As summer approaches, many of us are making plans to go on vacation, hang out with friends, or just stay indoors. It’s also an excellent time to learn how to care for the environment while creating lifelong memories with your family! Whether you’re at home or out and about, these eco-friendly activities will keep the whole family entertained while protecting the environment.
Games
1. Go on a nature scavenger hunt
Create a treasure hunt list with items like a feather, a rock, or a flower petal at a nearby park, trail, or even your own backyard. Finding gems in nature is exciting for your children and it’s an excellent way to pique their interest in the world around them.
2. Plan a green game night
Play board games with environmental themes, or make up your own trivia and challenges to test your family’s sustainability knowledge.
Food
3. Plan a zero-waste picnic
Instead of plastic forks and paper plates, pack your picnic with reusable containers, cloth napkins, and handmade treats. Choose locally grown vegetables or snacks from the farmers’ market for an extra eco-friendly touch.
4. Visit a local farm or market
Support local growers and teach children where their food originates from. Some farms offer pick-your-own fruit days where the whole family can pick strawberries, blueberries, or apples.
Related article: The Importance of Supporting Local Farmers
5. Learn how to cook plant-based meals
Try out sustainable, meat-free meals like lentil tacos, tofu stir-fry, and oat milk smoothies. It’s a healthy habit that is also beneficial to the environment (and saves you money!).
Crafts
6. Make bird feeders from recycled materials
Grab some empty toilet paper rolls or pinecones, coat them in peanut butter, roll them in birdseed, and hang them from a nearby tree. Children will enjoy creating them, and you will attract beautiful birds to your yard.
7. Upcycle jewellery or accessories
Use old buttons, beads, leftover pieces of fabric, or old/damaged jewellery to make something new. Teens can make chokers and keychains to sell on Etsy or Instagram.
Related article: Upcycling: Benefits & Items to Repurpose
8. Nature-themed family art day
Collect leaves, petals, and twigs to make natural artwork, like sun prints, leaf rubbings, or pressed flower cards. Use only the materials you find on the ground and avoid picking from living plants.
Garden
9. Create a pollinator-friendly garden
Plant flowers to attract bees and butterflies. Choose native plants such as milkweed, coneflowers, and lavender. Even a few potted plants on a balcony can benefit local pollinators, and gardening is a fun and peaceful way to spend time together.
Related article: Tips for Container Gardening in the Summer
Why Being Eco-Friendly Matters: Raising Awareness
As much as these eco-friendly summer activities are fun and a great way to bond with family, they are also a good way to raise awareness about the environment! With a little creativity and care for the environment, your family can enjoy summer and do your part for the planet.
By supporting GSGF, you will help us build our first green school in Canada to build a sustainable future!
As we confront more pressing environmental issues, we must provide our students the information and skills to protect the planet, which is what GSGF believes and strives for.
Your contributions will help create a living example of sustainable education, where students can actively learn, and practice eco-conscious behaviour. Together, we can build a better tomorrow!
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