Earth Month

Earth month is always so important to Kids for Saving Earth. Thanks to founder of Earth Day, Senator Gaylord Nelson, Earth month has become a festive 30-day celebration to honor and protect the Earth. I'm hearing from schools all over the US and Canada and throughout the world including India, Pakistan, Sweden, England, France, Australia. Everyone wants to use April to teach students how to protect and honor the Earth. This makes me very happy!

Kids for Saving Earth provides educational materials helping teachers empower and inspire kids to protect the Earth. My son, 11-year -old Clinton Hill, started Kids for Saving Earth one year before he died from a malignant brain tumor. His belief that kids could work with adults to save the Earth was my inspiration to provide teachers and parents the tools to do just that. I was a teacher and am a parent and I know they're very busy people and have a lot to fit into their schedules. I have found ways to make it easy to begin and easy to fit the activities into all types of curricula day after day.

Start by telling your children the story of Clinton (because it is very inspiring to them) and move on to our KSE Promise to the Earth. You can print it out and have kids say it and sign it. You could also teach them how to sing it. In addition, print out the Call to Action form. Ask the kids to take it home for their families to fill out, deciding what they will do together to help the Earth.

So now you have begun. Take a peek at this month's Kids for Saving Earth calendar to decide what might work for you and your family or students. Sign up to receive a free membership packet for teachers and parents. The Programs page is filled with ideas for easy activities.

Let us know what you are doing and we will create a Defenders of the Planet page for your school or group.

Most of all, thanks for being concerned parents and educators. We really need you to work with kids to make their only home healthy and beautiful.

Happy Earth month!

Tessa Hill
President, Kids for Saving Earth
kseww@aol.com, tessa@kidsforsavingearth.org
www.kidsforsavingearth.org
Office: 763-559-1234
tessa@kidsforsavingearth.org
37955 Bridge Road
North Branch, MN 55056

Earth Month Conserving Classroom Calendar

April 2012
Hello Friends of Kids for Saving Earth!April is Earth month and I sincerely encourage you to take action-oriented steps to protect the Earth. One important thing you can do is tell your instructor associates, parents and other friends about Kids for Saving Earth. Ask them to order a KSE membership and get a club started in their school or classroom. Send them this link http://www.ksegreenshop.org/ and tell them KSE provides wonderful curriculum to help kids help the Earth. For this special month we have many amazing Earth-saving activities for your students to help students

Celebrate Earth Day. Be sure to check the April calendar because we have more activities than I am highlighting in this letter.We have added a couple new Earth-protecting programs to the calendar. Have your students learn about Organic Gardening and Organic Farming. Ask them to read the info sheets and be ready to discuss the information they learned in class. Also, I would suggest asking them to read the history of Earth Day and All About KSE. If they are in grades 3 and under you will want to read to or with them. The easiest project you can do is to have kids and their friends and family Sign the Kids for Saving Earth Promise. The Wonders of Wind is a fun activity for kids to learn that they don't have to use electric or gas dryers to dry their clothes. Simply print out The Wonders of Wind directions and hand them out to your students. This is a family project so send the directions home. If you are thinking of Earth Day gifts kids can give their family, check out the Light Switch eco activity. It's a very inexpensive but effective way to remind families to turn off their lights when they're not needed. Another activity we just added to the calender was sent to us from a KSE advisor at Briargrove Elementary in Houston, TX. They have had great success with this program and would like you to check it out. Try having a Picnic for the Planet. Finally I hope you will consider having a fundraiser to help support Kids for Saving Earth and/or ordering product from our KSE Green Shop. Learn about the Ionator for your school or home. It safely sanitizes your room or home and it also can wash away nasty chemicals and germs on your fruits and vegetables. Be sure to use the on-line $10 off KSE coupon. Thanks so much for all you do to educate children. Having been a teacher I understand how much work it is. I also know how rewarding it is. Happy Earth Day! Make sure to click on the "Share with a friend" link below.For the Earth and its children,


Tessa Hill
President, Kids for Saving Earth
www.kidsforsavingearth.org
Office: 763-559-1234
37955 Bridge Road
North Branch, MN 55056

Get Green for March!

Hello Friends of Kids for Saving Earth!

Here comes March! It's time to think "green" (Earth friendly).   Put your "green" foot forward and check out  "The Everything Green Classroom" book or a Kids for Saving Earth membership, and also the great green  activities on our March calendar.

We have added a new educational piece about "greenwashing." Are corporations trying to make products look green that are not green? Absolutely. Find out what you and your students can do about it. It's so important for the health of the Earth to buy green but it will take some education to understand how to shop. Check out Who is Greenwashing.

Another important day to think green is, of course, March 17, St. Patrick's Day.  Your students can wear green and act green all on the same day. It's on a Saturday so ask them to report back to you about what they did. Here are some suggestions.

On March 8th you can launch a no idling campaign at your school. That way your kids won't "turn green" while standing by the idling buses and cars in your parking lot. Seriously, exhaust can make you sick. Put a stop to it.

On March 15 print out the Tune Up the Earth Challenge worksheet and have your kids make a promise to fill in the line on the worksheet. Aim for a completion date of Earth Day on April 22.

I know funding for your green activities is always an issue so try one of our fund-raising suggestions. Collect enough money to order an ionator for your classroom. I promise it is an amazing green way to clean your rooms and your students' hands. They'll have a ball using it. Who would think cleaning can be fun? You will thank me!

Besides the always-needed financial contributions, the biggest way you can help Kids for Saving Earth is to tell fellow teachers and parent friends about Kids for Saving Earth. Get them to join for free or as paid members. Make sure to click on the "Send to a friend" link below.

For the Earth and its children,

Tessa Hill

President, Kids for Saving Earth
www.kidsforsavingearth.orgOffice: 763-559-1234
37955 Bridge Road
North Branch, MN 55056

February Activities for the Environment

Happy February!

Our monthly Conserving Classroom Calendar has several events and activities for kids this month, including KSE's Healthy Cleaning Week, which starts February 20th. Check out the calendar for cleaning tips, such as using baking soda as a non-toxic cleaning agent, cutting back on paper towel use, and purchasing non-toxic, waste-free products such as the ActiveIon Spray Cleaner, which uses ionized water to clean and disinfect surfaces. Let us know your tips on how to clean green.

Speaking of non-toxic products, Safer Chemicals, Healthy Families -- an organization whose mission it is to update our antiquated regulations on chemicals in our everyday products -- has introduced the Safer Chemicals Art Contest. Kids of all ages are encouraged to enter this creative contest to spread the word about the harmful chemicals in everything from baby bottles (BPA), to carpets (formaldehyde), to shower curtains (phthalates). Kids have until February 29th to submit artwork"describing what a healthy future for our families and environment means to them."

We at KSE have always used kids' artwork -- colorful drawings, paintings, and photos -- to spread the message of protecting our Earth. It's a positive way to learn and share what we love about the Earth and why we need to protect it. We take submissions year-round for use in our publications and on our website. We welcome you to submit artwork to us from your classroom or family at any time. Just email us at kseww@aol.com, or mail it to KSE Worldwide, 37955 Bridge Road, North Branch, MN 55056. We'd love to share your Earth-saving artwork with the world!

Have a great February, everyone!

Universal Pictures: Let the Lorax Speak for the Trees!

Mr. Wells' 4th Grade Class -- the gang behind CatalogCancelingChallenge.com, the initiative to reduce unwanted, wasteful mail catalogs -- was excited about Dr. Seuss's The Lorax coming to movie theaters in March. But when they saw the movie trailer and visited the Universal Pictures website, they were disappointed at finding almost nothing relating to what The Lorax story was about: protecting the environment.

But that disappointment didn't lead to discouragement; it led to action! These 4th graders from Brookline, Massachusetts have created an online petition urging Universal Pictures to "green up" the promotion of this film. Complete with a video, suggestions, and a convincing argument, the petition now has over 3,500 signatures and counting.



The class writes:

Our world, like the Lorax’s, is facing major environmental problems like pollution, global warming, oil spills, littering, a Great Pacific Garbage Patch, deforestation, and loss of animal habitat. These problems will affect our future.

The Lorax movie, with its millions of dollars in advertising and massive audience has the potential to help heal the Earth. This movie can show the world we should not take our sky, water, trees, and animals for granted. It could inspire more and more people to treat Earth with the same respect you would give a child.

We’d like to see the movie live up to the potential of the book. We’re encouraging Universal to make an improved Lorax movie website that Dr. Seuss would be proud of. We recommend a “Lorax Tips” button shaped like a Truffula seed sharing ways people can help the planet. Maybe a Truffula Tree overflowing with tips and links pops up when you click on the seed! We can help you make this list, too!

With this film, Universal Pictures has an opportunity to spread the word about caring for the Earth, which is at the core of Dr. Seuss's original story. Kids for Saving Earth fully supports this tremendous effort by these ambitious 4th graders. If you love this story as much as we do, please sign this petition.

"Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot, nothing’s going to get better, it’s not." - Dr. Seuss, The Lorax

Happy New Year! Earth-saving activities for 2012

Hello Friends of Kids for Saving Earth!

Happy January and Happy New Year to all! It's not too early to begin planning your activities for Earth Day. Check out suggested and inspiring activities included in our January calendar.

One good way to get started is to send letters and drawings about environmental issues to Kids for Saving Earth. We will create a Defenders of the Planet web page for you on our KSE web site by Earth Day. You can also attach it to your school web site to spread your Earth-saving message to your school community.

To help you get started with your Defenders page, join our Write On letter writing challenge. It will encourage your students to think about what they might want to do for Earth Day. Writing a letter can cover many of your curriculum requirements: printing/writing lessons, grammar, social studies, science, geography and even music. You might want students to write a letter about polar bears and the problems they face due to global warming.

Print out these post cards on Friday the 13th and give them to your students. It will be a lucky day for the Earth when your kids agree to notify those businesses that are water-wasters. Letting these companies know that their faucets are dripping or toilets are running will help conserve the Earth's precious water. You can learn even more about water issues by checking out H2 Oh Oh. After you have studied water issues ask these water related questions to your students. Next print out the test form and ask them to test an adult to see how well they do. You can email your test results to KSE.


Finally have you ever wanted to give a special Earth-saving gift to a fellow teacher, friend or a child? Here's your opportunity to order a Kids for Saving Earth gift card. Check it out. You can order it and have it emailed or mailed to you or directly to your recipient. It's easy to redeem by using the code on the gift card. Think about Valentines Day, Earth Day, and birthdays as possible days to give gifts.

I'd like to give a special thank you to Naturepedic for fabulous donations this year to Kids for Saving Earth. We so appreciate them. Check Naturepedic out on our KSE Green Shop. The products have "no harmful chemicals, period."

For the Earth and its children,

Tessa Hill
President, Kids for Saving Earth
www.kidsforsavingearth.org
Office: 763-559-1234
37955 Bridge Road
North Branch, MN 55056

Buy Safe This Holiday Season

When shopping for kids this holiday season, beware of the harmful chemicals that lurk in several products currently on the market -- including toys. Lead and phthalates were two chemicals found recently in the 26th Annual Trouble in Toyland report, a survey of toy safety.

Healthy Legacy -- a coalition of organizations whose mission is to remove toxic chemicals from everyday products, which KSE is a member -- has highlighted some of the important findings of the report:

Though banned since 1978 in products marketed to children, lead, a known neurotoxin affecting children’s development, can still be found in imported toys. From October 2010 through November 2011, almost 200,000 toys were recalled in the United States due to lead content that exceeded federal limits. Researchers found that a handful of toys investigated exceeded current federal limits and several others exceeded standards set by the American Academy of Pediatrics.

Even though the number of toys containing harmful chemicals is troubling, there are resources at our fingertips to make better decisions in our purchases this holiday season.

Healthy Legacy points to the Public Interest Group In Michigan's (PIRGIM) Tips to Keep Kids Safe.

Another resource is U.S. PIRG's Toy Safety 2011 guide, which identifies chemical dangers, as well as other safety concerns in toys on the market.

Hopefully we'll soon live in a world where these guides won't be necessary, but in order for that to happen we need to take action. A simple thing you can do is support the Safe Chemicals Act, commonsense legislation on chemicals in our everyday products. Support this effort by sending a message to the legislators who represent you.

Together, we can improve the lives of our children and the health of our Earth.

Have a Healthy, Happy Holiday Season!

December Conserving Classroom Calendar

Hello Friends of Kids for Saving Earth!

Have you noticed that it's Cyber Green Week at Kids for Saving Earth? We have been tweeting about it! Save $4 on a small or medium group membership through December 3. Place the coupon code "Cyber Green Week" in the comments section of the order form and we will be sure to give you the $4 discount. We hope you'll continue doing some of your holiday shopping at our KSE Green Shop this December.

The December calendar is filled with Earth-saving ideas for the holidays as well as suggestions for making your holidays environmentally healthier.

Learn about why using live evergreen trees for your Christmas tree is actually "greener" than buying plastic trees. Also, think about buying holiday cards from the KSE Green Shop or making your own green holiday cards. It's easy to make bird houses from trash materials to give birds at home or school yards a happy holiday. And don't forget to start early to have your students make and discuss their New Year's resolutions to help the Earth. Print out the resolution form to have the kids take home and return to you after the holidays.

Finally be sure to learn the history of December holidays by checking out the links for St. Nicholas Day, Hanukkah, Christmas, Boxing Day, Kwanzaa and New Year's Eve. If we missed a holiday in your country, please email us to let us know!

We are excited to have a private donation that will match any donations we receive from you up to $500. Please give us a wonderful holiday gift by donating to Kids for Saving Earth. You can write a check to the address below or click here to provide your donation by credit card. For every dollar you give your donation will be doubled. We need your support to continue helping kids help the Earth.

We so appreciate all you do to help protect the Earth. Enjoy your holidays!

For the Earth and its children,

Happy Cyber Monday! Discounted Membership Rates All Week!

Happy Cyber Monday! We're extending our Cyber Monday offer all week, through Saturday, December 3rd.

Small and Medium-level Kids for Saving Earth Memberships are $4 off all week. Just enter the code "CyberGreen" at check-out.

This is a great opportunity for any classroom, club, or family to receive membership materials and help KSE continue providing environmental education curricula.

Membership materials include certificates, the Rock the World CD, All About KSE DVD, activity guide, and more!

Click here to see our list of memberships and order.

Happy Holidays!

Holiday shopping at the KSE Green Shop!

The Holiday Season is fast-approaching! For your holiday shopping, please consider shopping for the Earth. The Kids for Saving Earth Green Shop is a great resource for Earth-related gifts for your home, classroom, or your child.

For your home or classroom, check out the ActiveIon Ionator, a safe, chemical-free device that uses simple tap water to clean and disinfect surfaces.

The ionator HOM™ and ionator EXP™ are virtually the only cleaning products in the world without chemical-related health warning labels. The technology driving the ionator products has been used for decades in food processing plants, four-star restaurants, and large hotels. The ionator has taken this technology, miniaturized it, and made it affordable for everyday use.

A water cell applies a slight electrical charge to the tap water. The charged water passes through an ion exchange membrane, creating an oxygen-rich mixture of positive and negative nano-bubbles. The ionized water now attracts dirt like a magnet and lifts it from the surface, enabling it to be easily wiped away.  Counter tops, appliances, stainless steel, bathrooms, windows, etc., shine and are sanitized with the ionator.

Do you need a gift for an educator? Check out the Everything Green Classroom Book, by KSE President Tessa Hill. This is the essential guide for incorporating eco-friendly concepts into everyday lessons, activities, and field trips. With suggestions for adjusting activities for grade level, teachers can create fun lessons for any elementary school class. If you order from the KSE Green Shop, you can have it signed by Tessa. From air pollution to water woes, each chapter is organized by topic so you can easily explain concepts to your class, plan hands-on activities, and encourage students to continue thinking about issues outside of the classroom.

KSE Buttons and Pins make great stocking-stuffers for any Defender of the Planet. Choose from several styles of buttons or pins.

These are just a few of the items you can find in our Green Shop. You can also find office supplies, KSE music, posters, and books. Remember, all purchases support our efforts to provide environmental education materials throughout the year.

Happy Earth-shopping!

Environmental Education and Activities for November

Hello Friends of Kids for Saving Earth!

Happy November!

It's the time of year in North America to prepare for the winter season. That means lots of yard work.  Don't forget to teach your students about composting. Check out Compost Power on our calendar.  Ask them to teach their parents how to compost and to take photos of the process. Place the photos on your school bulletin board.

Another project kids can do with their parents is to learn how to Become an Earth Inspector and discover what are some of  the dangerous toxins in homes. Print out the Become an Earth Inspector and the 30 Pollution Place work sheets. Read the information in class and send home the work sheets for the kids to share with their parents.

Magazine Exchange is one of the easiest activities you can do to remind kids and their parents about the concept of "reusing." It saves money and the Earth. Surprisingly, it also encourages kids to see which magazines parents read and that they may enjoy trying to read them also.

In the United States we celebrate Thanksgiving in November. This is a day to celebrate and be thankful for all the good that life has given us. Of course the Earth is our shared home and we are very thankful for all it provides us. Try out the Respect the Earth campaign to show kids a good way to thank the Earth.

The holiday season is about to begin. Think green when you are shopping and encourage your students to do the same. Print and provide each child with the Shop Green Holidays ideas and don't forget to check out the KSE Green Shop for your gift giving this season. If you would like to give a gift to KSE just forward this email to other instructors by clicking on the "Send to a Friend" link at the bottom of the page. Tell them you love us!

Kids for Saving Earth is thankful for all you wonderful instructors and parents. We are so grateful for all you do.

And don't forget to Like KSE on Facebook and Follow us on Twitter!

For the Earth and its children,

Briargrove Elementary Defenders of the Planet discover the benefits of eating organic and local foods

We're always asking what Kids for Saving Earth Clubs around the country are doing to promote Earth-friendly activities. Kristina Carrillo-Bucaram, founder of Rawfully Organic Co-op, has let us know the tremendous effort she's a part of for the KSE club at Briargrove Elemenatary in Houston, TX. She's spearheading an effort to help create a one-acre "edible schoolyard," where students can learn about growing their own food naturally and organically.

"This creation is a one-acre natural garden and kitchen classroom that allows students to participate in all aspects of growing and preparing nutritious produce," states a press release about the effort. "Kristina’s expertise in coaching families on integrating the consumption of raw, organic fruits and vegetables in their diet will help the children in their 'green' journey."

Knowing where our food comes from is one of the most important aspects of living and eating healthy, and supporting a healthy Earth. Eating food locally supports local farmers and cuts down on the emissions that are used to transport food all over the country. Eating organic foods helps reduce the number of pesticides on our farms and in our bodies. We are so happy to hear about the efforts of Briargrove Elementary and Rawfully Organic Co-op, teaching kids these essential activities to support healthier people and a healthier, happier Earth!

The project will start this Friday, October 7. Read more about this exciting project, and check out Briargrove Elementary's KSE site for all the other eco-activities they participate in throughout the year.

Conserving Classroom Calendar for October: Earth-saving activities for kids

Hello Friends of Kids for Saving Earth!

In the United States families celebrate Halloween throughout October with parties and carnivals and by dressing up in costumes to go "Trick or Treating."  If your community celebrates Halloween remind your kids to think Earth-saving when choosing costumes or hosting your Halloween parties.  Look for costumes at thrift stores to reuse items instead of buying new.  How about having a "Can Can Carnival" and using the money you make to support an environmental activity for your class or school.

I know that teaching reading is a daily project in your classrooms and homes.  Consider teaching reading with an empowering goal through "Reading for the Earth."  It will inspire students, and your class can earn additional funds for Earth-saving projects. Check out the "Use the Library" eco-activity. Using the library is actually an Earth-saving activity.  Kids borrowing books from a library not only save money but also use less of the Earth's resources.

A very simple activity to do with kids is to promote "Use Cloth Napkins Week" to encourage your students to ask their parents to use cloth napkins.  Inexpensive cloth napkins and terry cloths work great and are easily washed for reuse.  Just be sure to have each member of the family have their own color napkin.

Please let us know about your environmental education projects.  We want to spread the word about your activities through our web page links as well as Twitter and Facebook.

We also want you to "like" us on Facebook.  If you have any announcements or press releases about your activities, please email us information.  We can also put your events on our calendar.

Shop at our Green Shop.  You'll help KSE and the Earth.  If you have product you are interested in selling on our site, email us your ideas.

Thanks so much for helping kids help the Earth.  Tell others about us by emailing them our web site link www.kidsforsavingearth.org.

For the Earth and its children,

New Month, New School Year, new Conserving Classroom Calendar

Hello Friends of Kids for Saving Earth!

September is here and I know you have much to do to begin the new year.  Please squeeze in some time to outline your Earth-saving plans for the year.  Remember that kids can learn math, science, music, art and just about any required curriculum by incorporating environmental protection into your school activities.  The added benefit to Earth-saving is that kids become empowered.  Children will long remember these meaningful, important lessons.

In our September calendar we have added links to information that will help you keep your room and school supplies healthier. Click on September 1, 2  and 6 to learn more.

So where on Earth are Kids for Saving Earth members?  They are all over the world and you can check out how many are in your state or country.  The groups are advised by instructors and/or parents throughout Earth. From California to Minnesota from Kenya to India, Kids for Saving Earth provides environmental education to empower children to protect the Earth.

There are several simple eco activities this month that kids can do with just a little help from you.  Teach kids how to save money both in your classroom and in their homes.  This can become a math project.  Pick an environmental project or two to support with the money you have saved.  Don't forget KSE or the KSE Rainforest when it comes to donations.

Ask students who bring bag or box lunches to pack them "green."  Print these forms and give them to your students to help them prepare their lunches in a green manner.

This "Clean Your Desk" form on the calendar will teach children how to clean out their classroom desks. Make it an Earth-saving experience and empower kids while they learn to organize their desks.

Have you had your first KSE Club meeting either during or after school?  Kids need to experience meetings. It's a good opportunity to teach parliamentary procedure.  Here are a few ideas for your first meeting.

We have two nonprofit partners who are working on interesting projects.  One is Global Green. They are announcing the Global Green USA Green School Makeover Competition: A Chance to Win $65,000 to Green Your School! Learn more by clicking here. The town of Mansfield CT will present a free school composting webinar for anyone interested in learning how to start a composting program at their school.  Click here to learn more and register.

And don't forget to "like" KSE on Facebook, and Follow us on Twitter.

For the Earth and its children,

Eco-activities and environmental education for the new school year

Hello Friends of Kids for Saving Earth! A new month, a new Conserving Classroom Calendar, an interactive calendar with Earth Holidays and Eco-activities for classrooms, kids clubs, families, and anyone else who wishes to help the Earth.

Begin your school year with our Respect the Earth campaign. It's a great first step to empower children to spread the message about capitalizing the word Earth.  They can sign up on our Respect the Earth link and tell others to do so too.

It's back to school days and KSE has created a new program: Rules for Greening Schools.  Review this program and when school year begins choose the steps that work best for you. You can help protect the Earth and your students health. Also check out how to clean for healthy schools.

Another green school activity is to hold an Earth Expo at your school.  This will take some preparation so read it over and decide how you can fit some or all of it into your curriculum.  You might want to include studying about The Great Garbage Patch, a floating garbage "patch" in the Pacific Ocean the size of Texas! Once they understand its causes, ask them to email us about what they can do to help prevent this problem. We  love to include students’ video reports on our site.

A friend of mine recently lost her son to cancer.  Adam was an amazing young man who loved the beauty of the Earth.  KSE has named him a Defender of the Planet.  The best way your students can honor his memory is to become Defenders of the Planet too.  Click here to learn more.

You might not know that KSE has some pre-school environmental activities.  Check our web site.  Also consider ordering our Teacher's Guide for Little Kids for Saving Earth.

Thanks for all you do.  Don't forget to communicate with us, support us, and spread the word about Kids for Saving Earth.

Have a happy August.

And don't forget to "like" KSE on Facebook, and Follow us on Twitter.

For the Earth and its children,

July is here! Environmental activities and education for kids from Tessa Hill

July is usually hot and sunny in the U.S. and Canada, filled with summer activities like fishing, camping, picnicking and family vacations. Kids often spend lots of time outside enjoying the warm weather. Take time to review some rules about protecting everyone from too much sun. Check out Unsun Fun to learn how to keep skin safe in summer while having fun outdoors. Also we have included a KSE Envirahealth Alert from The Environmental Working Group about best choices for safe sun blocks.

July is also a good time to educate your students about how to put the sun to work in a way that can help protect the Earth's health. Review activities in our Sun Power - A Bright Idea to help kids learn about solar power and how they can encourage governmental leaders to support sustainable energy practices.

Because many Congress members are in their districts visiting constituents during the summer, it's a great time to set up a visit to their local offices. Click on Meet Your Congressperson to learn how you can talk with them about your environmental concerns. Freedom to express your concerns is much of what July 4th is all about.

The United States, France and Canada have special national holidays to celebrate and honor their countries in July. If any KSE international members would like to include their national holidays on any month of our KSE calendar, please email us to let us know.

We are also looking for your opinions about our web site. Tell us what you like about it and give us suggestions for what you would like to see on our site. Email us your thoughts.

If you are on a summer break, now is the perfect time to gather photos, drawings, letters or whatever you have that shows us what your Defenders of the Planet are doing to help protect the Earth. Those of you who filled out the membership forms promising to send artwork and more, Today is the Day. Send or email us all this information. We will add you to our Defenders of the Planet page. We want to tell the world what our members are doing.

Finally, we need your support.  Buying green products from our KSE Green Shop or contributing a donation will be greatly appreciated.  There is so much Earth-saving work ahead and we can't do it without your support. A $2 donation from each of you would provide us enough funding for one year.  I don't receive a salary and we run KSE on a very small budget.  Please consider donating! 

And don't forget to Like KSE on Facebook and Follow us on Twitter.

For the Earth and its children,

Tessa Hill
President, Kids for Saving Earth
www.kidsforsavingearth.org
Office: 763-559-1234
37955 Bridge Road
North Branch, MN 55056

Save Our Parks!

Kids for Saving Earth is Headquartered in Minnesota, U.S.A. Here in Minnesota, we are fortunate to have 74 state parks and recreation areas, 56 state forest campgrounds and day use areas, and a handful of national parks, trails, and monuments.

I was lucky enough to visit one of these parks last month. On the North Shore of Lake Superior, Judge C.R. Magney State Park features over 4,600 acres of park land which includes hiking trails, campsites, and Devil's Kettle Falls on the Brule River.

The land was set aside in 1957. Over fifty years later, people come from all over the region to camp, hike, learn and experience nature in a way they can't elsewhere. Wildlife habitat is protected and preserved. Nature is allowed to flourish.

Devil's Kettle Falls on the Brule River

Rapids on the Brule River

Growth on the forest floor

Forest growth after the rain

Forest floor "carpeting"

State and national parks, trails, and forests are important for any region. They teach us about wildlife areas that existed all over the Earth before human settlements, cities, and suburbs. However, with the slump in the economy, many city, state, and national park budgets are being cut, eliminating important resources to keep these parks open.

It's remarkable how influential kids can be when they make their voices heard to important decision-makers. Kids for Saving Earth has put together an activity for kids who want to save their local parks: Save Our Parks!

Help pass the message on to our local and national leaders that parks are important!

It's June (already)! Summer eco-activities for kids

Hello Friends of Kids for Saving Earth!

June launches the summer season, so get out and enjoy the world of nature. Our June calendar is filled with links to nature activities. If school is still in session, take students on a trip to a forest or even a woodsy backyard. Order the KSE book A Trip to the Forest to help lead you through a forest adventure. Parents also will find it useful on a camping trip.

Clinton's Backyard Habitat eco-activity is a great way to encourage kids' appreciation of the important balance of nature and teach them how to create their own outdoor nature research center.  Print out this page for your students to take home for a summer activity.

Saving our community, state and national parks is an extremely important way to protect the Earth's health and promote a healthy understanding of the natural world for kids. Check this out to see how you and your students can help the Save Our Parks campaign.

Don't forget to tweet or blog about whatever activity you choose to do this month. We love hearing about new ideas and success stories.

Also remember that Kids for Saving Earth needs support. Contributions are greatly appreciated. Purchases from the KSE Green Shop provide additional support.

Thanks so much for helping kids help the Earth. Be sure to ask your students to "like" us on the Kids for Saving Earth Facebook page.


For the Earth and its children,

Tessa Hill
President, Kids for Saving Earth
www.kidsforsavingearth.org
Office: 763-559-1234
37955 Bridge Road
North Branch, MN 55056

Join the KSE Wildflower Team

Spring flowers are in full bloom! And that includes wildflowers in our parks, neighborhoods, and even in our own backyards! Pinks, reds, and yellows pop up throughout forest floors, prairies, and parks.

A fun and effective way to get kids outside and interested in nature is to take some time to observe the wildflowers that bloom this time of year. KSE has a great activity set up for kids, families, and classrooms to Join the KSE Wildflower Team. It's easy!

	Take a hike in the woods or a meadow and take your camera or your sketch book along with you.
	Simply take photos or enjoy sketching the wildflower plant.
	Record the location where you found it and try to find it's name.To find out the name of the wildflower you have discovered, it isbest to "google" wildflowers by your state.  For example: Wildflowers in Minnesota
	Email photos or scanned colorful artwork to kse@kidsforsavingearth.org or snail mail to:
	37955 Bridge Road, North Branch, MN 55056
	Include your first name, email address and school or other group, city and state..
	Check this KSE Wild Flower Wise web site to see your photos or art on line
	Plant a wildflower garden and put a wildflower wild sign in the area you planted.

And be sure to check out our page of wildflower photos submitted by other Defenders of the Planet.