WHMI Strong Families Strong Wyoming
Transcription
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