Guest blogger: Kristina Meek, Wild Encounters
Lights! Presents! And, oh the food! Even the Grinch learned the joy of all the holiday trimmings and that succulent roast beast. It’s easy to go overboard, and why not? It’s a time to celebrate. To help you enjoy your holidays to the fullest, we’ve come up with a fun family activity that benefits all of us who call Earth home.
According to one source, Americans produce a MILLION extra tons of trash during the holidays! At the Zoo, we can’t help but think about what that means for animals and ecosystems around the world. Our eco-friendly holiday game can help reduce some of that waste.
Your family will earn points for each action you take on this ecofriendly-holiday-game-card. Print it out or bookmark it for easy access. Add your own items to the list, if you can think of some good ones we’ve missed. At the bottom of this page, you’ll find a list of resources to help you with some of the suggestions. (Not sure how to compost? We’ve got you covered.)
After the holidays, add up your points! There are a couple of ways to win:
- You don’t have to compete against anyone but yourselves. Reward yourself for the points you earned. You might decide that the number of points is the dollar amount you will spend, as a family, on a special treat. Or, double your impact by making that the amount you donate to the Zoo or another organization helping to protect our environment. Tuck the game card away with your holiday decorations, where you’ll find it at the start of next season, and try to beat your score next year.
- If you can’t resist going head-to-head, challenge another family and see who can earn the most points. Say that, on a certain date in January, one family will treat the other to a movie or another outing. Or, agree on your own prize.
However you decide to play the game, we all win! You’ll be helping to create a cleaner, healthier planet for us all to live on. Have fun and take pride in the fact that you care about the environment! You’re doing your part toward protecting thousands of endangered species.
Happy holidays to you and yours!
Resources:
- How and why to recycle your cell phone.
- Our list of Cincinnati eco-friendly businesses
- General information on Christmas tree disposal
- How to get a curbside recycling bin in Hamilton County
- Great Parks of Hamilton County will accept your old holiday lights through January 7.
- How to easily begin composting at home
- How reducing your meat consumption benefits the planet
- More tips on green living
