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Conservation leads to a healthy planet

Summer is here. That means family vacations, barbeques and lots of outdoor activities. Although you may be away from home, it doesn’t mean you can’t continue to live environmentally friendly. That is why the Indiana Department of Education, through the Learn Green, Live Green initiative, encourages Hoosiers to “tread lightly” throughout July.

What does it mean to tread lightly?
Every choice you make contributes to the health of our planet – good or bad. The best decision you can make is to leave as little behind as possible and make the least impact on the Earth – or tread lightly. The best way to tread lightly is to conserve, whether it’s conserving energy, water or the amount of waste you produce. While out and about on vacation or during summer activities, we encourage all Hoosiers to be more conscious of reducing the negative impact they have on our planet.

Make the effort
It’s easy to grab paper plates, paper towels and disposable containers for that picnic in the park, but deciding to take reusable products – even cloth napkins – can make a world of difference when it comes to conserving energy and reducing waste. If you have no other choice than disposable items, be sure to recycle your waste when finished. If there isn’t a recycling bin close, take your items back home and put them in your own recycling bin.

Get outside
The best way to get excited about conservation is to learn more about nature, and the best way to learn more about nature is to study it up close. You don’t have to have a forest or lake nearby to study our planet, just go outside. The local park, or even your own backyard, is a great place to start. Check out some books from your local library to learn more about nature and how you can protect it.

Learn more
Our Tips and Fun Facts links to the right will provide numerous ideas on how you can conserve, or tread lightly, and start this summer off right by staying “green.” Also, be sure to click through our School Projects link to find fun projects you can do to learn more about going green. The Reading List and Online Resources will help you find books and Web sites to help keep you on track while you have fun in the sun this July.