Whenever I hear the word ‘green’ I think of Kermit the Frog. I know, it is weird but I cannot get that image of him sitting on a log in the swamp singing, “It’s not that easy being green”. I think when the song was written or for him on a personal level, it really was not easy being green. But in the times we live in now, it really is EASY.
Recycling, for the most part, has moved into most neighborhoods/communities. Households are accustomed to recycling their plastic, aluminum, and paper. What was once a ‘chore” has become the norm. Now everyone is into reusing and this is so evident by all of the choices for a reusable tote. You can pick one up practically anywhere and fill it with your groceries or other shop items. I know my husband and I both have a supply, maybe 5 or 7, in our cars just in case we stop off at a store. We are always ready to bring in our empty bags and leave with full bags. This would be in addition to lunch bags, gym bags, laptop cases, and handbags we carry. Even with all of the bags my family and I currently carry around we could still work on our ‘green efforts’.
Last July, I became involved in the Girl Scout Community Action Project – Forever Green. A project that is helping to carry Girl Scouts to our 100th Anniversary focusing on what we as Girl Scouts have always done, help the environment. Forever Green helps us concentrate our efforts into 5 main areas: air, water, energy, green space, and waste management. What really surprised me was the diversity of projects that one could do to participate and the commitment levels associated with each. For example girls could decide to have people sign a water pledge to reduce the amount of time they spend showering or clean-up a local stream. Other sample projects include starting a school/community garden, encouraging the use of reusable water/food containers, educating others about ‘vampire currents’, and starting a no-idling zone at school.
I encourage you to get involved in this project with your troop, school, and community. Now is a great time to educate the public especially when you see so many people at your cookie booths. Now is also a great time to start planning for the spring and for Earth Day, April 22nd. Check out our website, http://www.gscsnj.org/forever_green.php for additional information including the Project Guide which has plenty of information and ideas to get you started. Remember to register your project at www.girlscouts.org/forevergreen.
As you begin working on your Forever Green project, please think of our friend, Kermit, sitting on his log and singing words that still resonate with us all:
“When green is all there is to be, it could make you wonder why, but why wonder why wonder, I am green and it'll do fine, it's beautiful, and I think it's what I want to be”.
Yours in Girl Scouting,
Kimberly Reed
Leadership Development Director
kreed@gscsnj.org
Kim, Keep up the good work! I carry about 10 bags in my little Smart for Two (car) even though it's hard to get 10 full bags in the car! I do that because sometimes I forget to put them back. Thanks for your reminders. I've been GS green for 62 years; now I'll be even more green and the earth as we know it will still be there for future generations. Let's all use our resurces wisely and consider our carbon footprint.
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