Things To Do for Kids and Family

Ami Voeltz

Do It Green! Minnesota

Here are some family and kid’s activities that you may not know about. It is a random list of organizations, groups and clubs that have a focus on the environment, community and the arts. There’s a whole lot more out there, so get out and explore this beautiful world with your children.

FAMILY ACTIVITIES:

Anne Sullivan Communications Center Family Life Seminars (612-729-7397)
Minnesota Children’s Museum – Free events: stories, workshops (651-225-6000)
Walker Art Center – Free First Saturday: art-making, films (612-375-7622)

Also check public libraries, community centers, public schools and parks and recreation for fun family activities. See: RECREATION: Forests & Parks

KID’S ACTIVITES:

Bluer: The Vineyard Church (612.423.1476), www.bluer.org
Common Ground – At-risk youth gardening (612-525-1983)
Express Bike Shop – Bike repair training program for youth (651-644-9660)
Lake Country Land School – farming with kids (715-265-4608 or farmcrew@win.bright.net)
MCBA (Minnesota Center for Book Arts) – field trips, workshops, camp (612-215-2533)
New Moon Magazine – For girls (www.newmoon.org or 800-381-4743)
Old Arizona – For girls: workshops, dance, magazine ‘Chicas In the Mix’ (612-871-9099 or info@oldarizona.com)
Read Team – Mpls Public Library, read to younger children, puppet shows (612-630-6491)
Roots & Shoots – Jane Goodall Institute: youth summits, discussions, community service (800-592-5263 or (lardie@janegoodall.org)
Streetworks – assist young homeless people (612-252-2735)
The Workshop – mixing art, science and technology (612-824-4394)
Teen Activist Network (612-871-7110)
Teen Zine – Mpls Public Library, edit, write, draw (612-630-6491)
Young Artists’ Cabaret – Intermedia Arts: Breakers, DJ’s, spoken word, dance (612-871-4444 ext.305)
Young Audiences of Minnesota – workshops, exhibitions, performances (651-292-3399)
Youth Farm & Market Project – At-risk youth gardening, selling, cooking (612-872-4226)

Saving Money & Reducing Trash at School

From www.reduce.org

There are lots of ways to reduce waste at school. By thinking ahead and being creative, you can reduce your impact on the environment.

* Pack a no-waste lunch: buy foods that can be put in reusable containers to carry to school.

* Ask your school cafeteria to use items such as reusable trays, napkins and silverware.

* Take small portions of food in the lunch line, you can always go back for more.

* When buying school supplies look for durable, long-lasting supplies and reuse them.

* Use less paper. Even though paper is recyclable, it is still a significant part of what we throw in the trash. Create a bin at home and in your classroom for paper that is only used on one side, to reuse.

* Buy notebooks and paper that contain recycled paper.

* Conduct a junk mail campaign. Help your school office collect unsolicited mail and contact the companies to get off their lists.

* Organize a school-wide rummage sale. This is a great way to pass along items you no longer need and maybe even trade clothes or toys with your friends.

* Get informed and become more aware. Join an environmental group or talk to your teacher about starting one up.

Nobody Particular: One Woman’s Fight to Save the Bays, Molly Bang, 2000 (Children’s picture book ages 8-adult)

United Way First Call For Help – Kidstuff Publication
651-291-0211
Website

Mighty Mississippi Passport book – Outdoor activities for the family
612-676-9444
Website

Kids and Family

Green Tips

Host an Art Night

Looking for a new way to connect with your neighbors, get free life advice, and spark your creative juices? Consider hosting an art night at your house, complete with paints, modeling clay, colored pencils and art smocks. Get messy, be creative, and let the conversation flow. For inspiration and resources, check out this article.

Choose Safe Art Supplies

Arts and crafts materials can be hazardous to your health and the environment. Even though the Labeling of Hazardous Art Materials Act of 1988 requires stringent labeling of hazardous materials in art supplies, many materials are out of compliance. This article offers tips to help you choose safe art supplies, plus substitutes to harmful substances.

Support a Local Business

Did you know that roughly 73 cents of every dollar spent at a local business stays within the community, compared to 43 cents for non-local chain stores? When you buy from local businesses, you help that business employ community workers, support other local businesses, and contribute to the community’s overall health. Read more here about the benefits of buying locally.

Buy Green Office Supplies

“Green” doesn’t necessarily mean “good” when it comes to so-called green office supplies. To help your office green up, consider durability, natural resource and energy use, recycled content and recyclability, toxicity, biodegradability and packaging before you purchase supplies. You can also set up a reuse system for the supplies you already have. For more tips on green office products, check out this article.

Think Twice About Bottled Water

If you live in an area with clean drinking water, fill a reusable bottle with tap water and bring it with you wherever you go to avoid buying bottled water. The U.S. sends 2 million tons of plastic water bottles to landfills each year—and producing those bottles requires oil and emits carbon dioxide. Some restaurants in the Twin Cities feel so strongly against bottled water that they refuse to sell it. Learn more.

Contact Your State Legislator

As a constituent, you are your local legislators’ highest priority. Why not share your views with them and ask them to support your position? It may seem like your letters and emails will get lost in a deep, dark political hole, but don’t despair. Whether you call, fax, email or visit in person, this article offers tips on how to effectively communicate with your elected officials and get them to listen.

Get Engaged!

Individuals’ actions are important in setting sound policy, so become an engaged citizen. Whether you call your legislator’s office, testify in a legislative hearing or attend a rally, you can make your voice heard. Still doubt that you can make a difference? This article addresses couple common concerns about whether civic engagement is worth it.

Take the Energy Challenge

The fastest, cheapest, easiest way to reduce your carbon footprint is through energy efficiency and conservation. Plus, you’ll save yourself money in the process! Need a little boost to get started? Join the Minnesota Energy Challenge and learn from thousands of Minnesotans who have pledged to reduce their energy use—and are finding fun, creative ways to do it. Read more about the Challenge here.

Make an Action Plan

Wait. Scratch that. Don’t make your own list of simple things you can do today to make a positive difference for the climate—use ours! This list offers 20 easy things you can do that will help you and your family lighten your load on the environment, keep more money in your pocket, and inspire you to find even more ways to tread lightly on this earth.

Check Out This Template for Action

Scientists say a global warming “tipping point” in the Arctic seems to be happening before their eyes. Sea ice in the Arctic Ocean is at its second lowest level in about 30 years. These news flashes are just some of our climate’s changes happening daily. You and your kids can help. Read more here, and then check out Climate Generations’s Take Action! Guide, which offers hands-on activities for grades 3-12.

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