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4 School Year Resolutions for Going Green

By Jessica Brown
Princeton, NJ. September 8, 2014 nBack to school is a perfect time for making school year resolutions to go green. Habits developed in September can easily last throughout the year.
“By taking the time to discuss how our actions impact our planet with our children, we show them that it matters and we instill eco-friendly values that they can carry with them throughout their lifetime. When these green values are reinforced in school, kids become even more equipped and empowered to make greater changes,” says Curtis Fisher, northeast regional executive director, National Wildlife Federation. Here are 4 achievable school year resolutions for going green this year from National Wildlife Federation’s Eco-Schools USA program:
1. Pack a Waste Free Lunch. Some reports estimate that the average child generates 67 pounds of waste per school year from packed lunches. You can reduce waste and save money by sending lunch in reusable containers (stainless steel makes a great option) with cloth napkins and a reusable insulated lunch bag. Don’t forget about drinks! There are plenty of BPA free water bottles to choose from. Find one that works for you. To take it one step further, make sure your school has recycling receptacles in the lunch room and ask if they would be willing to start an organic waste collection site for making compost!
2. Make it Healthy. What you pack for lunch matters just as much as the container itself. Send your child to school with high quality, less processed, and more healthy foods to fuel their day such as plenty of fruits and vegetables and whole grains. You may get more buy in when you let your child make some of their own choices. By offering a selection of fruits and vegetables and letting your child choose two or three, you are giving them the power to make their own smart choices. Encourage your school to do the same by providing healthy, local options in the school lunch line.
3. Use Recycled School Supplies. When filling and refilling those back packs, look for paper, pencils, binders, and other supplies with a high percentage of post-consumer waste content. Backpacks, totes, and other products made from recycled plastic bottles are eco-friendly, durable and double as a green fashion statement. Extend the life of school papers that come home by using the backs. Keep the work you wish to save and put other worksheets, homework and fliers in an easily accessible bin to reuse for lists, notes, and craft projects.
4. Schedule Outdoor Free Time. Green up and slow down after school by making sure to “schedule” unscheduled free time outdoors. Studies show that time spent outdoors and active helps children grow lean and strong, enhances imaginations and attention spans, decreases aggression, and boosts classroom performance. In addition, children who spend time in nature regularly are shown to become better stewards of the environment. Encourage your school to get outdoors for recess and consider holding a regularly scheduled class outdoors for a fresh change.
Want to know more? Ask your school to register with National Wildlife Federation’s Eco-Schools USA program. It’s free and easy and gives educators access to an abundance of free resources, tips, curriculum guidelines and best practices.
There are 125 registered Eco-Schools in New Jersey and Mercer County is home to 15 of them including; Ben Franklin Elmentary School, Community Park Elementary School, Hamilton High East n Steinert, Hamilton High North n Nottingham, Hamilton High West, Pennington Montessori School, Princeton Academy of the Sacred Hearth, Princeton Day School, Princeton Friends School, Princeton Junior School, Princeton High School, St. Gregory the Great, Stuart Country Day School of the Sacred Hearth, Village Elementary School, and Waldorf School of Princeton.
About Eco-Schools
Eco-Schools is an international program in 60 countries. The program, hosted by the National Wildlife Federation in the United States, and coordinated by New Jersey Audubon in New Jersey now has 125 schools registered throughout the state. Eco-Schools USA in New Jersey supports and directly aligns with Sustainable Jersey for Schools point-based system. With support from PSE&G, the Geraldine R. Dodge Foundation, the Horizon Foundation, and Spencer Savings Bank Eco-Schools USA is able to provide a staff person on the ground to help New Jersey schools reach their goals. For more information: http://www.nwf.org/Eco-Schools-USA.aspx
About National Wildlife Federation:
National Wildlife Federation is America’s largest conservation organization inspiring people to protect wildlife for our children’s future. NWF focuses its education and policy work on connecting children to nature for a nation of happier, healthier kids. NWF’s state affiliate is NJ Audubon. For more information: www.nwf.org.
About NJ Audubon:
The New Jersey Audubon Society is a privately supported, not-for profit, statewide membership organization that fosters environmental awareness and a conservation ethic among New Jersey’s citizens; protects New Jersey’s birds, mammals, other animals, and plants, especially endangered and threatened species; and promotes preservation of New Jersey’s valuable natural habitats. For more information: www.njaudubon.org.