emissions
and air pollution. Tell 5 people and together we can help our homes help us all.(2)
For more information on these and other great ideas, visit the EPA website at http://www.epa.gov.
TALK ABOUT IT!
sing the green tips ask you family to
U
consider what might work for you? How
might you make the changes? What won’t work
and why?
AUGUST:
Back to School!
It’s time to head back to school! After spending a year’s worth of family night’s
learning and discussing ways your family can Go Green, we’re sure you’re ready
to head back to school and share what you’ve learned and make some new
changes in your school.
Think you can’t change things in your school? Well, you have more power than
you might think! Just remember the 3 R’s:
Reduce means to use less of everything: less energy, less paper, less gas,
and less water. It means to ride a bike, use the back side of paper, and to
turn off the water when you are brushing your teeth.
Reuse means to find new uses for your old products. Turn a pair of jeans
into a cool purse, or use broken flower pots and create mosaic for a table or
photo frame. Use newspapers to make paper mache art for a friend.
Recycle means to take your used products like cans, bottles, plastics, and
paper and donate them to groups that turn them into new products. Start
recycling in your classroom!
10 Roles Parents Can Play in Preventing
Problems with Drugs,Sexuality, and Violence
The US Office of Substance Abuse Prevention (OSAP) suggests
these 10 roles that parents can play in the prevention of drug use:
1. Parents as role models.
Be a positive role model. Children learn
best by example.
2. Parents as educators and information
resources.
Be informed about drugs, sexuality, and
violence and talk with your child.
3. Parents as policy makers and rule setters.
Make sures and enforce them. For example,
“No use of illegal drugs by anyone in the
family, and no use of alcohol or nicotine by
anyone under the legal age.”
4. Parents as stimulators.
Encourage your child to take part in hobbies,
school activities, and sorts. Get involved;
plan fun family activities.
5. Parents as consultants and educators on
peer pressure.
“Just say no” is easier said than done. Teach
your child to resist peer pressure without
feeling foolish.
6. Parents as monitors and supervisors.
Set and enforce curfews; know where your
children are.
7. Parents as collaborators with other parents.
Join with other parents to gain support and
new ideas. There’s strength in numbers.
8. Parents as identifiers and conforters.
Know how to identify drug use and other
problems and confront your child when
necessary.
9. Parents as managers of children’s health.
Don’t delay--seek medical help if you suspect
your child is engaged in unhealthy behavior.
Trust your instincts!
10.Parents as managers of their own feelings.
Don’t blow up; don’t give up. You’re not guilty.
Going Green Family Activity
• Make your own Notebook: Make notebooks out of cereal box covers and fill
with three-hole punched recycled paper. It's simple: Have your kids save their
favorite cereal boxes and cut out the front cover a little larger than 8 1/2 x 11.
Collect 50 sheets of paper already printed on one side; flip the stack over and
punch holes in the entire stack. Slip metal rings or string through the holes to
hold it all together.
• Make your own Recycled Magazine Pocket: With a box standing upright,
make a pencil mark on the edge of the box, five inches (12.7 centimeters) from
the bottom. Draw a diagonal line to the opposite top corner of the box. Draw a
matching line on the opposite side of the box. Cut along the lines and remove
the top of the box. Wrap the box in wrapping paper or comics. Glue or tape in
place. Your magazines finally have a home.
• For fun science activities, go to www.kids.nationalgeographic.com.
TALK ABOUT IT!
T
onight at dinner, talk about ways your family
can be more green when shopping for school
supplies. Recycled wood pencils? !00% postconsumer recycled paper or notebooks? Can you re-use last year’s back
pack? Talk about ways you can encourage those around you to be “Green,”
this includes work, school, at community events, and at home. Come up with
two strategies for each situation to begin using as a family!
FUN FACTS!
• School’s estimate that they generated half a pound of food
waste per person every day!
• Visit Classroom Activity: Back to School Quiz - online at
www.thegreenguide.com/kids/school-age/school-quiz
Going GREEN “Back to School” Tips
1. Pack a lunch that leaves no waste behind:
a. Use a lunch box or reusable lunch bag.
b. Pack your sandwich or salad in a reusable container.
c. Pour your drink into a reusable thermos. Buying beverages in larger containers
saves money, too!
d. Avoid pre-assembled lunch kits with excess packaging you just throw away.
e. Bring your own reusable utensils and a cloth napkin that can be washed and used again.
f. Try to pack only as much food as you will really eat.
2. If you buy lunch in the school cafeteria:
a. Take only what you need so you don’t end up throwing away food or extra condiments.
b. Encourage your friends to reduce lunchroom waste as well.
c. Don’t forget to recycle.
3. Reduce Paper waste in the Classroom:
a. Create a paper reuse center in your classroom. Ask everyone to put paper that has only been used on one side into a container. Reuse this paper for calculations or drafts, or use it to make pads for taking notes.
b. Encourage other classes and the school office to start paper reuse centers, too.
c. Ask your teachers if you can hand in homework on the back of used paper, such as notices from school or old letterhead.
d. If you work on a computer, spell check your work on the screen before printing it out, and print double-sided.
e. Find out from your teacher if you can e-mail your homework.
f. Talk to your teacher and office staff about making double-sided copies for handouts.
g. Don’t forget to recycle used paper and paper products, like cardboard boxes.
4. Schedule an exchange or rummage sale:
a. Wouldn’t you like an opportunity to trade books, CDs, videos, or computer games with your fellow students? Why not schedule an exchange or second-
hand swap so that the things you’ve outgrown or no longer want — like sporting goods, books, or clothes — can be used by someone else?
b. Maybe you can get your school’s Parent Teacher Association or science club to help coordinate the event.
c. By reusing these items, you’ll reduce waste and increase fun. If your event produces a profit, you can use the money for a school trip a special environmental project.
d. Unwanted second-hand items in good condition can also be donated to organizations such as the Salvation Army or Goodwill Industries. Visit NYC Stuff Exchange to find where to donate stuff in your neighborhood.
The above information is from www.thinkgreen.com
Family meals are the perfect time
to talk to your kids
Family meals are the perfect time to talk to
your kids and to listen to what is on their minds.
More than a decade worth of research by The
National Center on Addiction and Substance
Abuse (CASA) at Columbia University
consistently found that the more often kids eat dinner with their families, the
less likely they are to smoke, drink or use drugs.
So get started with Family Nights that promote fun and togetherness! Here
are some tips to remember…
• Plan appropriately. Know your family’s schedules, likes and dislikes, and
plan (or modify) activities so that everyone can participate and enjoy them.
• The activities in this booklet are designed for a family with a 4th grade
student (but you can adapt any of them to fit a family with children of
any age!)
• Each month the booklet provides you with Fun Fact(s),
Going Green Tips and a Fun Family Activity too.
• We also try and provide you with tips along the way on good family
communication and ways to focus on your family relationships.
• Remember to let everyone talk and share. It’s important that even the
youngest family members get to express their views and opinions!
• Relax. Everything doesn’t have to work out just right. Give yourself and
your children permission to be less than perfect. Just clean up the messes
and move on!
• Remember why you are doing this. The purpose of family nights is to build
deeper relationships and strengthen your family. Be sure to include time
for talking and joking. And it’s ok to be silly.
• Be aggressive in scheduling family nights. They won’t “just happen” if you
don’t make them a priority,.
Visit WHMI on the web for more tips on family time, parenting skills, classes to
enrich your marriage, teen dating classes, relationship skills and many other
useful topics! www.WYOFAMS.org
Thank You to our sponsor
Wyoming Department of Family Services