Environmental Education Toolkit for Congregations/Introduction

Environmental Education

for Congregations Environmental Education

This toolkit was first produced Hennepin County Environmental Services in 2008 in collaboration with The county works with community partners For additional copies: This toolkit may be downloaded Congregations Caring for Creation to promote environmental stewardship. for free at www.hennepin.us/ and the Alliance for Sustainability. Our mission is to protect the environment CommunityPower. Organizations Elements of this toolkit were first and conserve resources for future generations. in Hennepin County may order a published by Hennepin County Learn more about our programs at printed version of the toolkit Environmental Services in the www.hennepin.us/environment. by contacting Hennepin County Environmental Education Toolkit for at 612-348-4168. Community POWER Early Childhood Family Education Since 2001, hundreds of community groups in Programs and the Environmental January 2011 Education Toolkit for Community the Twin Cities metro area have actively engaged Groups (both can be found at their audiences in environmental education www.hennepin.us/CommunityPower.) and action through the Community POWER (Partners On Waste Education and Reduction) Contributing writers include program, sponsored by the Solid Waste Manage- Erin Bowley, Tammy Dunrud, ment Coordinating Board. These community Sharon Gagner, Sean Gosiewski, groups have educated more than one million Tony Hainault, Ellie Jones, Mary Karius, Andrew Leith, people and have helped more than 30,000 Stacey Lijewski, Sandra Nussbaum, people take positive actions for the environ- Kristin Pierskalla, Alisa Reckinger, ment. Many of the activities and resources in Patty Born Selly, Angie Timmons this toolkit were created, tested or improved and Ami Voeltz. through Community POWER projects. To learn more about Community POWER, visit www.rethinkrecycling.com/grants.

Environmental Education Toolkit for Congregations/Introduction...... 1 Environmental Education Toolkit:

Contents Getting started...... 3 Calendar...... 7 Menu of activities...... 9 Environmental activities by topic Reducing waste...... 11 Recycling...... 21 Toxicity reduction...... 27 Energy conservation and climate change...... 35 Protect water resources...... 45 Faith-based environmental resources...... 53 Additional education resources...... 55 Special events ideas...... 57 Service learning project ideas...... 59 Environmental resources for internal operations...... 61 Evaluation questions for behavior change...... 65 Appendix: Activities and sample handouts...... 67

2...... Environmental Education Toolkit for Congregations/Table of Contents

Introduction

Many faith traditions around the world This toolkit serves as a comprehensive Note: The advice and ideas in this devote a portion of their worship to resource for congregations who wish toolkit are designed for any faith- honor the Earth and the resources it to actively respond to environmental based community that seeks to provides. Through belief and practice, issues that currently affect our families address environmental problems varied religious traditions attribute a and communities. Information on the facing society. The term “congre- sacred and holy quality to the natural following five topics on which religious gation” in this toolkit refers to environment, recognizing humans’ total groups can focus their environmental any organized faith-based group. dependence on nature’s processes. In education and action is provided: reverence and gratitude for the Earth, reducing waste, recycling, toxicity congregations and religious communi- reduction, energy conservation and ties today gather together and mobilize climate change, and protecting water to preserve the environment for future resources. generations. Environmental awareness and religious reverence for nature go hand-in-hand — living simply, caring for the environment and leaving a legacy for the next generation accomplishes both goals.

Environmental Education Toolkit for Congregations/Getting Started...... 3 This toolkit is How to Build a team organized to help use the toolkit •• Work with others who are com- you follow two mitted to helping the environment. Familiarize yourself Share the responsibility and the principles for with the content effort. fostering sustainable The toolkit has five chapters •• Contact clergy and staff from your behavior change: organized by environmental congregation and its board to enlist their support in forming a topic: 1. Build community. “Green Team” (or whatever name This toolkit assumes that you •• Reducing Waste you choose). They may suggest are encouraging others to learn •• Recycling the names of other congregation about environmental issues and •• Toxicity Reduction members who may want to get take actions that make a differ- •• Energy Conservation and Cli- involved. ence. It is easier and more fun for mate Change •• Gather a small group of people people to jump into something •• Protecting Water Resources (three to eight and it is helpful new when they see others getting Each chapter has essential to have both a staff and a board liaison) to serve as a Green Team. involved and have an opportuni- background information, sta- ty to share experiences and ideas. Consider structuring your team as tistics and Hennepin County’s a group of volunteers who are part 2. Make it easy. free resources for that topic to of an existing congregational com- Give people the tools they need help you get up-to-date on the mittee (for example a Social Con- to take action today. issue. The Activities section of cerns Committee), or you might This toolkit will help you inspire, each chapter offers ideas for recruit representatives from several educate and actively engage others. involving others in learning committees (e.g. buildings and grounds, worship/ritual, educa- We know people are more likely and taking action. tion, youth, outreach, etc.), or you to stay committed to new prac- might form a new type of group. tices if they have encouragement Educate yourself to try them for the first time. In •• Host an introductory event in which your congregation could addition to sharing lists of things In order to teach and organize bring in a guest speaker or show to do, use the Activities in each others, you will need to be a movie on the environment and chapter to help people take the familiar with the important faith. Then, gather the names of first step. issues. Sources on the Internet people who attend and invite them Resources to learn more about moti- offer overwhelming amounts of to a brainstorming session for your campaign. If possible, invite a staff vating sustainable behavior change: information and misinforma- person from your congregation to •• www.cbsm.com tion on environmental topics. be at the initial meeting to help The community-based social This toolkit limits the back- move things forward more quickly. marketing website has strategies, ground information to the most articles and case studies to foster relevant and accurate for our sustainable behavior. region. Most of the information •• The Psychology of is contained in the Introduc- Sustainable Behavior. tion to each of the chapters or A handbook introducing research- in handouts provided in the based tips from psychology to help in efforts to empower sustainability– Appendix. Lists of Essential www.pca.state.mn.us, click on “Living Background Reading, Addition- Green,” then “Educators.” al Resources and Websites are also provided in each chapter.

4...... Environmental Education Toolkit for Congregations/Getting Started Gather needed resources Free information and resources: Communicate effectively, •• Rethink Recycling positively and accurately •• Call us for help getting started. We RethinkRecycling.com can connect you with volunteers Build on existing structures, from other congregations who have •• Community POWER RethinkRecycling.com/grants meetings, communication strategies, done projects similar to yours and assist you in ordering handouts and •• Minnesota Pollution Control Agency events and seasons to launch your setting up trainings or presentations. www.pca.state.mn.us program. Be consistent and perse- •• Reduce.org vere with your message. Create an •• Hennepin County Environmental www.reduce.org accepting atmosphere around your Services, Community POWER •• Sustainable Communities Network efforts. Networks Project for Congregations www.nextstep.state.mn.us www.hennepin.us/community power Behavior change can happen •• Do It Green! Minnesota 612-348-9352 with small steps or large leaps, but www.doitgreen.org [email protected] all changes are important. Your •• WaterShed Partners Project Managers: Ellie Jones and program will be more successful if Angie Timmons www.cleanwatermn.org you focus on positive encourage- •• Minnesota Energy Challenge Visit www.hennepin.us/environmental ment for anyone willing to join your education for more about free www.mnenergychallenge.org efforts, no matter where they start handouts, literature, articles, toolkits, Refer to the Additional Faith or how quickly they move. Encour- learning trunks, displays and tours Resources section on pg.53 for age people to choose one thing to available through the county. Each additional faith-based community chapter in this toolkit lists additional change or do as a starting place. support. resources. Use the Quick Facts and Ideas in •• Alliance for Sustainability Set your goals each chapter of this toolkit to www.afors.org communicate accurate and inspiring Sean Gosiewski, 612-331-1099 ext. 1 •• At your first planning meeting, messages. [email protected] invite people to share their ideas •• Minnesota Interfaith Power & Light about your campaign and review (formerly Congregations Caring for the action ideas in this toolkit. Creation) Choose one or more of the topics www.mnipl.org to start with and brainstorm specif- 612-226-8324 ic tasks needed to carry it out. •• Contact congregations that have completed waste reduction projects •• Give options to participants. In any through Community POWER or view given activity or campaign, pro- a description of their projects at mote a variety of actions that may www.RethinkRecycling.com/grants be small or big lifestyle changes leading toward the same goal. •• Invite each person to choose at least one task to do. E-mail the meeting minutes and assigned tasks to everyone. •• Meet regularly so team members can report on the steps they are taking and plan the next steps.

Environmental Education Toolkit for Congregations/Getting Started...... 5 Build commitment Go beyond the Sustain your efforts usual suspects The research on behavior change •• Form an ongoing Green Team, tells us to do the following when As environmental issues gain attention, Environmental Stewardship Team, or Creation Care team. Many encouraging people to make changes more people want to do something congregations in Minnesota have in long-held beliefs and actions: about it. Design your project to make formed teams to sustain their environ- •• Offer incentives or prizes. Attract doing something possible for everyone. mental efforts from year to year. Visit attention to your project by offer- For those who are already www.webofcreation.org/Getting ing a relevant give-away or prize committed, use the activities in this Started/firststeps.htmfor more infor- for participation (e.g., a reusable toolkit to inspire additional lifestyle mation. In addition, many faith-based shopping bag, bottle of non-toxic changes. If people are not interested communities in Minnesota have cleaner, compost bin, rain barrel, formed affinity networks to support or involved, consider how to break window insulation kit). these efforts among congregations. down barriers to their involvement. •• Use pledges or commitments. To find contact information for Do they need to be inspired or edu- Invite people to fill out and denominational networks, see the return a simple commitment cated about the issues? Do they need “Faith Resources” Section (pg. 53). form for one or more actions to hear how environmental changes •• Inform your congregation’s leaders of they commit to take (see Appen- also help save money? Do they need your interest and commitment, and dix for a sample pledge). assurance from people they know encourage their involvement. •• Use prompts. Ask people to take and trust about the importance of the •• Develop an Action Plan for the con- home a reminder of the commit- issues? Do language barriers or physi- gregation in areas such as worship, ment or pledge they made, for cal limitations stop some from get- education, buildings and grounds, example, something they can discipleship at home and work, and ting involved? Work through existing post on their refrigerator. public ministry. networks and •• Create norms. Use announce- •• Work with the appropriate organizations that people already trust, ments, posters, buttons, lawn committees and individuals to carry signs, etc. to let everyone know get advice from opinion leaders, don’t out the Action Plan. make assumptions and get creative “this is how we do things.” •• Promote your identity as an •• Publicly announce and celebrate in your outreach. environmentally conscious and active how people are making changes. congregation. Invite individuals who have Track and celebrate your progress •• Meet regularly to follow the Action taken one of the actions you are Plan and to develop new projects. recommending to share their Keep your goals in mind. See the Evalu- experience with others. •• Consider a congregation project to ation Questions for Behavior Change benefit the larger community. •• Use existing communication Section (pg.65). Collect commitment channels such as announcements •• Work to keep the life and activities of during services, the weekly forms from participating families and in- the Green Team alive. bulletin, your newsletter, website dividuals. Follow up and support others •• Consider drafting and adopting or e-mail lists, posters or infor- in their efforts. Celebrate! Let members a green congregational mission mation tables with volunteers. know the impact they are making to- statement. •• Use existing events. These might gether. Translate numbers into a tangible include your coffee hour, educa- image. For example, show a before-and- tion hour, children’s programs, after junk mail stack from a participant garage sale, spring cleaning, sea- that has taken action to remove their sonal events or Earth month/day. names from junk mail lists or create a •• Build upon existing small groups. poster with the total pounds of junk mail Yours might include youth groups, choirs, bible study, men’s per year your group could prevent. clubs, senior clubs, etc.

6...... Environmental Education Toolkit for Congregations/Getting Started Seasonal Faith-based calendar

Faith-based communities can often increase the success of their environmental campaigns and projects by coordinating them with existing events and holidays. Use this calendar, which lists environmental, religious and cultural events and holidays, to develop ideas to implement seasonal projects or incorporate environmental messages into your community’s regularly celebrated holidays and worship ceremonies. Also keep in mind that you can green your celebrations anytime of the year! (Please note that some of the religious holidays are not dependent on calendar seasons, but are still noted here as examples.)

SEASON ENVIRONMENTAL HOLIDAYS/ IDEAS RELIGIOUS HOLIDAYS

Winter • Green holidays — Low waste, used and recycled gifts, • Buddhist — New year Celebration (Mahayana) post holiday recycling/electronics • Chinese New Year • New Years: resolutions to reduce your eco-footprint • Christian — Advent, Christmas: Green gifts • World Wetlands Day (February 22) • Islamic — Ashura, Muharram, (New Year’s Day), Mawlid Al-Nabi (Muhammad’s Birthday) • Jewish — Tu-Bishvat (Festival of Trees): Junk mail reduction, paper recycling, Chanuka

Spring • Arbor Day (Last Friday in April) • Buddhist — Visak (Buddha’s Birthday), • Earth Day (April 22) New Year celebration (Theravadin), Sangha Day • Environmental Pledges • Christian — Lent: Reducing waste & consumption; Easter, Confirmations • National Environmental Education Week (April 11-17) • Hindu — Holi Mahashivaratri • Spring Cleaning/Eco Cleaning (April/May) • Jewish — Pre-Passover: Non-toxic house cleaning, • Sustainable, water-smart landscaping Bar Mitzvahs & Bat Mitzvahs • World Water Day (March 22)

Summer • Bilk/walk to worship • Buddhist — Asalha Puja Day (Dhamma Day) • Low-Waste picnics • Islamic — Ramadan: Reduce waste; • National Night Out (August) Lailat ul Qadr (Night of Power); CFL light bulb recycling, Eid ul-Fitr: re-gifting/used clothing

Fall • America Recycles Day (November 15) • Christian — St. Francis of Assisi Day: Pet blessing, • Back to School — Low-Waste lunches; recycled supplies animal related awareness campaigns; Dios de los Muertos (Day the Dead) • CFL light bulb campaign • Hindu — Diwali • Halloween Costume swap (October) • Jewish — Yom Kippur: reflection on simple living • Hennepin County Choose to Reuse (October and November) • Taoist/Chinese: Moon Festival

Environmental Education Toolkit for Congregations/Calendar...... 7 8...... Environmental Education Toolkit for Congregations/Calendar The following activities can be implemented to engage your congregation members in taking action to protect the environment. Details for the activities are found within each topic area. Reducing waste – pg. 11

CONGREGATION-WIDE ALL AGES: ADULT AND TEEN: CHILDREN’S ACTIVITIES

• Earth Day/Month • Waste: What’s the problem • Wise up about waste quiz • Spaceship Earth • Rummage sale DVD • Buy used first • Sensory shaker bottle • Choose to Reuse • Create a reusable shopping • Build a compost bin • Make new crayons from bag • Junk mail reduction • Eco-fashion show broken ones • Make your own gift wrap or • Eco drama • Green your holidays bags • Low-waste celebrations • Cookie/brownie mix gift • Reduce junk mail containers • Books, toys, music, clothes or gift swap party • Eco drama • Cycle of Life • Reuse art projects • Make a junk mail tree • Congregational waste audit • Compare packaging and product costs

Environmental Education Toolkit for Congregations/Activities...... 9 Recycling – pg. 21

CONGREGATION-WIDE ALL AGES: ADULT AND TEEN: CHILDREN’S ACTIVITIES • Residential Recycling • Sorting game • Recycling and global • Make a recycling monster Campaign • What’s in your trash can warming • Make a recycling chart • America Recycles Day, • Make a trash art mural • Research teams: closing the Nov. 15th recycling loop

Toxicity reduction – pg. 27

CONGREGATION-WIDE ALL AGES: ADULT AND TEEN: CHILDREN’S ACTIVITIES • Spring Cleaning/Eco-cleaning • Grow grass seeds • Label reading • Grow grass seeds • HHW disposal • Make a non-toxic household • Electronics recycling cleaner awareness campaign • Techno trash • Video: Are you exposing your children to a toxic brew in your home?

Energy conservation and change – pg. 35

CONGREGATION-WIDE ALL AGES: ADULT AND TEEN: CHILDREN’S ACTIVITIES • Take the MN energy • Back in my day • Conduct a home energy • Weather collage challenge • Try a clothesline audit • Bike to Worship Challenge • Local foods potluck • Conduct al ighting audit • Promote fluorescent bulbs/ • Bike tune-up party • Map your route Fundraising initiative • Learn about your utility bill • Learn about electricity consumption • Book/movie club

Protecting water resources – pg. 45

CONGREGATION-WIDE ALL AGES: ADULT AND TEEN: CHILDREN’S ACTIVITIES • Sustainable Landscaping • Where in the watershed? • Volunteer to monitor water • Water Watch Campaign • Plant a native garden quality • Maintain your drain • Build or buy a rain barrel • Mark the storm drains • Lawn care contest • Organize a river clean up • Bio bingo • Measure the pH of water • Rain gauge monitoring

10E�� Environmental Education Toolkit for Congregations/Activities Campaign goals Resources

Participants will learn: Essential background reading Handout print resources If you plan to teach others about this Samples can be found in the Appendix • About packaging waste and assess their From Hennepin County typical purchasing practices. issue, please become familiar with the information provided in the Back- –– Donation Opportunities Guide • To reuse shopping bags or use cloth bags –– Greening Your Celebrations instead of disposable. ground section (see pgs. 8-9). –– Hold the Mail Web resources • About proper donation and disposal op- –– Too Much Packaging is a Waste tions for unwanted household items. •• www.hennepin.us/reducewaste –– How to Pack a No-Waste Lunch • How to give no-waste gifts and/or use Tips on how to reduce waste, including bookmark alternatives to gift wrap. how to reduce junk mail. ––“Remember Your Bag” window cling • How to get their name off junk mail lists. •• www.hennepin.us/choosetoreuse –– Choose to Reuse Directory magnet An online list of more than 500 busi- –– To order: nesses and organizations that trade, Order literature online for no charge repair, buy, resell or accept donations at www.hennepin.us/literatureorderform of unwanted household goods and or call 612-348-4168. clothing. From the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency •• RethinkRecycling.com Your go-to guide for waste and –– Reducing Waste at Home, Work or recycling in the Twin Cities. School (each are separate pieces) –– Reduce Trash When You Shop •• www.reduce.org –– How to Compost Your Organic Waste Minnesota Pollution Control Agency’s website for waste reduction tips, in- –– To order: cluding ideas on how to reduce Request literature by e-mail: junk mail. [email protected] or call 651-757-2120. PDF versions can •• www.twincitiesfreemarket.org also be downloaded at www.reduce.org A free online exchange for household under “educational toolbox.” items. Resources, cont’d on next page

Environmental Education Toolkit for Congregations/Reducing Waste...... 11 Resources, cont’d from previous page Background Video Tours Households in Minnesota are creating –– Introductory video – –– Hennepin County and throwing away more waste than Waste: What’s the Problem Drop-Off Facility Use this five minute video as an Touring the drop-off facility in ever. From junk mail to excess introduction to waste issues. It is Brooklyn Park provides an op- paint to food scraps – it takes a lot available online at www.hennepin.us/ portunity for residents and school of time and money to deal with all environmentaleducation or call groups to learn about how waste of the garbage. You probably do 612-348-4168 to have a DVD is managed by the county. Topics not go to the store saying, “I think copy mailed to you. covered include waste reduction, I’ll buy some garbage today.” But recycling, and proper disposal of Learning trunks household hazardous waste. Age depending on which products you –– Packaging Waste Reduction guidelines: The tour is recom- choose, that might be what you’re Learning Trunk mended for 3rd grade and older. doing. By purchasing items that are This trunk is a waste education Children younger than 3rd grade overly packaged, disposable or of tool for food and beverage packaging. may be asked to remain in the It demonstrates the differences in poor quality, your cash can soon end conference room with a chaperone up as trash. cost and packaging waste when during the second part of the tour. purchasing single-serve items Let’s consider ways we can –– Hennepin Energy Recovery Center: versus those packaged in bulk reduce waste at home and when we A Waste-to-Energy Facility or concentrate. It also addresses shop. This is good for the environ- packaging recyclability. About 365,000 tons of waste is pro- cessed annually at HERC to generate ment and can save money! –– Greening Your Celebrations enough electricity to power about Learning Trunk 25,000 homes. This tour provides Top ten easy This trunk helps illustrate ideas an overview of Hennepin County things you can do for giving more environmentally Environmental Services’ programs, to reduce waste friendly gifts and hosting greener an explanation of how we manage parties. This trunk illustrates many waste in the county, and a descrip- 1. Get your name off junk ideas from the Greening Your tion of how the waste-to-energy fa- mail lists. Go to www.hennepin.us/ Celebrations brochure. The trunk cility works. In addition, visitors tour reducewaste to find ways to get includes examples of greener the HERC tipping floor, the control off junk mail lists. Add privacy gift ideas, gift wrapping and party room and the exterior of the facility. statements to anything asking for supplies. Age guidelines: 9th grade and older. your contact information. Contact Hennepin County Environ- Call 612-348-4930 to schedule 2. Pack a no-waste lunch. Use mental Services to check out a learning a tour. For more information a reusable lunch box or bag trunk at 612-348-4168 or visit about tours and guidelines, visit and reusable containers instead www.hennepin.us/environmentaleducation. www.hennepin.us, search: tours. of plastic bags or disposable containers. Don’t forget a cloth napkin. 3. Compost your kitchen scraps. You can compost your fruit and vegetable scraps, coffee grounds and egg shells in a backyard compost bin. 4. Bring a reusable mug with you. Have a latte every day? Bring a reusable mug with you to the coffee shop. Buy water every day? Use a refillable bottle.

12E�� Environmental Education Toolkit for Congregations/Reducing Waste 5. Look for less packaging and Quick facts and •• Be a smart shopper – buy durables, avoid disposables. At the bulletin ideas not disposables. For example, buy grocery store, buy in bulk and reusable bottles instead of drink bring bags or containers to The tips below can be printed in packs, then buy concentrated fill. Choose products with the your bulletin, posted on your drinks and add water. least packaging over individu- website, sent in e-mail messages, •• Tired of all that expensive wrap- ally wrapped items. You’ll save or used in other ways to gently ping paper? Try these great ideas money, too. remind your faith community of for gift wrapping alternatives: 6. Borrow, rent and shop used the importance of reducing waste. Scarves, handkerchiefs, bandannas, first. Before you run to the old posters and maps, or pages •• On average, each person in the from a child’s coloring book. store to buy a new item, think Twin Cities metro area generates •• Packaging makes up 30 percent of about how much you will use almost 7 pounds of waste each day. our trash. Purchase items that have it. Could you borrow one from Together, that’s enough to fill the less packaging. a friend or neighbor, rent it at a Metrodome 11 times every year! •• Each household receives more local store or purchase it used? •• Grocery shoppers use nearly 40 than 50 pounds of unwanted, 7. Buy well, buy once. Well-de- billion bags each year. Most are unsolicited mail every year. Visit signed and constructed products only used once and thrown away. www.hennepin.us/reducewaste for that are repairable will last longer Bring your own reusable bag information on how to get your and usually save you money, instead. name off mailing lists. even if they cost more initially. •• Use gift bags over and over, gift •• Food waste accounts for about 8. Sell, give away or donate wrap is not recyclable. 11 percent of the garbage we usable clothing and house- •• Save money by going online to throw away. Much of this waste hold goods. Donate reusable the Twin Cities Free Market, can be avoided or put to better items to a local thrift store. www.twincitiesfreemarket.org, where use by composting. Check the Choose to Reuse you can give and get used items •• Every year, Hennepin County Directory at www.hennepin.us/ for free. residents throw away 32 million choosetoreuse for options. pounds of reusable goods. That’s 9. Give green gifts. Avoid over- enough stuff to fill shopping carts packaged, resource consuming lined up from Minneapolis to gifts that will need batteries Milwaukee. Find reuse opportuni- or electricity. Consider making ties at . a gift, sharing an experience, providing a service or giving an environmentally friendly product. 10. Educate yourself, friends and family about waste reduction and reuse. For details on the ideas presented above, visit RethinkRecycling.com, reduce.org and www.hennepin.us/reduce Easy things you can do to reduce waste, and spread the word! waste: Pack a no-waste lunch.

Environmental Education Toolkit for Congregations/ Reducing Waste...... 13 Congregation-wide Annual rummage sale Choose to Reuse Today – October through November campaigns An annual congregational rummage sale is a great opportunity Help promote Hennepin County’s Earth Day or Earth Month – to educate people about properly Choose To Reuse program, April 22 donating or disposing of unwanted held annually in October and Plan a kick-off event or information household items and about reuse November. Distribute Choose to table on Earth Day or during Earth shopping destinations in their area. Reuse coupon books. Request Month to let the congregation know At your rummage sale, you could: copies of the coupon book in about your environmental educa- August or September by calling ••Offer resources and tips for donat- tion or campaign plans for the year. ing or reusing unwanted items. 612-348-4787. Coupon books are also posted online at ••Distribute a reuse directory to sale ••Option 1–Host a table and share one shoppers. www.hennepin.us/choosetoreuse. to three easy action steps for mem- ••Promote the Choose to Reuse bers of your congregation to get Take home action Directory– www.hennepin.us/ started with waste reduction or re- choosetoreuse. ••Visit a participating store in use (e.g., distribute or sell reusable October and November during ••Promote The Twin Cities Free Mar- cloth shopping bags, pass out junk Choose to Reuse Today. mail reduction information, etc.). ket– www.twincitiesfreemarket.org. ••Choose to reuse items by repairing, ••Option 2–Organize an environ- Take home action trading, selling or donating them. mental fair, creation fair, resource ••Encourage people who will be ••Use reusable cloth shopping bags. fair or other event to celebrate donating items to the sale to also Earth Day and promote ways that properly dispose of items not ac- people can be better stewards of cepted at the sale, such as house- Resources the Earth. Invite local community hold hazardous waste. ••Choose to Reuse coupon books – resources and services such as ••Encourage people to shop at the www.hennepin.us/choosetoreuse your city’s recycling coordinator, rummage sale instead of purchas- ••Handout: Donation Opportunities Hennepin County Environmental ing new. Guide (See Appendix) Services, U of M Extension Master Gardeners (to demonstrate and ••Encourage people to shop for items ••Choose To Reuse Directory and discuss composting), thrift stores at one or more local reuse stores. other reuse tips can be found at or vendors of eco-products. Offer www.hennepin.us/choosetoreuse children and teen activities. Resources ••Hennepin County Tracking participation Take home action A to Z How-to-Get-Rid-of-it Guide Number of coupon books and and track participation – www.hennepin.us search: a to z information distributed. Ask members to sign a pledge to the ••Hennepin County Earth, take it home and post it in a Choose to Reuse Directory and visible location, such as on the Donation Opportunities refrigerator. Ask them to take three – www.hennepin.us/choosetoreuse reuse, recycling or toxicity reduction ••Donation Opportunities Brochure actions in the next three months. ••Choose to Reuse magnet Follow up with participants in two to three months, asking how their Tracking participation pledge is going and offering support. Track the number of items donated and sold, the number of people Resources attending the sale, the number of See the Pledge template in the information handouts distributed. Appendix.

14E�� Environmental Education Toolkit for Congregations/Reducing Waste Junk mail reduction Green your holidays campaign From Thanksgiving to New Years Encourage members to reduce the Day, household waste increases by amount of junk mail they receive more than 25 percent. Additional by getting off junk mail lists. food waste, packaging, wrapping paper and decorations add nearly Take home action one million tons a week to the ••Ask members to take steps get off nation’s garbage piles. It’s time to junk mail lists. think about changing the way we celebrate during the holidays and Resources throughout the year so that we can ••Handout: Hold the Mail enjoy a cleaner environment. Use (See Appendix) an information table or announce- www.hennepin.us/reducewaste ments to promote ways congregational members can green their Tracking participation holidays at home. ••Set up a computer with Internet access on the page: www.dma- Take home action choice.org and ask people to sign up to receive less junk mail. Count ••Give one or more reused or how many signed up. recycled gift this year. ••Ask that participating households ••Wrap your gifts in recycled or re- (or a sample) weigh their weekly usable gift wrap or cloth gift bags. junk mail on a bathroom scale at ••Plan a low-waste holiday gathering. the beginning of the education ••Make or decorate a cloth gift bag. campaign and six months later to see how many pounds of paper Resources waste was reduced. ••Handout: Greening your Celebrations ••Make your own gift wrap or bags Activity (pg. 17) ••Cookie/brownie mix gift containers Activity (pg. 17)

Tracking participation ••Number of cloth gift bags decorated and distributed ••Follow up survey to ask people what actions they took over the holidays due to your education campaign on green holidays.

Environmental Education Toolkit for Congregations/ Reducing Waste...... 15 Activities Waste: What’s the Compare packaging and Problem? DVD product costs Congregational waste audit Adults and children 8 and above Adults and children 8 and older Have the Green Team discuss ways •• Produced by Hennepin County. Compare waste and cost savings Use the DVD with groups and that waste can be reduced in the of overly packaged products. Set at public events to quickly out food items that are individually operations of the congregation. communicate waste reduction packaged alongside the same items Some congregations organize waste and what people can do to sorts to determine what is being make a difference. The video is that could be purchased in larger thrown away to identify which ac- available at www.hennepin.us/ quantities or bulk, e.g. goldfish tions will make the biggest differ- environmentaleducation under crackers, raisins, chips, juice boxes/ ence. Some actions include: “Environmental Education Resources” pouches, sodas, water. Compare or call 612-348-4168 to have a price differences and the amount •• Using reusable mugs instead of copy mailed to you. disposable cups. of packaging between the two. Discussion questions after watch- Discuss local grocery stores that •• Serving less packaged snacks. ing the DVD: What did you learn provide the option of purchasing •• Using real dishware for congrega- that you didn’t already know? Did items in larger quantities or bulk. tion events instead of plastic, paper or Styrofoam (or ask members anything surprise you? What actions Refer to Resource Page – Packaging to bring their own dishware for suggested on the DVD will you Reduction (see Appendix) for de- events). consider taking? tailed instructions for this activity. •• Offering recycling for paper, cans and bottles. “Wise up About Waste” Quiz Suggested supplies: •• Installing a compost bin on-site to Adults and teens •• Examples of food and beverage compost food scraps and serve as a Have your group take the “Wise- items that are overly packaged and similar products with less demonstration for the congregation. Up About Waste!” quiz, which is packaging. •• Buy recycled paper. similar to a magazine quiz. It is •• List of prices. •• Brainstorm changes that could be designed to teach people about made and commit to making one waste issues and inform people •• Calculators or more changes. how much they already know •• Handout: Too Much Packaging is a Waste •• See the Environmental Resources about waste reduction. Ask people for Internal Operations Section to commit to one or more ways to •• Handout: Reduce Trash When (pg. 61) and the Special Event reduce waste in the next week or You Shop Ideas Section (pg. 57). Also refer to month and practice those activities. •• Learning Trunk: Packaging Waste the Service Learning Section (pg. 59) Reduction Learning Trunk for more information on making Suggested supplies: This learning trunk is provided, on this a youth-led service project. •• Wise Up About Waste Quiz a loan basis, free of charge, as a (see Appendix) waste education tool for food and beverage packaging. It demonstrates the differences in cost and packaging waste when purchasing single-serve items versus those packaged in bulk or concentrate. It also addresses packaging recyclability. Contact Hennepin County Environmental Services for more details at 612-348-4168 or visit www.hennepin.us/ environmentaleducation.

16E�� Environmental Education Toolkit for Congregations/Reducing Waste Discussion starters: Create reusable Make your own gift wrap shopping bags or bags Was anyone already buying in bulk to save money or reduce waste? All ages Adults and children over 6 What were you already buying in Pass out plain reusable bags as well Instead of spending money on new wrap- bulk? Was anyone surprised by the as baskets of reusable art scraps ping paper or gift bags, make your own. difference in the prices? In addi- and fabric markers to decorate the Friends and family members will enjoy tion to avoiding overly packaged bags. As the group decorates their receiving something made by hand. products, what else can we do reusable bags, discuss the major •• Decorate plain newsprint, brown craft when shopping to reduce waste? influences on how we decide what paper, boxes, grocery bags, or old card- (One answer: take reusable bags to buy, and how can we change our stock using stencils, collage, crayons or markers (these papers can be recycled for carrying groceries home.) How purchasing habits to reduce waste. later). could our group or organization Suggested supplies: •• Use old gift wrap, newspapers, fabric reduce waste from packaging? •• Reusable bags made from canvas, or wallpaper scraps to make a gift bag. Consider buying in bulk for your cotton, recycled plastic, etc. Search “make your own gift bag” on next event. •• Fabric markers, glue, glitter, and the Internet for pattern ideas. art scraps such as yarn, ribbon, •• Enlist the help of people who can sew fabric. and create reusable cloth gift bags. En- ••“Remember your bags” window courage people to give gifts in the bags clings (available from Hennepin and reuse them each year. The bags County and can be ordered could also be sold as a fundraiser. Find online at www.hennepin.us/ instructions at www.wikihow.com/Sew-a- literatureorderform) Cloth-Gift-Bag. Suggested supplies: Discussion starters: •• Supplies listed above, plus scissors, Does anyone already bring reusable paint or glue if needed.

Create reusable bags when shopping? What moti- shopping bags. This activity could also be used be used as a vated you to start bringing reusable Cookie/brownie mix gift parent-child activity. bags? Where did you get the bags? If containers you are not bringing a bag with you Adults, teens and children over 3 when shopping, what is holding you Using small, plastic coffee containers, back? How can people overcome have the group mix dry ingredients for those barriers? cookies and brownies. Put mix into Distribute or create a prompt for the coffee can. To make a great gift, remembering your bags when shop- decorate with a strip of recycled paper ping, such as a note for the car’s dash- around can, hang a cookie cutter with board that says “remember your bags!” ribbon from the can and include the recipe. Recycled holiday cards Suggested supplies: Make your own All ages giftwrap or bags. Collect old holiday cards and make •• Dry ingredients for cookies or brownies, empty plastic jars or coffee cans, new cards from the old ones. The recycled paper, ribbon, cookie cutter cards could be used, sold as a for decoration, recipes printed on fundraiser or given to others. paper. Suggested supplies: •• Old holiday cards, scissors, glue, and new or created envelopes.

Environmental Education Toolkit for Congregations/Reducing Waste...... 17 Buy used first Build a compost bin Parties for children Adults and teens Adults and children 8 and older and teens Children, teens, adults Each year, 32 million pounds of us- Food that could be eaten or com- able clothing and household goods posted makes up 11 percent of Discuss ways to make your next — enough to fill shopping carts our waste. Composting is a natural birthday party a low-waste event from Minneapolis to Milwaukee — process where food scraps such as (see Party Planning Tips in the are thrown away by Hennepin vegetable peels, fruit rinds and cof- Greening Your Celebrations handout County residents. Share the fee grounds, plus yard wastes, are or visit RethinkRecycling.com/Events Donation Opportunities Guide. If put in a pile or bin to decompose. for ideas and consider implementing Internet access is available, dem- As gardeners and farmers know, activities from this Toolkit at the onstrate how to use Hennepin finished compost is a resource that party). County’s Choose To Reuse Directory, improves soil. Home composting is Books, toys, music, clothes available at www.hennepin.us/choose simple and doesn’t require special or gift swap party toreuse and the Twin Cities Free equipment or permits. Refer to the Adults, teens, children 6 and older Market, at www.twincitiesfree handout How to Compost. market.org. Discuss how people Organize your group to build Everyone loves new things, even have donated items they don’t need simple bins with reused materials when they’re used items. Orga- and creative ways to buy or get or to purchase compost bins in nize a party where no one spends used items. bulk. Experienced composters money and everyone leaves with gifts! Have adults or children look Suggested supplies: can visit the backyards of others to recommend where to place the through their things and collect •• Handout: Donation Opportunities bin and how to effectively use it. gently used items they no longer Guide Consider composting food waste at want (consider a theme, such •• Computer with Internet access your next festival or event. Ask a as books, music, toys, kitchen (if possible) Master Gardener to give presenta- items, clothes, shoes, jewelry, etc.) •• Each September, Choose to Reuse tions about composting. Bring the items to a gathering and coupon books that have discounts exchange them (casually by laying Suggested supplies: at reuse stores in October and everything around your space, or November are available free •• Handout: How To Compost formally by swapping items or from Hennepin County. Call 612-348-4787 to request copies •• Materials to build bins and tools making a game of it). Talk about to distribute. other ways to donate or get rid of things you don’t use. Discussion starters: In your experience, what are some of the best Suggested supplies: items to get secondhand? Why? In •• Handout: Donation Opportunities our community, what are some good Guide (see Appendix) sources for getting used items? Have •• Computer with Internet access you ever experimented and tried not to look at Hennepin County’s to buy any new items (besides food, Choose to Reuse Directory at toiletries, etc.) for a week or month? www.hennepin.us/choosetoreuse and The Twin Cities Free Market at What are some benefits of buying used www.twincitiesfreemarket.org. items and donating old items? When your child outgrows or no longer plays with a toy/game/puzzle, what do you do with it? What is the difference between a “need” and a “want?”

18E�� Environmental Education Toolkit for Congregations/Reducing Waste Eco fashion show Reduce junk mail Make a junk mail tree Teens, children over 6, or adults Adults Adults and children over 4 Organize an Eco Fashion Show by The average American household Create a two- or three-dimensional showing off reused clothes that receives more than 500 pieces of tree out of junk mail (directions in have been purchased or created, advertising mail each year. Share the Appendix). To educate others to and/or clothes that are made from the handout Hold the Mail and dis- reduce junk mail, display the tree in recycled materials (e.g. polar fleece). cuss what people have tried to do a prominent location with informa- Award prizes. Create recycled fash- to reduce junk mail. Discuss how tion on how to reduce junk mail. ions using the activities below. nearly all mail can be recycled Suggested supplies: ••“Potato Chip Bracelet” activity in (e.g., all paper can be recycled, and •• Handout: Hold the Mail Appendix. CDs that come in the mail can be (see Appendix) ••“Jeans Bag” activity in Appendix. recycled at drop-offs like Best Buy, •• Directions for building a junk mail etc.). Consider creating a challenge to tree (see Appendix) Eco drama see how much junk mail your group •• Junk mail from home (remove can reduce. Teens, children over 6, or adults personal information) Organize and perform an Eco Drama Suggested supplies: •• Display boards, markers, scissors, (play or skit) for your group about •• Handout: Hold the Mail tape reusing, reducing, recycling or other (see Appendix) Sensory/shaker bottle environmental themes. Some groups Discussion starters: About how center the performance around a much unwanted mail do you get Parents with infants/toddlers plot of a popular movie or book. every day or every week? What Create “sensory bottles” (that make have you already done to reduce noise or have movement) out of pop Reuse art projects the amount of unwanted mail you and/or bottled water containers. Use All ages receive? Why do our names and clean, empty bottles with lids. Have Have your group provide unwanted even our children’s names end up a variety of objects set out in bowls items that could be glued, cut or on so many lists? (One answer: such as pompoms, feathers, Q-tips, sewn into a new project. Allow youth Direct marketing is cost effective dried beans, etc. Parents and chil- to be creative or make a sample to for businesses). dren can put items into the bottle. get them started. Some ideas include: Hot glue or duct tape lid on so chil- decorate an old picture frame, sew dren are prevented from opening the old jeans into a bag (see Appendix) or bottle and choking on the contents. old clothes into new clothes, create a Suggested supplies: mural from items that can’t be recycled. Remember, don’t glue or tape items •• Empty pop and/or bottled water containers that can be recycled in ways that make them impossible to recycle later. •• Items to put in empty bottles (pompoms, feathers, Q-tips, dried beans) Suggested supplies: •• Hot glue or duct tape •• Reusable art materials •• Art scraps such as yarn, ribbon •• Glue • Glitter •• Markers • Fabric •• Sewing machines (if needed) Consider a visit to ArtStart’s ArtScraps Store (www.artstart.org).

Environmental Education Toolkit for Congregations/Reducing Waste...... 19 Make new crayons from Cycle of Life Discussion starters: broken ones All ages Which raw materials do we rely Adults and children 3 and older on the most? Which raw materials Help your group of adults or youth have limited or unlimited supplies Instead of throwing away broken consider where raw materials for on Earth? Which products have a crayons, parents and children can everyday products come from and simple life cycle or a complex life make new ones together. An oven go to after we’re done using them. cycle? Which raw materials are is needed for this activity. Prepare by collecting items that absorbed/returned back into the To make crayons: represent raw materials found in Earth and which aren’t? –– Peel all paper off broken crayons commonly used goods: Additional activity: –– Preheat oven to 275 degrees F. •• Tree branches (paper, wood products) Draw, discuss, or perform the •• Rocks (metal products) –– Spray large or small muffin tins typical life cycle of your favorite with cooking spray •• Cotton balls (natural fabrics) products/goods. –– Fill tins with unwrapped crayons •• Sand (glass) (solid or mixed colors) •• Grains/plants/water Spaceship Earth –– Bake for 7 – 14 minutes (food, medicines) Youth K-8 –– While still warm, use a toothpick •• Motor oil in a glass jar to represent Explain to the group that they will petroleum (plastics, synthetics) to swirl colors if desired be taking a trip to a far away space –– Cool completely, then pop out Create a list by asking the group station and will not return to Earth of tins to share items from one or more of for 50 years. They need to plan for Suggested supplies: these lists: their trip, deciding on everything •• Broken crayons •• Gifts they hope to receive for their they need to survive. Have indi- next birthday/holiday viduals, small groups, or the large •• Oven •• Items in their garbage at home group design a spaceship and cre- •• Muffin tins •• Anything they used or touched in ate lists of what they need to build •• Spray oil the last hour/day it and what they need to take to •• Toothpicks Display the raw materials. Ask survive. As a large group, discuss participants to choose an item from the difference between “needs” and the list you created and decide “wants.” Ask participants to read which raw materials went into that their lists and decide if items go on item. Discuss items that require a “needs” or “wants” list. few and many raw materials. Ask Discussion starters: how your participants will handle the items when they are done using If you could only take five items, them (throw away, recycle, give which would they be and why? Have away, store, etc.) humans made trips where they had to make these decisions? (Explor- ers, settlers, pioneers, immigrants, nomads, campers.) What did they take? Does the Earth seem like a ship floating in space? Do we have limited supplies of anything on Earth?

20E�� Environmental Education Toolkit for Congregations/Reducing Waste Campaign goal Web resources Handout print resources •• www.hennepin.us/recycling Samples can be found in the Appendix Participants will learn: Links to city recycling contacts, Contact your city for specific recycling drop-off recycling information. Contact •• Which items can be recycled and how centers and tips for apartment information for city recycling to take action to recycle more items. and condominium recycling. programs can be found at •• How recycling saves natural resources •• RethinkRecycling.com www.hennepin.us/recycling and reduces climate change. Your go-to guide for waste and or RethinkRecycling.com. •• Why purchasing items that are recy- recycling in the Twin Cities. clable and made from recycled materials •• www.ci.minneapolis.mn.us/solid-waste From Hennepin County is beneficial. Information on the city’s trash and –– Residential Curbside Recycling recycling program, including how to Guide (also available in Spanish) Resources sort recycling, how to get an extra bin –– Recycling chart activity for kids and other recycling container options. Essential background reading –– To order: •• www.recyclemoreminnesota.org Order literature online at •• If you plan to teach others about The Minnesota Pollution Control this issue, please become familiar www.hennepin.us/literatureorderform Agency’s website for statewide or call 612-348-4168. with the information provided in the recycling information. Background section (see pg. 22). •• www.recycleminnesota.org Resources, cont’d on the next page •• Residential Curbside Recycling Guide The Recycling Association of (see Appendix). Minnesota’s website offers posters, educational DVDs and other resources for educators. •• www.eurekarecycling.org/study_ MultifamilyRecycling.cfm This guide developed by Eureka Recycling offers tips to encourage recycling in apartment buildings.

Environmental Education Toolkit for Congregations/Recycling...... 21 Resources, cont’d from the previous page Background Dos and don’ts of recycling Learning trunks Residents and businesses in the •• Reduce, Reuse, Recycle •• Recycle the old recycling rules. Learning Trunk Twin Cities area recycle more than Curbside recycling programs The learning trunk includes 1.3 million tons of waste each have changed over the years. You examples of items that can be re- year. That’s about 43 percent of can now recycle more items and cycled, samples showing the the garbage we generate. Curbside your collection method may have changed. Take a few minutes to recycling process, activity ideas, recycling is simple and convenient books and DVDs for all ages. reacquaint yourself with your and is something the entire family community’s recycling program. •• Recycled Products can help with. Visit www.hennepin.us/recycling or Learning Trunk Your recycling duties are not go to RethinkRecycling.com This trunk demonstrates the im- over when you place your bin at the for links to your community’s portance of completing the loop recycling information. by purchasing goods made from curb. To close the recycling loop, recycled materials. It includes recyclables must be made into new •• Do recycle more paper: for example products, activity guides, products. To make recycling work, example mail, office and school papers, magazines, newspaper books, posters, DVDs and videos. people must purchase items made inserts, phone books, cereal boxes •• Recycling Sorting Activity from recycled materials, such as and shoe boxes. Don’t forget your The activity includes materials that notebooks, copy paper, trash bags plastic bottles, glass bottles and can and cannot be recycled. and door mats. Look on a prod- jars, and metal cans. uct’s label for the words “this item Contact Hennepin County •• Don’t recycle yogurt containers, Environmental Services to check is made from recycled materials,” margarine tubs, styrofoam, food- out a learning trunk at 612-348-4168 “made from post-consumer content” soiled paper, wax paper, glassware or visit www.hennepin.us/ or “made from reclaimed materials.” and ceramics. environmentaleducation. •• Think about where you generate Recycling in your community recycling at home–it’s not just Each city or town creates its own in the kitchen. Place recycling containers where you read your rules and processes for recycling. mail, pay your bills and use the Materials collected, sorting require- computer. ments and other requirements can •• Recycle when you are on the go. all vary. The information contained Look for recycling bins at work, in this chapter is general and likely school, shopping centers, gas accurate in your community, but stations and parks. If you don’t there are variations. To find links see recycling, let managers know to the recycling rules in your com- that recycling is important to you. munity visit www.hennepin.us/recycling •• Close the loop, buy recycled. or go to RethinkRecycling.com All the paper, plastic, metals and glass that you’ve been recycling are made into all sorts of everyday products and packages. Items labeled “post-consumer content” are made from the materials you recycle at home.

22E�� Environmental Education Toolkit for Congregations/Recycling Items commonly made Recycling frequently asked Quick facts and out of recycled materials questions bulletin ideas (and what they are made from): •• Which boxes are recyclable? –– Glass food jars, including baby If a box is kept in the cupboard, it The information below can be food jars (glass) is recyclable. If it goes in the fridge, printed in your bulletin, posted –– Pop cans (aluminum) freezer or microwave, it is not. on your website, sent in e-mail –– Metal food cans (steel) The wax coating that makes refrig- messages or used in other ways to –– Rubber welcome mats erator, freezer and microwavable remind your faith community of (tire rubber) boxes water-resistant is a prob- the importance of recycling. –– Newspaper (mixed paper) lem in the recycling process. The glossy coating used on toothpaste, •• Recycling paper doesn’t just –– Plastic lumber (plastic bottles, cereal, pasta and some cardboard save trees! Production of recycled plastic bags) boxes does not affect the recycling paper uses 80 percent less water, –– Checks (office paper) process. 65 percent less energy and pro- duces 95 percent less air pollution –– Copy paper (office paper) •• Which plastics are recyclable than paper production using raw –– Greeting cards - Shoebox at curbside? materials. Hallmark, Recycled Paper Greetings Inc. available at Target Remember, plastic bottles and •• A newspaper is recycled and back and other stores (office paper) jugs are recyclable. in circulation in less than four weeks. –– Carpet (plastic bottles) •• Nationally, only one out of every –– Fleece (plastic bottles) five plastic bottles is recycled. –– Cardboard boxes •• Recycling one aluminum can saves (cardboard, boxboard) enough energy to power a TV or The symbol on the bottom of a computer for three hours. plastic container does not mean •• Recycling one glass jar saves it is recyclable – it only tells you enough electricity to light a what type of plastic the container conventional 60-watt bulb for is made of. In Hennepin County, four hours or an 11-watt compact plastic bottles and jugs are fluorescent bulb for 20 hours. collected for recycling. However, •• It takes 95 percent less energy to plastic tubs and cups, such as make aluminum from recycled yogurt cups, are not recyclable. material than it does to make it These plastics contain different from scratch. Making new products additives than bottles, and there from recycled steel results in a is little demand for recycling these 60 percent energy savings, using materials in our area. In the future, recycled plastic results in a these materials may be added to 70 percent energy savings, and All of these paper recycling programs. materials are recyclable. using recycled glass results in a •• How should I prepare my 40 percent energy savings. recycling? •• Five plastic soda bottles yield Prepare recycling by: enough fiber for one extra large –– Remove all caps, lids and pumps T-shirt, one square foot of carpet or enough fiber fill for one ski jacket. –– Give containers a quick rinse •• Recycling reduces greenhouse –– It’s OK to leave labels on gases. In one year, recycling in –– Do not place recyclables in a Minnesota reduces emissions plastic bag equal to taking 1.2 million cars off the road.

Environmental Education Toolkit for Congregations/Recycling...... 23 Congregation-wide America Recycles Day – Activities campaigns November 15 All ages Sorting game Residential recycling Celebrate America Recycles Day All ages campaign by promoting household recycling Each community determines how and goods made from recycled Promote household recycling prac- recyclables need to be sorted (or materials. Display samples of tices. Encourage families to start not sorted) to be put out at the recycling. For those that already do clothes and goods made from curb. Check RethinkRecycling.com recycled materials. recycle, share detailed information or call your city to learn how to on what can be recycled, including Take home action sort materials for recycling in your paper, cans and bottles. •••Hand out or display the list community. Use this activity to Take home action of items commonly made from help participants practice sort- recycled materials (see pg. 23). •• Start a recycling program in your ing. Set up five boxes — one for Ask families to shop for these items congregation as a model, then ask paper, one for cans, one for plastic the next time they need them. members to start or improve their bottles, one for glass bottles and recycling program at home. Resources: jars, and one for items that can- •• Post a recycling chart at home (see •• America Recycles Day Toolkit: not be recycled (note that you Make a recycling chart on page 25). www.recycleminnesota.org/htm/ may want to exclude glass bottles Resources ProAmRec.htm for information if small children are participating). on planning events on America Sort cans, plastics, paper and trash •• Handout: Residential Curbside Recycles Day (non-recyclables) into labeled bins. Recycling Guide (See Appendix ) •• Handout: Residential Curbside Offer prizes made from recycled •• Make a recycling chart (pg. 25) Recycling Guide materials. •• Solid Waste Management Coordi- •• Hennepin County Learning Trunks Suggested supplies: nating Board’s “Rethink Recycling” – Reduce, Reuse, Recycle Learning Toolkit: www.swmcb.org with edu- Trunk and the Recycled Products •• Items that can be recycled, cational tools on recycling includ- Learning Trunk including office paper, newspaper, ing sample newsletter articles, ads cardboard, plastic bottles, •• Recycling images and articles are and images. aluminum cans, glass bottles. available for download at •• Trash (items that cannot be Tracking participation www.swmcb.org/current-campaigns and click on Reinvigorating recycled): plastic candy wrappers, •• Have families participate in a Residential Recycling Campaign broken toys, styrofoam cups, etc. survey asking if they have changed •• Handout: Residential Curbside their recycling practices at home Tracking participation Recycling Guide (see Appendix) due to your educational outreach. •• Ask families to circle items on Ask them details on what types of the list of recycled goods that Discussion starter: items they used to recycle (if any- they have purchased since your thing) and what they recycle now. As yourgroup is doing the sorting campaign began. activity, ask “Why is it important to •• Set up a friendly contest to see which family/household can create sort these things?” Let participants the least garbage by recycling more. answer, but be sure to explain the Measure using a bathroom scale or recycling process – a truck takes re- measuring by the bag (if families cycling away to a facility where the use the same size bag i.e. paper materials are made into something grocery bags, 10-gallon plastic new. You could have examples of bags, etc.). items made with recycled content to show them (see list in the Intro- duction to this chapter).

24E�� Environmental Education Toolkit for Congregations/Recycling Make a recycling chart Make a recycling Recycling and global All ages “monster” warming All ages Adults, teens, and children 10 Parents and children cut out photos and older from magazines or draw pictures Using two paper grocery bags, of the items that can be recycled in adults and children can create a Share or present the one-page their community. Paste the pic- recycling “monster” (or other type handout referenced below on how tures onto a blank piece of paper of animal) that is hungry for ev- recycling helps mitigate global or the blank Recycling Chart in the erything you recycle – cans, paper, warming. Use the discussion starters Appendix. Post it in the kitchen or milk jugs and more! The monster below with the group. near the garbage/recycling area. can serve as a receptacle in the Suggested supplies: home for recycling. Suggested supplies: •• Article 9: “Recycling Mitigates To make: Global Warming” from the •• Copies of blank Recycling Chart SWMCB Reinvigorating (see Appendix) or blank paper 1. Use two same-size brown grocery Residential Recycling Toolkit bags. Cut a large oval in the •• Magazines with kitchen/house- (see Appendix or www.swmcb.org/ bottom of one of bags. Slide it wares photos current-campaigns). upside-down over the other bag, •• Glue, crayons, scissors so the oval is on top. The oval Discussion starters: •• Handout: Residential Curbside will be your monster’s mouth. Were you already aware of the Recycling Guide 2. Decorate the bag with fabric different ways recycling can help scraps, crayons or other materi- prevent global warming? Did What’s in your trash can? als to make the monster’s eyes, anything about the article surprise All ages nose, hair, teeth, etc. you? Using the examples from the Pass out the Trash Checklist and ask 3. When the monster is full, pull off the decorated bag, put the recy- article about the different ways participants to check off what they cling out for curbside collection, recycling helps prevent global threw away in the past week. Tally and replace the inside bag. warming, what other things can be a group score. Identify the most 4. Adding a pipe cleaner handle done, in addition to recycling, that common things that the group will make removing the top bag will have similar outcomes for the threw out. Form smaller groups easier. natural world? and give each one a bag of “typical” 5. You can make more than one household trash. Ask the groups monster if your community re- to discuss how the items could be quires you to sort your recycling. recycled, reused, avoided or com- Suggested supplies: posted. Share creative ideas with the large group. •• Two paper bags (grocery bag or similar) Suggested supplies: •• Pipe cleaners (for handles) •• Copies of the Trash Checklist •• Fabric scraps, old greeting cards, (See Appendix) bottle tops (or any other materials •• Bags containing typical household to decorate your monster) trash items •• Glue Discussion starters: •• Scissors Which items could have been recycled, reused, avoided or composted? If we go through the Trash Checklist again next week, what would you like to avoid having in your trash?

Environmental Education Toolkit for Congregations/Recycling...... 25 Research teams: closing Make a trash art mural the recycling loop All ages Adults and teens Using colorful, clean trash items Divide people into research teams that cannot be recycled, make a for each type of recyclable item: wall mural together as a group (or paper, plastic, cans and glass. Each individual art projects). Consider team researches what happens in a theme like a rainbow, a garden, the recycling process (from pick- undersea landscape, etc. Discuss ing items up at the curb to mak- the many small packaging items ing something new from recycled we use and discard every day. Ask materials) and presents to the other participants for their creative ideas teams. You could display examples to avoid these items in the future. of items made with recycled con- Suggested supplies: tent. Hand out information about recycling in your community (in- •• Butcher paper or newsprint, glue or tape, scissors. formation is available at RethinkRe- cycling.com) and share a list of •• Clean, colorful items that cannot be recycled, for example, food/ items made from recycled materials snack wrappers, plastic straws, (see pg. 23). used wrapping paper. See the Suggested resources: Residential Curbside Recycling •• Paper Article #4 and Containers Guide for a full list. Planning Article #3: Where Does it Go? from ahead, the Reinvigorating Residential share the Guide in advance and Recycling Toolkit(see Appendix or ask participants to bring non- recyclable items from home. download online at www.swmcb. org/current-campaigns). •• Recycling Association of Minnesota’s Educational Resources, www.recycleminnesota.org/htm/ ReEd.htm •• Hennepin County Learning Trunks – Reduce, Reuse, Recycle Learning Trunk and the Recycled Products Learning Trunk have examples of what products look like during the recycling process (see pg. 22 for a description).

26E�� Environmental Education Toolkit for Congregations/Recycling Campaign goals Resources

Participants will: Essential background reading Web resources •• Learn to identify household hazardous •• The toxicity reduction Background •• www.hennepin.us/dropoffs products and describe where they can section (see pgs. 28-31) Hennepin County operates two be found in the home. drop-off facilities for residents to •• Hennepin County handouts •• Be able to read and analyze product properly dispose of household hazard- (see Appendix) ous wastes. The Brooklyn Park and labels for safe use. –– Household Hazardous Waste Bloomington facilities are open year- •• Identify ways to reduce toxic chemicals and Problem Materials Guide round. For more information, call in the home, including how to clean their (also available in Spanish) 612-348-3777. homes using less hazardous products. –– Drop-off Facilities brochure •• www.hennepin.us, search: a to z guide –– Non-Toxic Cleaning Recipes Hennepin County’s A to Z How-To-Get- Rid-of-It Guide is an online resource Additional background information with information on how to dispose (see Appendix) of more than 400 common household •• Minnesota Pollution Control Agency’s items. –– Reduce the Need for Pesticides and •• RethinkRecycling.com Herbicides Your go-to guide for waste and –– How to Grow a Healthy, No-Waste recycling in the Twin Cities. Lawn and Garden •• reduce.org Tips on how to reduce toxicity at home.

Resources, cont’d on the next page

Environmental Education Toolkit for Congregations/Toxicity Reduction...... 27 Resources, cont’d from the previous page The trunk includes sample Background products for label reading activity, Handout print resources photos of similar-looking hazard- What are household hazardous Samples can be found in the Appendix ous and non-hazardous products to products and where do you find From Hennepin County illustrate the importance of proper them? How do chemicals enter storage, and activities, lesson plans –– How to Identify Hazardous your body? How do we identify Product–Read the label factsheet and project ideas. hazardous products and what can –– Ways to Reduce Harmful Learn more about the learning trunk Chemicals in Your Home factsheet we do to decrease toxic chemicals at www.hennepin.us/environmental –– Household Hazardous Waste and education. To reserve a trunk, call in our homes? Let’s look at how to Problem Materials Guide create safer home environments for (also available in Spanish) 612-348-4168. our children and ourselves. –– Fluorescent Light Bulbs: Video From the water we drink to the Buy them, Use them, Recycle them •• Are You Exposing your Children • foods we eat to how we maintain –– Mercury and Mercury-Containing to a Toxic Brew? Products This video explores the toxicity of our yards and clean our homes, we are exposed to chemicals in many –– Drop-Off Facilities brochure common household products. It is a good introduction to the topic of ways. According to the U.S. Envi- –– Earth-Friendly Home Landscaping toxicity reduction and the impor- Guide ronmental Protection Agency, only tance of label reading. a small fraction of the more than –– Non-Toxic Cleaning Recipes This video is available in VHS or 75,000 registered chemicals have –– To order: DVD format. The DVD has subtitles Order literature online at gone through complete testing in Spanish or French. This video can www.hennepin.us/literatureorderform for human health concerns. Some or call 612-348-4168. be checked out by calling Hennepin County at 612-348-4168. chemicals have immediate toxic From the Minnesota Pollution effects. Others are toxic to our Tour Control Agency bodies only after repeated, long- •• Hennepin County –– Reduce the Need for Pesticides and term exposure. Drop-Off Facility Herbicides Children are especially sus- Touring the drop-off facility in –– How to Grow a Healthy, No-Waste ceptible to the negative effects Lawn and Garden Brooklyn Park provides an opportu- of chemicals. Pound for pound, –– To order: Request literature by nity for residents and school groups children breathe more air, drink e-mail at resourcecenter.pca@state. to learn about how waste is managed mn.us or call 651-757-2120. PDF by the county. Topics covered in- more water and eat more food than versions can also be downloaded at clude waste reduction, recycling, and adults. When they play, they crawl www.pca.state.mn.us, search: learn- proper disposal of household hazard- and put things in their mouths. ing resource factsheets. ous waste. Age guidelines: The tour Even beyond the infant and tod- is recommended for 3rd grade and Learning trunks dler years, children are exposed older. Children younger than 3rd •• Household Hazardous Waste grade may be asked to remain in the to chemicals through ingestion, Learning Trunk conference room with a chaperone absorption (through the skin), The Household Hazardous Waste during the second part of the tour. contact and inhalation. As a result, Learning Trunk helps educators Call 612-348-4930 to schedule a children have an increased chance explain the importance of proper tour. For more information about of exposure to pollutants. Because use, storage, disposal and safety tours and guidelines, visit children’s bodies are still develop- information of household hazard- www.hennepin.us, search: tours ous products. ing, they may process these pollutants differently from adults.

28E�� Environmental Education Toolkit for Congregations/Toxicity Reduction How to identify hazardous products The information below is also found in the Appendix, in a Become A Label Reader format suitable for copying and Look for key words on labels and choose the least hazardous product. handing out. We use household hazardous Less toxic Caution Mild/moderate products every day for cleaning Warning Moderate hazard and fixing our homes, maintain- ing our cars and taking care Extremely flammable, Danger corrosive or highly toxic of our lawns. To distinguish hazardous products from other Highly toxic products used in and around the – harmful or fatal if swallowed More toxic Poison home, you can look at the labels. A hazardous product has one or more of these words (often Signal words called signal words) on the label: Signal words explain how toxic •• Corrosive: The words “corrosive,” Caution, Warning, Danger or Poi- or hazardous a product is. Signal “acid,” “caustic,” “lye,” “alkaline,” son. These products can be found words are required by law on the or “causes burns to the skin” mean in the kitchen, laundry room, labels of hazardous products. that the product can burn the skin or eyes. This material can also eat basement, garage or storage area. •• Caution – mildly to moderately away other materials with which it When these products are hazardous (not fatal if swallowed comes into contact. not used up, and are no longer but the product may irritate the •• Toxic: The words “poison” or skin or make a person sick) useable or needed, they must be “harmful if swallowed” mean that disposed of as household haz- •• Warning – moderately hazardous the product is poisonous and can be ardous waste. They must not be •• Danger – extremely hazardous, harmful or fatal if swallowed, inhaled placed in the trash. i.e., extremely flammable, or absorbed through the skin. Examples of household haz- corrosive or highly toxic •• Reactive: The words “do not ardous wastes include acids, aero- •• Poison – highly toxic (harmful mix with….” or “store separately sol cans with product remaining, or fatal if swallowed) from other products” mean that antifreeze, drain cleaner, driveway the product may react violently or produce toxic gas if combined sealer, items that contain mercury Characteristic words with other substances. Examples (e.g., thermometers, thermostats Characteristic words indicate the include certain types of drain and fluorescent bulbs), motor oil, type of hazard posed by a product cleaners, oven cleaners or other oil filters, oven cleaner, paint and and are usually found after the sig- products containing bleach, am- stains, paint thinner, paint strip- nal word on the label. The follow- monia or lye. per, pesticides, pool chemicals and ing terms are characteristic words: wood preservatives. •• Flammable/Combustible: This means that the product can easily catch fire and support a flame.

Environmental Education Toolkit for Congregations/Toxicity Reduction...... 29 Exposure pathways How to safely store products How to properly dispose of household hazardous waste Household hazardous products can Storing products properly can help be harmful not only to the envi- prevent accidents and extend a Improper disposal of household ronment but also to humans and product’s life. hazardous waste, such as throwing animals. The ways that chemicals •• Keep products out of reach of it in the trash or pouring it down enter the body are called exposure children and animals. the drain, could harm your family pathways. The four exposure path- •• Store all hazardous products on or trash hauler. Improper disposal ways are: high shelves or in locked cabinets may also contaminate the air, water away from food items. and soil. 1. Contact: Many chemicals can cause harm by getting on your •• Make sure the lids and caps are To address the household haz- tightly sealed and childproofed. skin, in your eyes or in your ardous waste disposal issue, counties nose or throat. They can irri- •• Store corrosive, flammable, reac- operate household hazardous waste tate or burn the exposed areas. tive and poisonous products on collection sites where residents can Many labels say “avoid skin separate shelves and where they safely dispose of household hazard- will keep dry. contact,” “wear rubber gloves” ous waste, often free of charge. or “wash hands after use” to •• Store products that say “prevent Visit RethinkRecycling.com to freezing” (such as latex paint) warn people about possible find disposal options and more indoors. injuries. information on county household •• Never mix chemicals together, 2. Absorption: This occurs when hazardous waste drop-off sites. such as bleach and ammonia. a substance enters your body Hennepin County offers two drop- •• Keep products away from heat, through your skin or eyes. off facilities for residents to properly 3. Ingestion: When you eat or sparks, flames or other sources of ignition. dispose of household hazardous drink something, you ingest it. wastes for no charge. These facilities, From the stomach or intes- •• Do not buy more than you need. located in Brooklyn Park and tines, the poisons can enter the •• Keep products in their original Bloomington, are open year- bloodstream and be carried containers and make sure the to all parts of the body. Some label is legible. round. For more information, visit www.hennepin.us/dropoffs or harmful chemicals can stay in •• For long-term storage, place the body for a long time. waterproof transparent tape over call 612-348-3777. 4. Inhalation: You can breathe in product labels to prevent harmful vapors or fumes when them from falling off. liquids evaporate. You can also breathe in the harmful mist from aerosol sprays. From the Carefully transport household hazardous nose or mouth, the vapors go waste to a drop-off facility. into the lungs and then into the bloodstream. Labels may say “use only with adequate ventilation.”

30E�� Environmental Education Toolkit for Congregations/Toxicity Reduction Ways to reduce harmful •• Avoid the chemicals used in dry Quick facts and chemicals in your home cleaning. Clothes that have been bulletin ideas dry cleaned release perchlorethyl- You can make simple changes to ene (perc) gas, a chemical that is The information below can be reduce exposure to toxic chemicals suspected to cause cancer. Air out printed in your bulletin, posted at home by considering the clothes that have been dry cleaned on your website, sent in e-mail following options. before bringing them into your messages, or used in other ways •• If you have household chemi- home. Better yet, buy clothes that don’t need dry cleaning or have to gently remind your faith com- cals that you don’t want or need, munity of the importance of dispose of them. Give usable clothes cleaned by an alternative toxicity reduction. products to a friend or neighbor cleaning process (green cleaning) •• Learn the signal words that are who will use them up. If products that does not result in the release used on labels to explain how are unusable or you don’t know of perc. toxic or hazardous a product someone who can use them, take •• Use pump spray products instead is. Look for products labeled them to your county’s household of aerosols. Aerosols put unneces- Caution and avoid products hazardous waste drop-off site to be sary chemicals in indoor air when labeled Danger or Poison. disposed of properly. Visit you use them in the house, and RethinkRecycling.com for informa- the mist produced by a pressurized •• Mercury is a potent nervous tion on acceptable wastes and col- aerosol can is finer and more easily system toxin which also affects lection sites. inhaled than the mist from a pump reproduction and development. Because mercury does not degrade, •• If you have a mercury thermom- spray. it accumulates in the environment, eter in your home, take it to your •• Buy fewer household chemicals. reaching dangerous levels in fish county’s household hazardous Use multipurpose cleaners to avoid that result in fish consumption waste drop-off site. The drop-off buying many specialty cleaners. advisories. sites accept fever and kitchen ther- Use single-ingredient products mometers that contain mercury. If (baking soda, white vinegar, lemon •• One gallon of improperly disposed you need to use a thermometer, use juice, salt) that serve several func- of motor oil can contaminate one a mercury-free alternative such as tions. Make your own cleaners (see million gallons of water. an alcohol or digital thermometer. Non-toxic Cleaning Recipes). Some- •• According to the U.S. Environmen- •• Remove your shoes at the en- times muscle can replace chemicals. tal Protection Agency, only a small trance to your home. Your shoes Try to dislodge a clog in a drain fraction of the more than 75,000 can track in pollutants from outside. with a mechanical “snake.” Scrub registered chemicals have gone Keep a floor mat at the entrance for sink stains with an abrasive sponge. through complete testing for visitors. Use a dandelion digger instead of human health concerns. weed killer. •• Use a fabric shower curtain in- •• Always follow product label direc- stead of a vinyl one. Vinyl shower Visit RethinkRecycling.com to tions for use. Using more is not curtains or liners release odors and find disposal options and more always better, e.g. over fertilizing. chemical gases into the air. Use a information on county household •• Never mix different products shower curtain made of canvas, hazardous waste drop-off sites. together unless you are making a hemp or polyester instead. known non-toxic cleaning product. •• Avoid chemical air fresheners. Mixing bleach and ammonia To freshen the air, open the windows creates a toxic gas that can make or simmer a mixture of cloves and you very sick. cinnamon in water. •• Q. What do I do with old televi- •• Avoid laundry and dishwasher sions, computers, etc.? products that contain chlorine or A. Sell them, fix them, or recycle chlorine bleach (sodium hypo- them. See RethinkRecycling.com for chlorite). If whitening is needed, options. use a non-chlorine bleach with

oxygen or hydrogen peroxide. Remove your shoes at the entrance to your home.

Environmental Education Toolkit for Congregations/Toxicity Reduction...... 31 Congregation-wide Household hazardous Electronics recycling campaigns waste disposal awareness campaign Help people locate Hennepin Most electronics contain toxic metals Spring cleaning/ County drop-off facilities and such as lead, mercury and cadmium. Eco-cleaning distribute a list of what is accepted When any of these contaminants get Offer information about reducing at the facilities. If you have elderly into our rivers, streams or lakes, they toxicity in the home and non-toxic or immobile family members, help harm our health and damage the envi- cleaning options. them identify and properly dispose ronment. Help your members find easy of their household hazardous waste. and convenient recycling options. Take home actions Note: Many communities wish to Hennepin County takes elec- •• Identify hazardous products organize hazardous waste collection tronics free of charge, year-round, •• Make and use non-toxic cleaner events; however, safety and regula- from residents at drop-off facilities •• Reduce harmful chemicals in the home tions prevent this. Please encourage in Brooklyn Park and Bloomington. participants to use county drop-off Set up a display of electronics, such Resources facilities or collection events. as TVs, computers, cell phones, •• Handouts: How to Identify game consoles, radios, camcorders Hazardous Products, Ways to Reduce Take home action and media players, to show how Harmful Chemicals in the Home, •• Properly dispose of unwanted household hazardous waste. many different gadgets members and Non-toxic Cleaning Recipes (See Appendix) Resources may have at home to recycle. •• Label Reading Activity (pg. 33) •• Handout: Hennepin County Take home action Drop-off Facilities brochure •• Recycle electronics •• Make a Non-Toxic Household Cleaner Activity (pg. 33) •• For facilities outside Hennepin Resources County, visit RethinkRecycling.com •• Handout: Hennepin County Drop-off Tracking participation Tracking participation Facilities brochure •• Count the number of cleaners •• Track the number of handouts •• Websites: www.hennepin.us/dropoffs. made/distributed. distributed. For additional recycling opportu- •• Track how many print materials •• Follow up with a survey asking if nities, visit RethinkRecycling.com. were distributed. they visited the facility and what •• The Solid Waste Management Coor- and how many products were dinating Board E-waste educational dropped off. tool kit: sample articles, images and ads to promote e-waste recycling. www.swmcb.org/current-campaigns/ electronics-recycling-campaign.

Track participation •• Track the number of handouts Read the label. distributed. •• Follow up with a survey asking how many electronics they recycled due to the campaign.

Household hazardous waste disposal.

32E�� Environmental Education Toolkit for Congregations/Toxicity Reduction Activities Suggested supplies: Make a non-toxic household cleaner •• Common household products that Label reading participants identify that they use, Adults and teens e.g., window cleaner, disinfectant Adults and teens Provide each participant with a plastic wipes, all purpose cleaner, bleach, spray bottle and the recipe for the Have participants complete the paint, lawn and garden items, etc. non-toxic, general household cleaner. Chemicals in the Home quiz (see •• Chemicals in the Home quiz, Make the spray for each adult to take Appendix). Ask participants to list Label Reading Activity and a home. Discuss differences in price and household products they use in the Home Hazardous Products Survey safety issues of this kind of product kitchen, bathroom, on floors, (see Appendix) compared to others. Hand out the woodwork and windows, or in the •• Handouts : Non-Toxic Cleaning Recipes for other yard, garden, etc. If possible, ask –– How to Identify Hazardous products. for the list in advance and have Products •• Non-toxic cleaner recipe examples from the list available. –– Read the Label factsheet for 32 oz. bottle Write the list on a board. Share –– Ways to Reduce Harmful household hazardous waste facts –– 1/2 c. white vinegar Chemicals in your Home factsheet –– 3 1/2 c. hot water from this chapter, then complete –– Drop-off Facilities brochure –– 1 tbsp. liquid dish soap the Label Reading Activity. –– Essential oil (A few drops are 1. Have participants divide into pairs Discussion Starters: optional. Be advised some of and give each pair two examples of Have you read labels on products these are flammable and hazard- household/yard/garden products. ous and may be a problem for in the past? If yes, what were you 2. Distribute and review a copy of the people with chemical sensitivities, looking for? In the past, did you How to Identify Hazardous Products allergies or asthma) consider the products you use – Read the Label factsheet. Directions: In 32 oz. spray bottle, “harmful?” What are some easy first 3. Give each pair a copy of the Label add vinegar, fill with hot water. Reading Activity. Have them look steps you’ll take to reduce harmful Add essential oil if desired. Add at the labels and fill in the sheet. chemicals in your home? What did dish soap last. Have pairs share the information you learn about the product you Suggested supplies: they found on one product with are currently using? large group. •• Ingredients for non-toxic cleaner 4. Pass out the Ways to Reduce Harmful –– 32 oz. spray bottles Chemicals in Your Home factsheet –– Labels printed with the recipe and and discuss what people can do. clear packing tape to secure label 5. Get the group back together to to the bottle and waterproof it. brainstorm ideas –– Measuring cups and spoons •• Handout: Non-Toxic Cleaning Recipes

Discussion starter: Does anyone already make their own non-toxic cleaning products? Where did you get the recipe? How effective are the products? Have you saved money? Keep in mind that it is important to use recipes from a safe source, such as the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency, and to be careful when mixing any products.

Environmental Education Toolkit for Congregations/Toxicity Reduction...... 33 Techno trash Grow grass seeds Video: Are you Exposing Adults and teens Adults and young children Your Children to a Toxic Brew In Your Home? Electronic waste (or e-waste) such Grow grass seeds together and talk as old cell phones and TVs need about the chemicals that are often Adults to be recycled to make sure the used on lawns and gardens. This short video explores the toxic- heavy metals they contain do not To prepare seeds: Put potting ity of common household products. get into our water, soil or air. Have soil in a container. Sprinkle grass It is a good introduction to the parents take the E-Waste IQ Quiz. seeds into the soil, cover loosely topic of toxicity reduction and the Using the Household Hazardous with more soil, water using a importance of label reading. Waste and Problem Materials Guide, spray bottle, and put in a sunny This video is available in VHS set examples of problem materials location. A fun twist: using a stick or DVD format. The DVD has around the room and ask parents or pencil, scratch the child’s name subtitles in Spanish or French. It what they think should be done with or first initial into the soil, drop may be borrowed from Hennepin them, then share answers from the seeds into the scratching, and the County by calling 612-348-4168. guide. Visit the following link for grass will grow in the shape of the Discuss the video’s information, the E-Waste IQ Quiz and additional name. how products are used and the information on how electronics from Suggested supplies: hazards. the United States affect other parts of •• One large, shallow wooden or the world: Note about the video: This video was produced plastic box or planting tray for all in Canada. The narrator references laws about http://ngm.nationalgeographic.com/ participants to share or individual product labeling. Please note these apply to Canada only. In the U.S., the Environmental ngm/2008/01/high-tech-trash/ containers such as old yogurt con- Protection Agency regulates pesticides, the trashquizinteractive. tainers or cut-off plastic bottles. Consumer Product Safety Commission regulates non-pesticide hazardous products, •• Potting soil and the Food and Drug Administration regulates Suggested supplies: cosmetics and personal care products. For the •• Grass seeds most part, these agencies do not regulate what •• E-Waste IQ Quiz goes into the products but what information must •• Handouts: •• Sticks or pencils (optional) appear on the labels. –– Household Hazardous Waste and •• Handout: Earth-Friendly Home

Problem Materials Guide Landscaping Guide •• Handout: Reduce the Need for –– Fluorescent light bulbs: Pesticides and Herbicides Buy them, use them, recycle them Discussion starter: –– Mercury and Mercury-containing Ask participants what kinds of products chemical products (e.g. pesticides, •• Examples of problem materials herbicides, fertilizers) they from the guide, such as cell phones, batteries, compact currently use to care for their fluorescent bulbs, etc. lawn or garden. Share information about less toxic gardening and

lawn care. Children are especially susceptible to the negative effects of chemicals.

34E�� Environmental Education Toolkit for Congregations/Toxicity Reduction Energy Conservation & Climate Change

Campaign goals Save Energy, Save Money •• coolcongregations.com by The Family Handyman – a great Use Interfaith Power and Light’s Participants will learn: technical guide to home efficiency Cool Congregations Calculator and Energy Audit to determine your •• How their actions contribute to green- improvements, including tuning house gas emissions and climate change. congregation’s carbon emissions in equipment, weatherstripping and air energy use, transportation, goods •• How climate change could affect sealing, and insulation. and services and waste. The Energy Minnesota. Web resources Audit contains fifty questions ••Actions they can take to conserve energy. •• www.hennepin.us/coolcounty pertaining to congregations and Hennepin County has information on includes corresponding actions. Resources what residents can do to reduce their •• www.cleanenergyresourceteams.org/ impact on climate change. community-projects/campaigns Essential background reading •• www.hennepin.us, search: solar Clean Energy Resource Teams’ If you plan to teach others about this Hennepin County has a solar array on the CERTified Action Campaigns offer issue, please become familiar with roof of the county Public Works Facility. ideas to implement energy efficiency the information provided in the back- View an online monitoring tool that has and renewable energy projects. ground section. data about energy generated and avoided •• www.mnenergychallenge.org greenhouse gas emissions. This free, online resource helps indi- Children are especially susceptible to the Additional background information negative effects of chemicals. viduals calculate their carbon footprint. You may want to understand these •• www.ci.minneapolis.mn.us/Sustainability Information about the city of •• www.epa.gov/cleanenergy/ details to lead some of the activities Minneapolis’ Sustainability energy-resources/calculator.html described in this section. Indicators and special initiative, includ- Use the EPA’s Greenhouse Gas Low Carbon Diet: A 30 Day Program ing Climate Change Grants and Home- Equivalencies Calculator to see the to Lose 5000 Pounds by David Ger- grown Minneapolis. real-world impact of carbon dioxide shon – a fun workbook for the whole emissions. family with step-by-step activities to Resources, cont’d on the next page reduce household emissions.

Environmental Education Toolkit for Congregations/Energy Conservation & Climate Change...... 35 Resources, cont’d from the previous page Background How do increases in •• www.epa.gov/climatechange/kids/cc.html greenhouse gas emissions Kid-friendly information on what Anyone who takes an interest in contribute to climate climate change is and how kids observing nature over time can see change? can make a difference. Also includes signs that the climate is changing. Increasing levels of greenhouse activities for children and educators. Plants are blooming earlier in the gases in the atmosphere are warm- •• www.energy.state.mn.us spring, the ice out date on lakes is ing the planet. Like windows in a The state Office of Energy Security occurring earlier in the year, and has information on energy greenhouse, greenhouse gases trap efficiency and renewable energy. animal ranges are shifting. the sun’s heat. As the greenhouse Climate change is not a new •• www.climate.gov gas levels increase, the amount of The National Oceanic and Atmo- phenomenon. Many factors, in- trapped heat also increases, rais- spheric Administration (NOAA) cluding fluctuations in the Earth’s ing the average temperature of website offers a background on orbit, varying energy from the sun, the planet. This is causing many climate change, resources for volcanic activity and changes in changes in climate worldwide. educators, and data and research. ocean circulation cause the climate Carbon dioxide is the major •• www.globalchange.gov to change. greenhouse gas contributing to cli- The U.S. Global Change Research However, the rapid rate at mate change. Carbon dioxide emis- Program integrates federal research which the climate has been chang- on climate change. sions from human activity come ing for the past 50 years is unusual. primarily from the burning of fossil •• www.ipcc.ch Up until the 1960s, climate models fuels, such as gasoline and diesel The International Panel on Climate that only account for natural used by vehicles and coal burned Change issues a peer reviewed report forces could explain the observed to generate electricity. Use of these on climate change every six years. variations in the Earth’s climate. fuels has been steadily increasing •• www.leg.state.mn.us/lrl/links/energy.asp Since the 1960s, these same cli- over the past decade. The Minnesota Legislative Reference mate models have increasingly di- Carbon dioxide and other Library provides a list of web re- verged from the observed climate. greenhouse gases are removed sources on energy issues, including The difference – an overall warm- from the atmosphere by trees and issues related to climate change. ing of the Earth – is explained by other plants, but less forest land the increase in the concentration Handout print resources and changing agriculture patterns Samples can be found in the Appendix of greenhouse gases in the atmo- and practices have reduced the rate sphere, which is almost certainly From Hennepin County at which carbon dioxide removed. the result of human activity. The combination of these trends – –– Making Hennepin a Cool County We need to reduce the amount more fossil fuel use and less carbon To order: Order literature online at of greenhouse gases humans are dioxide removed by plants – www.hennepin.us/literatureorderform putting into the atmosphere to has increased carbon dioxide or call 612-348-4168. provide more time to adjust to emissions. Minnesota’s carbon From the Office of Energy Security, MN these changes and to avoid signifi- dioxide emissions have increased Department of Commerce cant disruptions to the environ- 37 percent over the past 20 years, –– 10 Ways to Save Energy ment and the economy. according to the Minnesota –– Numerous Home Energy Guides Pollution Control Agency. providing detailed instructions on energy conservation actions, including: Home insulation, Home heating and Attic air leaks. To order: Order copies by calling 651-296-5175 or download PDF versions at www.energy.mn.gov

36E�� Environmental Education Toolkit for Congregations/Energy Conservation & Climate Change What does climate change •• Reduction in the size and number •• Increase in heat waves and extremely mean for Minnesota? of prairies due to possible drying. hot summer days will result in an in- Minnesota prairies are the most crease in the incidence of heat-related Climate change is already noticeable. important breeding ground for illness and death. Hotter summers will Animal and plant habitats are shift- North American waterfowl as well increase demand for indoor cooling. ing, weather patterns are changing, as countless species of birds and •• Increased frequency of poor air and severe storms and droughts are insects. Prairies are also home to quality (smoggy) days in summer. becoming more common. some endangered plant species. •• Milder winters with less snow will Minnesota has warmed an aver- •• Temperature and moisture patterns decrease opportunities for winter age of 1 degree Fahrenheit during the will change faster than plant and recreation. Milder winters will also past century according to the MPCA. animal communities can adapt. This affect animal hibernation patterns, will result in the extinction of nu- Precipitation has increased by 20 per- stressing food supplies and habitats. merous plant and animal species in cent since 1990 in parts of Minnesota, the next 100 years. Loss of habitat Global impacts of climate change especially southern Minnesota. If for cold-loving creatures such as Despite these changes, Minnesota temperature readings and precipita- trout and moose would cause the will be less negatively impacted by tion continue to increase within the decline of these species in Minnesota. climate change than many other next century, Minnesota might soon •• Some pests, diseases and invasive areas of the country and the world. feel and look more like Missouri. species may be able to extend their Minnesota may actually see some range into Minnesota. Other impacts of climate change potential benefits, such as warmer in Minnesota include the following. Water resources stressed nighttime temperatures in winter Changes in ecosystems •• Increased lake evaporation in the that would reduce heating costs and summer and decreased length of ice Changes in the climate alter the a longer growing season that would cover in the winter will reduce lake increase agricultural production (in plant and animal species that can levels and degrade water quality. survive in a certain area. This has an years without drought). However, •• Groundwater resources, a large the effects of rapid climate change in impact on some of the unique eco- source of drinking water, may be systems and wildlife species that reduced due to drop in stream other parts of the world will impact are currently found in Minnesota. flow and lake levels. Minnesota. •• Areas of the state that are forested •• The temperature of lakes is rising, •• Changing weather patterns will will decline by as much as 50 - 70 which severely stresses the plants stress existing infrastructure, such percent, replaced by grasslands and and animals in aquatic habitats. as storm sewers, roads, bridges, savannas. The unique northwoods water storage and aqueducts. New •• Reduced water levels in Great of pine and aspen will be replaced infrastructure demands throughout Lakes will reduce the carrying by forests of oak and other trees. the U.S. will create greater demand capacity of the large lake freighters, for government services. impacting commerce. •• Rising oceans will displace More extreme weather coastal populations in the U.S. •• Weather patterns will become more and around the world. extreme. The overall frequency of •• Global water resources and agricultural both flooding and droughts will production will be disrupted, leading increase. to shortages and price spikes. •• Infrastructure for runoff and water management, such as storm sewers, For more information about the effects is likely undersized and will need of climate change in Minnesota, visit updates to deal with increases in the MPCA’s website at www.pca.state. heavy rainfall and flash flooding. mn.us/climatechange.

Environmental Education Toolkit for Congregations/Energy Conservation & Climate Change...... 37 What’s the difference Calculate your carbon footprint •• For your commute, start with leaving between weather and A carbon footprint is the amount your car at home just one day a week. climate? of carbon dioxide that an indi- When you run errands, consider biking or walking for shorter trips. Weather describes whatever is vidual or household puts into the happening outdoors in a given atmosphere every year. There are •• When you do drive, make the most of your fuel economy. Drive the place at a given time. Weather many resources available to help speed limit and idle less. Except includes daily changes in precipi- you calculate your personal carbon when in traffic, turn your engine tation, barometric pressure, tem- footprint. These resources will also off if you must wait for more than perature and wind conditions in a help you identify actions to take 30 seconds. specific location. to reduce your impact. Join the •• Plan your errands so you can take Climate describes the total of Minnesota Energy Challenge at care of them in one trip to reduce all weather occurring over a long www.mnenergychallenge.org or use the overall miles you drive. period of time in a given place. the EPA’s Personal Emissions Calcu- •• Keep up on your car’s maintenance. This includes average weather con- lator at www.epa.gov/climatechange/ Keep the tires adequately inflated, ditions, regular weather sequences emissions/ind_calculator.html. the engine tuned and the oil and air filters changed regularly. A well- (like winter, spring, summer and Drive less maintained car is more fuel efficient fall), and special weather events •• Walk, ride a bike, carpool or take than one with dirty filters or poorly (such as tornadoes and floods). public transit instead of driving. working parts. When you need a car, consider •• Visit www.hennepin.us/coolcounty How do I reduce my impact using a car sharing program such on climate change? for links to bike maps, Metro Transit as HourCar (www.hourcar.org) or (bus and lightrail) and other green The first step to reducing your Zipcar (www.zipcar.com). transportation ideas. impact is to understand how you contribute greenhouse gas emissions. The largest sources of carbon dioxide emissions from the daily routine of most people are the cars they drive and the energy used to heat and cool their homes. The best way to reduce greenhouse gas emissions is to reduce the amount of energy you use. You can do this by driving less, using energy more efficiently in your home and recycling. By reducing the energy you consume in your daily routine, you can reduce your personal greenhouse gas emissions and possibly save money. Visit www.hennepin.us/ coolcounty for more information on saving energy and reducing your personal greenhouse gas emissions.

38E�� Environmental Education Toolkit for Congregations/Energy Conservation & Climate Change Reduce energy used in home •• Add insulation. The easiest and Use your refrigerator efficiently heating and cooling most cost-effective way to insulate •• Don’t keep your refrigerator or Improving the efficiency of how is by adding insulation to an attic. freezer too cold. Recommended we heat and cool our homes saves If you have less than six or seven temperatures are 37 - 40 degrees money and reduces our personal inches of insulation, you could Fahrenheit for the fresh food com- probably benefit by adding more. partment of the refrigerator and greenhouse gas emissions. Home 5 degrees Fahrenheit for the freezer Install compact fluorescent heating and cooling accounts for section. If you have a separate light bulbs almost a quarter of the average Min- freezer for long-term storage, it nesotan’s carbon dioxide emissions. Install compact fluorescent light should be kept at zero degrees bulbs (CFLs), especially in your •• Audit your home’s energy use. Fahrenheit. Conducting a home energy audit most-used lighting fixtures. CFLs are •• Make sure your refrigerator door can identify places where your up to 75 percent more efficient and seals are airtight. Test them by clos- home is using energy inefficiently last up to 10 times longer than stan- ing the door over a piece of paper and prescribe ways to improve heat dard incandescent bulbs. Make sure or a dollar bill so it’s half in and retention. Contact your utility to you purchase ENERGY STAR-rated half out of the refrigerator. If you hire a professional energy auditor, or CFLs. CFLs contain a small amount can pull the paper or bill out easily, conduct your own informal energy the latch may need adjustment, or of mercury and must be disposed of audit. Visit www.energystar.gov, the seal may need replacing. properly at a county drop-off facility search: home energy yardstick, for •• Cover liquids and wrap foods or hardware store with a drop-off information on conducting your stored in the refrigerator. Uncov- own energy audit. program. ered foods release moisture and •• Turn your thermostat a degree or Turn off and unplug appliances make the compressor work harder. two down in the winter and up in and electronics •• Regularly defrost manual-defrost the summer, and install a program- Turning off and unplugging electron- refrigerators and freezers. Frost mable thermostat. A program- ics and appliances when they are not buildup decreases the unit’s energy mable thermostat can control in use will save a surprising amount efficiency. Don’t allow frost to build your furnace, air conditioner, air up more than one-quarter of an inch. exchanger and humidifier, and it of energy. As much as 40 percent of will pay for itself in no time. the energy used to power appliances •• Look for the ENERGY STAR label when buying a new refrigerator. is consumed while they are turned •• Seal air leaks. An enormous amount Select a new refrigerator that is the of energy is wasted when indoor air off. Many appliances enter “passive right size for your household. Top escapes through leaks in attics, walls, standby” mode when they are turned freezer models are more energy windows and doors. Use the caulk- off, which allows the appliances to efficient than side-by-side models. ing and weatherstripping guide from start up quickly when switched on. Features like icemakers and water the Minnesota Department of Com- Other appliances continuously use dispensers, though convenient, merce to help you properly seal air increase energy use. leaks, available at www.energy.state. energy to power clock devices. mn.us, search: air leaks. •• Unplugging appliances and elec- •• Keep up on maintenance. Water tronics will ensure that they are heaters, air conditioners, furnaces, not consuming energy when gas fireplaces and ventilation switched off. Use power strips to systems should be inspected and conveniently shut off multiple ap- tuned to keep them operating pliances or electronics. efficiently and safely. Mechanical •• You can figure how much energy system inspections should be done your appliances use by checking annually, and furnace filters should out an energy meter from a be changed every month. Hennepin County Library. •• Purchase energy efficient appliances and electronics by looking for the ENERGY STAR label.

Environmental Education Toolkit for Congregations/Energy Conservation & Climate Change...... 39 Turn down your water heater Reduce, reuse and recycle Quick facts and •• Turn your water heater’s thermo- Using less, reusing and recycling can bulletin ideas stat to the lowest setting that is reduce greenhouse gases. When we The tips below can be printed in comfortable for you and your fam- use less, we reduce the amount of en- ily. For most people, 120 degrees your bulletin, posted on your web- ergy needed to extract, transport and Fahrenheit is sufficient and safe. site, sent in e-mail messages, or used process raw materials to manufacture •• Switch to a low-flow shower head. in other ways to gently remind your products. Recycling also saves energy It will use about six gallons less faith community of the importance because making goods from recycled water per minute. Taking shorter of conserving energy. showers saves even more energy. materials requires less energy than •• U.S. carbon dioxide emissions •• Wash clothes in cold water. making goods from raw materials. increased more than 20 percent Clothes will last longer and colors See the Reducing Waste and Recy- from 1990 to 2007. (Environmen- will stay brighter. Line-drying cling chapters of this toolkit for ideas. tal Protection Agency 2009 U.S. clothes saves even more energy. Eat local Greenhouse Gas Inventory Report) •• Insulate your water heater tank. On average, an American meal •• Only 20 percent of homes built Adding insulation can reduce the travels 1,500 miles to reach the before 1980 are considered well- heat lost while your water heater dinner table. Purchasing foods insulated by the U.S. Department is in standby mode by 25 - 45 per- of Energy. cent. Check your warranty first. grown locally can reduce the distance your food travels and the •• Adequate insulation can cut home amount of fossil fuels used. energy bills by up to 30 percent while increasing indoor comfort. •• Support local, sustainable and (U.S. Department of Energy) organic farmers by purchasing their products directly •• Video game consoles like the Xbox, or through farmer’s markets, PlayStation and Wii are consuming community supported agricul- more than $1 billion of electric- ture farms (CSAs), food co-ops, ity annually. (Natural Resources natural food stores and local Defense Council) grocers. •• If all office computers and moni- •• Eat foods that are in season for tors in the U.S. were set to sleep our region. when not being used, the country •• Patronize restaurants that buy could save more than 44 billion from local farmers. kilowatt-hours and avoid GHG emissions equivalent to those from •• Bring your own container for 5 million cars each year. (Source: leftovers. U.S. EPA’s new Low Carbon IT Purchase renewable energy Campaign) •• Many utility providers offer customers an option to purchase renewable energy, usually for an additional charge. •• Learn about home installations of renewable energy at www.energy.state.mn.us.

40E�� Environmental Education Toolkit for Congregations/Energy Conservation & Climate Change Congregation-wide Bike to Worship Challenge campaigns Encourage members to bike, walk •• As much as 40 percent of the Take the Minnesota Energy or carpool to your congregation on energy used to power appliances is Challenge a day of worship. To engage your consumed while they are turned off. faith community, plan a ceremony www.mnenergychallenge.org •• Recycling one aluminum can saves to bless the bikes, participate in the search: Bring the challenge to church enough energy to power a TV or Metro Commuter Challenge during computer for three hours. This free, online resource helps May and June, or invite a Bike Walk •• Recycling an aluminum can is organizations and households iden- Ambassador to teach members how equivalent to saving six ounces of tify actions they can take to save to safely ride bikes in traffic. Help gasoline. energy and track the changes they members coordinate biking groups •• An ENERGY STAR-qualified compact have made. When your congrega- by posting a sign-up sheet on your fluorescent light bulb will save about tion commits to simple changes, congregation’s bulletin board. You $30 over its lifetime and pay for the online system tells you how itself in about six months. It uses 75 can also increase participation by much carbon dioxide and money percent less energy and lasts about offering incentive prizes. Members 10 times longer than an incandescent you will save. The website offers an who bike or walk could be entered bulb. (www.energystar.gov) energy challenge specifically devel- into a drawing for a prize, and the •• If you adjust your thermostat one de- oped for faith-based communities winners could be announced to the gree (down in winter, up in summer) that provides tools and resources whole congregation. for 16 hours a day, you can save two to fully involve your church. The Take home action percent on your fuel bill. (Minnesota toolkit, Faith Community Guide •• Drive less by biking, walking or Office of Energy Security) to the Energy Challenge, contains carpooling for shorter trips. campaign ideas, success stories, tips and lists of free materials to Resources implement the challenge. •• Join the Metro Commuter Challenge at www.mycommuterchallenge.org. Take home action •• For more information about the •• Identify ways to save energy Bike Walk Ambassador program Resources and to learn more about bike routes •• Contact the project manager, Neely and biking in the Twin Cities, visit www.bikewalktwincities.org. Crane-Smith, at ncranesmith@ mncee.org or 612-335-5852 for Track participation more information. •• Track the number of members who •• Laptop computers with Internet participate. connection. If you do not have •• Follow up with a survey a few Internet access, pledge cards are months later to see how many available from the Minnesota members have continued to bike, Energy Challenge by calling walk or carpool to services. 612-335-5852.

Track participation •• By setting up a team for your congregation, you will be able to track how many actions have been taken and how much carbon dioxide and money your members have saved.

Environmental Education Toolkit for Congregations/Energy Conservation & Climate Change...... 41 Promote fluorescent bulbs/ Activities Conduct a lighting audit Fundraising Initiative Adults and teens Encourage your community mem- Conduct a home energy audit Register your house of worship for bers to replace their incandescent Adults and teens a complete assessment of your con- bulbs with compact fluorescent gregation’s lighting to reduce energy A home energy audit can help you light bulbs (CFLs). Some congrega- consumption and cost. The One- understand how you use energy in tions sell Energy Star certified CFLs Stop Efficiency Shop, a program your home and identify ways your as a fundraiser. You can accom- run through the Center for Energy can save energy. Have group partici- plish your fundraising goals, edu- and the Environment and Xcel pants audit their home energy use cate your faith community about Energy, offers a free lighting audit and set goals for the changes they energy conservation and curb your that upgrades your lighting sources plan to make. Participants can help community’s energy consumption to be more energy efficient, refers each other with projects like weath- simultaneously. Other congrega- you to contractors and offers low- erizing windows or sealing air leaks. tions give away CFLs as prizes or cost financing options and follow-up There are many resources incentives. inspections. For more information available to help with home energy Increase awareness of house- and to arrange an audit, contact audits and identifying energy-saving hold hazardous waste with your your Xcel Energy account manager, actions. fundraiser as well. With each bulb the Business Solutions Center at distributed or sold, include the •• Your utility provider may have [email protected] or the One-Stop Flourescent Light Bulbs: Buy them, online tools to help you conduct Efficiency Shop at 612-335-3487. Use them, Recycle them handout to your own energy audit. Your util- inform members about the proper ity provider also has professional Map your route energy auditors that can conduct disposal of CFLs. Remind people energy audits. Adults and teens that CFLs must be recycled because Request free copies of the Hennepin they contain mercury, and provide •• ENERGY STAR Home Energy County Road & Bike Map (see Ap- them with local recycling options. Yardstick, www.energystar.gov, search: “energy yardstick” pendix) by calling 612-596-0352, Take home action •• U.S. Department of Energy, or find it online at www.hennepin.us, •• Install CFLs in your most-used www.energysavers.gov, search: bike map. Visit Metro Transit lighting fixtures search: “home energy audit” at www.metrotransit.org or call •• Recycle old fluorescent lights. •• Home Energy Saver, www.hes.lbl.gov 612-373-3333 for bus and light Resources rail maps. Bring these materials to Suggested supplies: •• Handout: Fluorescent Light Bulbs: the next meeting of your group Buy them, Use them, Recycle them •• Any of the resources listed above. and help people who are unfamiliar (See Appendix) •• Examples of weatherizing materials with bike trails and public trans- •• Purchase Energy Star CFLs in bulk such as caulk, weatherstripping, portation find options for getting at Whole Energy and Hardware: plastic for windows, etc. to and from work, school or other www.wholeenergyandhardware.com places they frequently drive. Visit Discussion starter: or 952-448-7488. www.bikewalktwincities.org for other Track participation Do you winterize your home when resources and ideas. the seasons change? Why or why •• Track the number of CFLs sold or Suggested supplies: distributed. not? What barriers stand in your •• Hard copies of the Hennepin way? How can winterizing your •• Track the number of handouts County Road & Bike Map (see home help your children? distributed. Appendix) and Metro Transit bus Follow up with a survey asking how and light rail maps, or access to many members switched to CFLs due the Internet. to the campaign.

42E�� Environmental Education Toolkit for Congregations/Energy Conservation & Climate Change Discussion starter: Learn about electricity Back in my day… consumption How familiar are you with nearby Children 8 and up, adults, and older bike trails and public transporta- Adults and teens adults (intergenerational activity) tion routes? What trips could you Learn about appliance and elec- Match up children and young adults walk, bike or take public transpor- tronic electricity consumption by with older adults to discuss differ- tation? Are there any barriers that using an energy meter. ences in how energy is used and are stopping you? How could you Energy meters can help you conserved today compared to several overcome those barriers? identify high energy use appliances decades ago. Refer to the Carbon and electronics in your home, Dioxide Emissions diagram (pg. 32) Learn about your utility bill determine how much it costs to and discuss the categories on it. Adults use appliances and identify “energy Write up energy-saving ideas remem- Paying bills may not be any fun, vampires” – appliances that use en- bered by the older adults. Children but you can learn a lot about your ergy when switched off. Borrow or can add drawings of what they heard. home energy consumption from buy energy meters and allow group Suggested supplies: your utility bill. Have participants members to take them home for a •• Notepaper, audio recording device bring in their utility bill and analyze week and then share their find- if desired. the information on it. Compare ings. Have members of your group •• Art materials for children’s drawings. the energy consumption among assess the electricity use of appli- participants. Analyze how energy ances and discuss ways to reduce Discussion starters: consumption changes during dif- energy consumption. –– How did you get to school? How did ferent times of the year. Consider Suggested supplies: your family get around town, or out tracking your group participants’ of town? Did you have your own car? •• Energy meters energy consumption over time. –– If you didn’t have air conditioning, Discuss what factors affect energy Energy meters are available for how did you keep cool in the summer? check-out at Hennepin County use and encourage participants to –– Instead of using the computer, what libraries. Visit www.hennepin.us/ share steps they’ve taken to reduce did you do with family or friends for coolcounty or www.hclib.org for energy consumption. entertainment? more information. Suggested supplies: Energy meters can be purchased –– What could kids today learn from older people about how to save energy? •• Utility bills for about $25. Check at hardware stores or search online. –– Are you concerned about global warm- Discussion starter: ing? What should we be doing about it? Did you learn anything new from Discussion starter: this exercise? Many people don’t What appliance or electronic used Weather collage even look at their bills (other than the most energy in your home? Children the amount due!) –what did this What appliances or electronic Choose magazine pictures or photo- exercise change for you? items do you leave on all the time? Why? Were you surprised graphs that depict different types of by anything? How can we reduce weather. Encourage children to sort the amount of energy consumed and organize the pictures, then make by appliances and electronics? a mural of weather images for your congregation or make individual col- lages for the children to take home. Energy meters are available for check-out at Hennepin County libraries. Suggested supplies: – Old magazines – Scissors – Tape

Environmental Education Toolkit for Congregations/Energy Conservation & Climate Change...... 43 Book/movie club Try a clothesline Local foods potluck Adults and teens Adults and children who can help Adults and children who can with laundry help cook Read books or essays that deal with Clothes dryers are typically one of the Host a meal or potluck focused on energy efficiency and environmen- top three energy-using appliances in local foods grown within 100 to 300 tal issues, such as the movie Incon- the home – an average family spends miles of the Twin Cities. Award prizes venient Truth or the books Animal, $80 to $120 per year drying clothes. for the “most local” dishes or most Vegetable, Miracle or Omnivore’s Encourage participants to air creative use of local ingredients – Dilemma. Read books from differ- dry clothing on a drying rack or on avoid using disposable dishware. ent points of view. Discuss reac- a clothes line made from inexpensive Host a similar event several times a tions to the information. Commit heavy-duty rope. By using either year, as local (seasonal) foods vary. to make one or more energy-saving method, families can save energy and Provide your group with informa- change based on what you learned money. A calculator to determine tion on farmer’s markets or CSA (decided as a group or individual- how much energy could be saved is (Community Supported Agriculture) ly). Write down your commitments available at www.laundrylist.org. programs, which can be found in the and share them with the group. Discuss other ways to save energy Minnesota Grown Directory at Suggested supplies: when doing laundry. For example, www.minnesota grown.com. •• Books or essays for group washing clothes in cold water or using Suggested supplies: the dryer’s automatic dryness sensors. Discussion starter: •• Minnesota Grown Directory Suggested supplies: What did you like or dislike about •• Reusable dishware this book? How did it change your •• Clotheslines for group members and Discussion starters: Growing seasons perspective on the topic? In what hardware to install/mount them vary widely. In countries such as ways might youth, parents or older Discussion starter: Mexico, it is much longer than it is people have different perspectives here in Minnesota. In parts of Asia or Do you use the clothesline? Why on these issues? India, it may be shorter. How does this or why not? How do you feel affect a culture’s food choices? Did you about using a clothesline (some ever think about how far food travels people really like the idea, others from farm to plate? Do you like the are averse)? Studies show that idea of eating locally? How might it when people see others acting in benefit your family to join a CSA or try certain ways, they are more likely to to eat locally? change their own behavior. Do you think you might influence others Bike tune-up party by simply using a clothesline? Adults and children with bikes What message does it send? If you or someone you know is familiar with basic bicycle maintenance, offer to help others get their bikes out of the garage or basement and onto the road! Host a gathering at your congregation or in your backyard, ally or driveway. Teach kids what they can do. Visit a local bike shop for more ideas and resources on basic bike tune ups.

44E�� Environmental Education Toolkit for Congregations/Energy Conservation & Climate Change Campaign goals Resources

Participants will learn: Web resources •• www.ci.minneapolis.mn.us/residents/ •• What a watershed is and what water- •• www.hennepin.us/naturalresources environment.asp shed they are in. Information on water quality top- Information for residents on storm- •• How their actions affect water quality ics, watersheds in Hennepin County, water, rain barrels, rain gardens and in nearby streams, rivers and lakes. volunteer monitoring programs and drinking water. actions you can take to protect water •• www.BlueThumb.org •• Actions they can take to protect water resources. resources Information for Twin Cities residents •• www.dnr.state.mn.us/waters on water friendly yard and garden The Minnesota Department of Natural practices, such as planting native Resources offers background informa- plants, installing a rain garden and tion on a variety of water topics and using a rain barrel. data and maps of water resources. •• www.worldwatermonitoringday.org •• www.dnr.state.mn.us/projectwet/index.html You and your group can use www.projectwet.org the resources from World Water Project WET (Water Education for Monitoring Day to conduct water Teachers) is an international, interdis- tests and learn about water quality ciplinary water science and education issues like temperature, turbidity, program for formal and non-formal pH and dissolved oxygen content. educators of K-12 students. •• www.epa.gov/owow/weatherchannel/ •• www.CleanWaterMN.org whatyoucando.html Offers information and educational Information from the U.S. Environ- resources on stormwater pollution mental Protection Agency on what you prevention. can do to protect water quality. Resources, cont’d on the next page

Environmental Education Toolkit for Congregations/Protecting Water Resources...... 45 Resources, cont’d from the previous page Educational displays Speakers and workshops •• www.epa.gov/OW •• Hennepin County Environmental The U.S. Environmental Protec- “Your Street Connects To Lakes Services staff and Master Natural- tion Agency Office of Water has and Rivers” Display ist volunteers are available to give background information on water Reserve Hennepin County’s inter- presentations on water quality topics and educational resources. active display that demonstrates topics. Contact Mary Karius at •• www.pca.state.mn.us/water residential (non-point) sources of [email protected] or The Minnesota Pollution Control water pollution in a simple and 612-596-9129 or Stacey Lijewski Agency has information on water effective manner. Individuals place at [email protected]. pollution and protecting water “pollution balls” down the storm mn.us or 612-348-9938. quality. drain and follow as they enter the •• Hennepin County Master Gardeners nearby lake or stream. It is great to are available to give presentations, Handout print resources use at local neighborhood events, host workshops or teach classes Samples can be found in the Appendix on a variety of landscaping topics. watershed festivals or in individual Visit www.hcmg.umn.edu for more From Hennepin County classrooms. To reserve this interac- information. Order free literature online at tive display, please call Hennepin www.hennepin.us/literatureorderform County Environmental Services at Background or call 612-348-4168. 612-348-4168. –– Earth-Friendly Home Landscaping Minnesota is known for its abun- Stormwater education exhibits Guide dance of water resources. Hen- WaterShed Partners’ stormwater –– Ten Things You Can Do to Improve nepin County has about 200 lakes, education exhibit items are avail- Minnesota’s Lakes, Rivers and three major rivers – the Mississippi, able to be checked out. For a Streams. Minnesota and Crow – and numer- description of the items, visit www. –– Hennepin County Landowner ous streams, ponds and wetlands. hamline.edu/education/environment/ Guide–A guide to help residents that Protecting the health of streams, own at least a few acres of property cgee/Watershed/Exhibit/index.html rivers, lakes and wetlands is impor- care for the natural resources on tant for water quality, recreation, their land. Tours wildlife and tourism. Water Quality Newsletter Articles – Visit an eco-yard. The quality of water resources in The articles are available for use in Hennepin County maintains Minnesota is threatened by increas- your newsletter or on your website two eco-yards where residents ing development and pollution. at www.hennepin.us/environmental can learn about environmentally When it rains, the stormwater that education. The topics include: five friendly, sustainable landscaping. runs off driveways, lawns, houses easy things you can do to protect Visit www.hennepin.us, search: eco- and parking lots can carry pollut- water quality, adopt a storm drain, yards, to learn more. ants such as oil, paint and chemicals earth-friendly lawn care tips, and down storm sewers and into nearby rain gardens. lakes, streams and rivers. There are a variety of steps that individuals can take to reduce runoff and protect water resources.

46E��Environmental Education Toolkit for Congregations/Protecting Water Resources Watersheds

What is a watershed? A watershed is an area of land that catches any form of water, including rain, snow or other precipitation, and drains to a common lake, river or stream. Watersheds come in all different shapes and sizes. Smaller watersheds drain into larger watersheds, much like a creek drains into a river. Some watersheds cross county, state, and even international borders. Water resources are all connected. The rain water that falls on your house, lawn or driveway runs into a nearby lake, river or stream. This water, like all the water resources in Watersheds in Hennepin County, will flow into the Hennepin County Mississippi River and eventually into the Gulf of Mexico. Actions taken to protect or pollute water will impact the quality of lakes, rivers or wetlands downstream. Watersheds in Hennepin County 1. Bassett Creek Watershed Management Commission, Watershed organizations www.bassettcreekwmo.org Water resources are managed by either 2. Elm Creek Watershed Management Commission, a watershed district or watershed www.elmcreekwatershed.org management organization, which are 3. Lower Minnesota River Watershed District, special units of local government that www.watersheddistrict.org work together to solve and prevent 4. Middle Mississippi River Watershed Management Organization, water-related problems. Watershed www.mwmo.org organizations regulate land-disturbing 5. Minnehaha Creek Watershed District, www.minnehahacreek.org activities, perform capital improvement projects and provide environmental 6. Nine Mile Creek Watershed District, www.ninemilecreek.org education related to water issues. 7. Pioneer-Sarah Creek Watershed Management Commission, The watershed organization where www.pioneersarahcreek.org your neighborhood, school or organi- 8. Richfield-Bloomington Watershed Management Organization, zation is located can provide you with www.rbwmo.com information and environmental educa- 9. Riley Purgatory Bluff Creek Watershed Commission, tion projects related to local water www.rileywd.org resources. Use the watershed map or 10. Shingle Creek Watershed Management Commission, the more detailed map in the Appendix www.shinglecreek.org to determine your watershed and its 11. West Mississippi River Watershed Management Commission, website. Contact Hennepin County at www.shinglecreek.org 612-596-9129 if you need assistance determining your watershed.

Environmental Education Toolkit for Congregations/Protecting Water Resources...... 47 Steps you can take to 4. Use chemicals wisely. Read 7. Plant a rain garden. Rain improve Minnesota’s lakes, and follow the label instructions gardens are depressions planted rivers and streams when using herbicides and pesti- with a diverse mix of native 1. Use your runoff. You can keep cides. Use the minimum amount wildflowers and grasses designed water in your yard and reduce needed to control the problem. If to collect rainwater and allow it runoff by directing downspouts you can, consider using alterna- to soak into the soil. This will re- onto your lawn or garden or tive or natural remedies to con- duce the water running off your into a rain barrel. Rainwater is trol weeds and pests or remove property into storm sewers. free and naturally soft, and can the problem by hand. 8. Replace turf with native be used to water your lawn or 5. Fertilize smart. Sweep up plants. Swap some of your garden. any fertilizer that spills onto high-maintenance lawn for 2. Don’t rake grass clippings hard surfaces. Excess fertilizer low-maintenance native ground and leaves into the street. washes away into nearby lakes or cover, plants or grasses. Many Leave them on your lawn, use streams where it can feed algae, native plants develop deeper them for compost, or bag them causing rapid growth known root structures than turf grass, up. Grass clippings and leaves as algae blooms. Algae blooms which reduces runoff by allow- left in the street end up in the stress fish and wildlife and ing for better water infiltration. storm sewer, where they are make swimming and fishing 9. Reduce your footprint. Re- carried to nearby lakes and unpleasant or impossible. place some pavement - such streams. Clippings and leaves 6. Keep a healthy lawn. A as a walk, patio or driveway contain phosphorus and other healthy, vigorous lawn needs - with pavers or pervious pave- nutrients that feed algae and less watering, fewer chemicals ment. The porous surface will other aquatic plants. This can and less maintenance. Aerate allow water to seep through. cause excess algae growth that your lawn periodically to loos- 10. Adopt a storm drain. Keep can negatively impact other en the soil. Seed bare patches neighborhood storm drains free plants and wildlife and can be to prevent erosion and soil loss. of leaves, seeds and grass clip- unsafe for pets. Mow at a higher setting. Grass pings. Storm drains are directly 3. Scoop the poop. Grab a bag mowed to a height of 2 ½ to 3 connected to the nearest body of when you grab the leash and inches develops deeper, health- water. Water running into storm pick up after your pets. Pet ier roots and has a competitive drains can carry with it anything waste left on the ground can advantage over weeds. dumped nearby including leaves, be washed into lakes and rivers grass clippings, soil, oil, paint with rain water and runoff. Pet and chemicals. waste contains bacteria that can For more information on these steps, cause illness in humans and visit www.hennepin.us/environment. animals.

Replace turf with native plants.

Replace some pavement - such as a walk, patio or driveway - with pavers or pervious pavement.

48E��Environmental Education Toolkit for Congregations/Protecting Water Resources Quick facts and Congregation-wide bulletin ideas campaign

The tips below can be printed in Sustainable Landscaping Resources your bulletin, posted on your Campaign •• Visit www.hennepin.us/sustainable website, sent in e-mail messages, or Water quality in Minnesota is landscaping for more information used in other ways to gently remind threatened by both storm water and links to resources. your faith community of the impor- runoff that can carry pollutants •• Visit www.bluethumb.org for a list tance of conserving and protecting such as oil, paint and chemicals of green landscaping companies, water resources. into nearby water resources and help with plant selection and plant nursery options •• Minnesota has 90,000 miles of shore- the proliferation of invasive plant line. That’s more than California, species. Implementing sustainable •• Go to www.cleanwatermn.org for Florida and Hawaii combined. promotional tools and educational landscaping practices can reduce •• Minnesota had 18.6 million acres of strategies wetlands in 1850. In 2003, Min- the need for fertilizers and pes- nesota had 9.3 million acres of wet- ticides. In addition, many plants Activities: lands. (Minnesota DNR, www.dnr. native to Minnesota require less •• Build a rain barrel (pg. 51) state.mn.us/faq/mnfacts/water.html) water and maintenance compared •• Lawn Care Contest (pg.51) •• Water acts as a natural insulator to to non-native plants. regulate the earth’s temperature Inform your congregation Handouts (See the Appendix): •• Only one percent of the Earth’s members about the role rain •• Earth-Friendly Home Landscaping water is available for drinking. The oceans hold 97 percent of the gardens and native plants play in Guide Earth’s water; only three percent is improving water quality. Promote •• Hennepin County Landowner Guide fresh water. Of the three percent the ways that sustainable landscap- •• Ten Things You Can Do to Improve that is fresh water, two percent is ing is a simple and effective method Minnesota’s Lakes, Rivers and currently frozen, leaving one percent as available drinking water. to preserve the environment by Streams •• It is possible to drink water that was distributing informational materi- •• How to Compost Organic Waste on Earth during the dinosaur era. als and posting related announce- •• Diagnosing Common Backyard Com- •• Because of impervious surfaces like ments. Host an event in the spring posting Problems pavement and rooftops, a typical or early summer. Some congrega- •• How to Grow a Healthy, No-Waste city block generates more than five tions invite a Master Gardener to Lawn & Garden times more runoff than a wood- land area of the same size. (U.S. staff a booth and answer questions •• Reduce the Need for Pesticides and EPA, www.epa.gov/npdes/pubs/ after a service. Others sell native Herbicides nps_urban-facts_final.pdf) plants as a fundraiser. Track participation: •• On average, a person uses about Take home action 80 - 100 gallons of water a day. •• Track how many handouts are dis- The largest uses of household water •• Change lawn care practices to tributed and how many members is to flush the toilet and for showers conserve water and reduce the use participate at the event. and baths. (U.S. Geological Survey, of fertilizers and pesticides. •• Follow up with a survey to assess ga.water.usgs.gov/edu/qahome.html) •• Replace turf grasses with native what landscaping techniques mem- •• A five minute shower takes 10 to 25 plants. bers have implemented to protect gallons of water. A full bath requires water quality. Have they removed about 70 gallons. (EPA WaterSense, •• Compost food, yard and garden turf to use native plants, started www.epa.gov/watersense) waste. composting organic waste, started •• Remove invasive plant species, •• A toilet from 1992 or earlier uses using a rain barrel, etc.? at least 3.5 gallons of water per such as Buckthorn. flush. Newer toilets with the EPA •• Use a rain barrel to collect and WaterSense label use less than 1.3 reuse rainwater, or direct down- gallons per flush. (EPA WaterSense, spouts into your lawn or garden. www.epa.gov/watersense)

Environmental Education Toolkit for Congregations/Protecting Water Resources...... 49 Activities Where in the Watershed? Volunteer to monitor All Ages water quality Note that many of the activities in Adults and high school students the Toxicity Reduction chapter also Learn about the watershed where Volunteers obtain data on water help improve water quality. By re- you live. Use the watershed map quality and biological communi- ducing our use of toxic household in the Appendix to identify the ties to assess the overall health of products and learning to properly lakes, streams and rivers in your streams and wetlands. dispose of them, we help keep watershed. Analyze how the water •• River Watch provides hands-on chemicals out of our water, too. resources are connected. Have environmental education opportu- participants use highlighter pens nities for high school classes and to trace how the water that falls student groups. on the property of their homes, •• In the Wetland Health Evaluation schools, or organizations travels to Program, volunteers obtain water nearby lakes, streams and rivers. quality data in wetlands. Work Younger members of the group includes collecting and identifying could create pictures or murals. insects and plants and completing Read about what people can do data sheets. to conserve water and reduce pol- The program runs from April to lution in the Background section of August. For more information, call this chapter. Encourage people to Mary Karius at 612-596-9129, e- choose changes they want to make mail [email protected] and write these on their watershed or visit www.hennepin.us, search: picture. Display the picture on the volunteer monitoring. refrigerator or another public place. Plan for a fun celebration of clean Plant a Native Garden water once goals/changes are met, Does your congregation have a such as a day at the beach, at the lawn, garden or vacant lot nearby? sledding hill or on the water in a To teach community members canoe, kayak or paddleboat. about the importance of native Suggested supplies: plant growth in conserving water and improving water quality, •• Construction or butcher paper organize a spring and summer •• Markers, paint or crayons project to plant a native species •• Images of water cut from magazines garden around your house of •• Watershed map from the worship, if space permits. Native Appendix plant gardens save water, reduce Discussion starter: air pollution and beautify the What watershed do you live in? Did neighborhood. Continue to involve you know this prior to this activity? congregation members in garden Why is it important for participants maintenance throughout the year to know what watershed they live by hosting monthly garden days. in? How can the behavior of people Visit www.bluethumb.org/nativegardens living in one watershed affect the for further information. See the people in another watershed? Service Learning Ideas Section pg. 59 for more information on making this a youth-led service project.

50E��Environmental Education Toolkit for Congregations/Protecting Water Resources Maintain your drain– Build or buy a rain barrel Lawn care contest keep your block litter-free Adults and children over 8 Adults Adults, teens, children 6 and over Is a beautiful lawn possible without the with adult supervision Rain barrels can be placed under a roof downspout to collect storm- use of chemicals, fertilizers and lots of Runoff from driveways, lawns, water runoff that can be used for watering? The actions you take to care houses and parking lots can carry watering your lawn and gardens. for your lawn and garden can have a pollutants such as oil, paint and This reduces runoff that can carry tremendous impact on the environment. chemicals down storm sewers and pollutants into streams and rivers. Traditionally, yard care includes large into nearby lakes, streams and riv- Rain barrels can be purchased at quantities of water, fertilizers, pesticides, ers. Monitoring storm drains can local hardware stores or through weed control and money. Hold a help keep leaves, grass, litter and special sales organized by gov- contest or demonstration project with other items from getting washed ernment agencies or non-profit your neighbors to show what can be into lakes and streams. organizations. done using earth-friendly methods. Collect everything from the You can also build your own Invite Master Gardeners from the gutter in front of your house, rain barrel. Your congregaion could University of Minnesota Extension to school or organization during a purchase the supplies and serve as judges. specific time period. Children offer free or low-cost workshops Suggested supplies: should be closely supervised, wear for residents who want to build Hennepin County’s Earth-Friendly gloves, and should only pick up a rain barrel. For instructions Home Landscaping Guide. View what they recognize and know is on constructing a rain barrel or online or order a free copy at safe to touch. Analyze what you for more information on rain www.hennepin.us/sustainablelandscaping. found, and ask where it might have barrel sales, visit www.hennepin.us, come from. Organize volunteers search: rain barrels. “This Drains To River!” to adopt a block/area to keep free Mark the storm drains Suggested supplies: of litter on a regular basis. Share Adults and children over 10 what you are doing and why with •• Depends on the style of barrel to When volunteers mark or stencil a neighbors in the area. be built; see the link referenced above. message next to the storm drains Suggested supplies: in the street, it reminds everyone •• Clear plastic bags Discussion starter: that whatever goes down the storm •• Protective gloves Would you use a rain barrel? Why drain ends up in the nearest body of or why not? How has using a rain water. A free Storm Drain Stenciling Discussion starter: barrel affected your family’s water Guide is available in the Appendix or online at www.cleanwatermn.org, Were you surprised by the amount use? under About You. Storm drain sten- you collected? What was the ciling must be coordinated with city strangest item you found? The larg- government. est? How do you think this stuff winds up in the gutters? Do you think this activity has an impact?

Use your runoff.

Environmental Education Toolkit for Congregations/Protecting Water Resources...... 51 Organize a river clean up Bio bingo Rain gauge monitoring Adults and children over 5 All ages All ages Hold a clean-up day on a sec- Encourage your group to explore Install a rain gauge on your property tion of stream, river or lake. Keep nearby aquatic ecosystems. Use to monitor daily precipitation totals. track of the type and amount of the bio bingo card from the ap- Compare results from different loca- garbage found. Discuss with your pendix and search for the organ- tions in the community. Data can group where the waste could isms listed on the card. Observe be shared directly with the State have come from and how garbage the environment using your eyes, Office of Climatology www.climate.( could be kept out of rivers and a magnifying glass or binoculars, umn.edu) and is used to develop maps streams. Consider offering prizes or sample the water with a net. and reports of precipitation trends. for the biggest or strangest item Have players take pictures of the Supplies, including a rain gauge and found. Resources are available organisms or draw pictures of worksheets, are available from Hen- to help you identify a stream to what they observe. Discuss rela- nepin County. Contact Mary Karius clean up and to ensure the safety tionships between the organisms at [email protected] or of your group: and how changes in the environ- 612-596-9129 for more information. •• The Adopt a River program ment may affect them. Water Watch through the Minnesota DNR helps Suggested supplies: group select a site, provides a Youth grades 3 - 6 •• Bio bingo card (see Appendix) How-To kit for organizing a clean Find a sink with a hot water faucet. up, and supplies free bags and •• Magnifying glass, binoculars Ask youth to write down how many gloves. Volunteers are required to and net commit to conducting an annual cups of water they predict will be clean up for two consecutive years. Measure the pH of water wasted before the water runs hot. For more information, visit www. All ages Turn on the faucet and collect water dnr.state.mn.us/adoptriver/index.html. in the bucket until the water is hot. The pH of water indicates how •• Your watershed district may Measure the water collected. Ask for acidic or basic the water is. provide assistance in selecting a youth to share their predictions. site or offer other opportunities to Most fish can tolerate pH values get involved. of about 5.0 to 9.0, but the Suggested supplies: optimum range is between pH •• Large bucket, stop watch, measuring 6.5 to 8.2. Collect water sam- cup, paper, pencils ples from a nearby lake, river Discussion starters: or stream and use pH strips to determine the acidity or alkalin- How many cups do each of us (or ity of the water. To use the test each family) waste each day (multiply strips, dip a strip into the water, number of youth by cups wasted)? wait until color develops and How can we conserve more water in compare the color to the pH daily life? chart. Test water during different seasons or after precipitation to observe how the pH changes. Suggested supplies: •• pH strips (Kits can be ordered online, try www.hach.com) •• pH chart

52E�� Environmental Education Toolkit for Congregations/Protecting Water Resources Faith-based Environmental Resources Visit the sites below for a variety of •• Minnesota Interfaith Power and Light •• The World Forum on Religion interfaith and denominational resources (MNIPL) and Ecology at Yale for faith-based communities. http://mnipl.org http://fore.research.yale.edu Formerly Congregations Caring for Includes interfaith resources, Interfaith: Creation, MNIPL is the Minnesota branch news and events. Go to the of the national umbrella organization “World Religions” list for com- •• Alliance for Sustainability Interfaith Power and Light (IPL). The site prehensive information about www.afors.org includes Minnesota-specific information world religions’ ecological Twin Cities-based organization with on faith communities’ response to climate outlooks. environmental sustainability related change, how to develop a green team and information and events. how to affect environmental public policy. Baha’i •• Alliance of Religions and Conservation •• National Council of Churches •• Baha’i Topics www.arcworld.org/faiths.htm Eco Justice Program http://info.bahai.org Comprehensive resource that illumi- www.nccecojustice.org General information about the nates several faith traditions’ historical Covers nation-wide environmental international Bahai’community and present relationship with nature. justice issues and how congregations and its mission and vision. •• Cornwall Alliance for the take action. •• One County Online Newsletter Stewardship of Creation •• National Interfaith Power and Light www.onecountry.org/listenv.html www.cornwallalliance.org/about http://interfaithpowerandlight.org Baha’i stories about environmen- An environmental declaration and ethi- Provides sermon ideas, booklists, energy tal conservation and sustainable cal statement published by a coalition of efficiency information, a carbon foot- development. scholars and religious leaders. print calculator and an online store for •• Baha’i World News Service •• Ecology Resources to Transform energy efficient items. http://news.bahai.org/archive.php? Faith Communities and Society •• The National Religious Partnership for category=238&year=0&month= www.webofcreation.org the Environment, 0&Submit=Search Training Manual for The Green http://nrpe.org/ Baha’i world news climate change Congregation Program, a program to This organization is a national Catholic, publication archive. make congregations more sustainable Jewish, Eastern Orthodox, and Mainline and energy efficient. and Evangelical Protestant partnership for the environment. Their site offers each religion’s environmental perspective, activity and event ideas, and background on environmental issues.

Environmental Education Toolkit for Congregations/Faith-based Environmental Resources...... 53 Buddhism Presbyterian Judaism •• Buddhist Peace Fellowship •• Presbyterian Earth Care Team •• Baltimore Jewish Environmental www.bpf.org www.ptcaweb.org Network •• Code of Buddhist Eco Practice http://www.bjen.org/greening.html www.ecopractice.fwbo.org. Protestant and Orthodox Provides a greening your synagogue handbook, further •• Earth Sangha •• National Council of Churches resources for and examples of www.earthsangha.org for Eco-Justice Jewish eco-action. Buddhist environmental values in http://nccecojustice.org/about action. Non-profit charity devoted Includes campaign and action •• The Big Green Jewish Website to ecological restoration. info, and environmental education www.biggreenjewish.org/ resources. An “online meeting point between •• Ecological Buddhism Jewish and environmental ethics.” www.ecobuddhism.org Roman Catholic Site of the climate change cam- A Buddhist response to global paign of the UK Jewish community. warming. •• Archdiocesan Environmental •• Coalition on the Environment and •• Green Sangha Stewardship Team Jewish Life www.greensangha.org http://osjspm.org/globalwarming www.coejl.org/index.php “Healing our communities and the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Greening synagogues program and earth through mindful practice and Minneapolis climate change parish sermon ideas. Includes environ- awakened action.” toolkit. ment educational resources for •• The Zen Environmental Studies •• U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops Judaism. Institute www.usccb.org/sdwp/ejp/climate/ •• Confei Nesharim www.mro.org/zesi/zesihome/ wcd.shtml http://canfeinesharim.org/index.php index.html Climate Change Justice and Health Extensive resource for Jewish Initiative – a Catholic resource for eco-action and concepts. Christianity environmental justice and climate change. •• Hazon •• Earth Ministry www.hazon.org/ http://earthministry.org/ Islam Jewish inspiration and sustainable A non-profit organization commit- communities. ted to engaging the Christian and •• The American Muslim broader interfaith community in www.theamericanmuslim.org/tam. Unitarian Universalist environmental stewardship. php/features/articles/environment_ ecology. •• Minnesota Unitarian Universalist Catholic and Evangelical A vast collection of articles on Social Justice Alliance environment and ecology in Islam. www.muusja.org/ecominds •• The Interfaith Council for •• Islamic Foundation for Ecology •• Unitarian Universalist Ministry Environmental Stewardship for Earth www.seekgod.ca/ICES.htm and Environmental Sciences www.ifees.org.uk http://uumfe.org Episcopal •• Islamic Society of North America www.isna.net •• Minnesota Episcopal Environmental •• Wisdom in Nature Stewardship Commission www.wisdom innature.org.uk/ www.env-steward.com “Contemplative Ecological and Community Activism.” Lutheran •• Lutheran EarthKeeping network for the Synods www.webofcreation.org/LENS/ care4create.html

54E��Environmental Education Toolkit for Congregations/Faith-based Environmental Resources Additional educational

Speakers, presenters and workshops Master Gardeners, University of Prairie Ecology Bus Center Use these resources when planning Minnesota Extension This state-of-the-art school, mobile events for your faith community. Avail- Hennepin County Master Gardeners do scientific laboratory and classroom is ability and details may change, so be workshops and demonstrations, teach designed to educate school children sure to confirm the details directly with classes, answer questions and more. and adults about the environment the person or location listed. Fees are based on your group’s ability and natural sciences. Suitable for to pay. Call the Gardening Hotline at 3rd to 5th grade. Some fees may be Hennepin County Environmental 612-596-2118 for questions on lawn required. For more information, call Services Staff care, composting and other earth- Chrystal Dunker at 507-662-5064, Hennepin County staff is available to friendly landscaping issues. For infor- e-mail [email protected], provide presentations or staff booths on mation on scheduling speakers, contact or visit www.ecologybus.org. a variety of environmental topics Terry Straub at 612-596-2130, including waste reduction, recycling, e-mail [email protected], or visit Science Museum of Minnesota toxicity reduction, water conservation www.mg.umn.edu. The Science Museum will come to and energy efficiency. For more infor- Minnesota Pollution Control your location to present information mation, call 612-348-6848 or e-mail Agency’s Learning Resource Center on a variety of science topics. Call [email protected]. & Library to find out about specific programs City Recycling Coordinators The MPCA provides information and available. Programs are suitable for Invite your city recycling coordinator assistance on a variety of environmental ages 4 and up. For more information, to share information at your event. topics including waste reduction, call Jen Powers at 651-221-4748, e- Visit www.hennepin.us/recycling or hazardous waste, composting, junk mail [email protected], or visit RethinkRecycling.com to find contact mail, water and energy. The library has www.smm.org. information. more than 400 video titles on a wide Climb Theatre variety of environmental topics. Videos Artstart and Artscraps Climb Theatre performs original can be borrowed for a two-week loan at Bring your class or group to ArtScraps plays and leads classes on envi- no charge. The library offers learning for 60 minutes of art making with reused ronmental topics for K-12th grade trunks on recycling, waste reduction, scrap materials. Programs are suitable youth. Fee varies depending on and more. Resources are provided at for ages 5 and up and fees vary. Visit programs. Contact: 651-453-9275, no charge. For more information, visit www.artstart.org or call 651-698-ARTS www.climb.org. www.pca.state.mn.us, search: resource for more information. center, or call 651-757-2120.

Environmental Education Toolkit for Congregations/Additional Educational Resources...... 55 Kidpower with Rachael Environmental Middle and High School Rachael performs with interactive education book list • A Kids’ Guide to Climate Change & Global Warming: How to Take Action! music, comedy and juggling by Cathryn Berger Kate focusing environmental issues such Toddlers and Young • Second-Time Cool: Preschoolers (Board Books) The Art of Chopping Up a Sweater as waste reduction, composting, • Choose to Reuse by Anna-Stina Linden Ivarsson, Katarina recycling and respecting the earth. by Miriam Latimer, Preschool Brieditis, Katarina Evans Fees vary. Contact: Rachael Kroog, • Big Earth, Little Me • Heroes of the Environment: by Thom Wiley, Preschool True Stories of People Who Are 952-835-6562, Helping to Protect Our Planet • Don’t Throw That Away! by Harriet Rohmer www.kidpowerwithrachael.com. by Laura Bergen, Preschool • Making Good Choices About Recycling and Reuse Tricia and the Toonies Preschool to 2nd Grade by Stephanie Watson Tricia & The Toonies perform in • It’s Earth Day! • The Green Teen: The Eco-Friendly Teen’s By Mercer Mayer Guide to Saving the Planet schools and communities with - ages 4-8 by Jenn Savedge themes focusing on reducing, reus- • Charlie and Lola: We are Extremely • Generation Green: The Ultimate Teen Very Good Recyclers Guide to Living an Eco-Friendly Life ing, recycling, pollution prevention, by Lauren Child by Linda Sivertsen - ages 4-8 natural resource conservation and • Teens Go Green!: Tips, Techniques, Tools, • Curious George Plants a Tree and Themes for YA Programming more. Offering music, puppets and by Margret & H.A. Rey (Libraries Unlimited Professional Guides skits. Appropriate for all ages. Fees - ages 4-8 for Young Adult Librarians Series) • Easy to Be Green: Simple Activities You by Valerie Colston vary, scholarship information is Can Do to Save the Earth • Green Careers: Environment and available on their website. by Ellie O’Ryan Natural Resources - ages 4-8 by Pamela Fehl Contact: Tricia Haynes • Ecoart!: Earth-Friendly Art and Craft • Recycling 952-933-3438, thetoonies.com. Experiences for 3-To 9-Year-Olds by Viqi Wagner by Laurie Carlson • Grover’s 10 Terrific Ways to Help Our Resources for adults Resources in other Wonderful World languages by Anna Ross • Affluenza: The All-Consuming Epidemic - ages 4-8 by John de Graaf Hennepin County offers several • I Can Save the Earth!: • Animal, Vegetable, Miracle One Little Monster Learns to Reduce, by Barbara Kingsolver print resources in other languages, Reuse, and Recycle • An Inconvenient Truth: The Planetary by Alison Inches Emergency of Global Warming and including Spanish, Hmong, and - ages 4-8 What We Can Do About It Somali. To learn more about the by Al Gore multicultural resources the county 3rd to 6th grades • Beyond Ecophobia • What’s It Like Living Green?: Kids by David Sobel offers, contact Anita Urvina Davis, Teaching Kids, by the Way They Live • Cradle to Cradle: Remaking the Way multicultural education coordinator, by Jill Ammon Vanderwood We Make Things by William McDonough at [email protected] or • 50 Simple Things Kids Can Do to Recycle • Last Child in the Woods 612-348-6848. by Earthworks Group by Richard Louv • Recycle This Book • Natural Capitalism: Creating the by Dan Gutman Next Industrial Revolution • Eillen Green The Recycling Queen by Paul Hawken by Penelope Dyan • Stuff: The Secret Lives of • Just Grace Goes Green (Fiction) Everyday Things by Charise Mericle Harper by Alan Thein Durning and John C. Ryan • The Consumer’s Guide to Effective Environmental Choices: Practical Advice from the Union of Concerned Scientists by Michael Brower • The Naturally Clean Home by Karyn Siegel-Mayer • The Story of Stuff by Annie Leonard

56E�� Environmental Education Toolkit for Congregations/Additional Educational Resources Greening your events

The following are some simple ways •• Make recycling easy by ensuring that For more information on plan- to make all of your events, gatherings recycling containers are clearly marked ning greener events and meetings, and meetings as green as possible. For and readily available. Consider com- see the ZeroWaste Event Planning posting food scraps and food-soiled more information, see the Greening Your Checklist from Do It Green! Min- paper. Monitoring recycling containers Celebrations handout in the Appendix. and trash cans at events helps ensure nesota, available at www.doitgreen. •• Plan ahead! Communicate your waste that sure all waste ends up in the right org/article/goods/event-checklist, reduction goals to all involved. place and can be an opportunity to and check out the information •• Try to limit paper use and handouts. educate attendees. available on www.mngreen Send electronic invites. Use a laptop –– Hennepin County has portable gatherings.org. and projector for meeting materials and recycling containers available to make materials available electronically. rent for free for events. Visit Host a special event during Print handouts double-sided. www.hennepin.us/recycleonthego April (Earth Month) •• Provide information on public transit for more information. Plan an event or information table and biking to your event. Encourage –– The City of Minneapolis offers for Earth Day, April 22. carpooling. container rental for events held in •• Provide reusable dishware when offer- Minneapolis. The city has containers Un-scary halloween party ing food. Provide reusable mugs and available for the collection of garbage, If your program has a Halloween cups, or encourage attendees to bring recycling and organics that they will or fall party, invite your city their own. If you must use disposable deliver and pick up for a fee. recycling coordinator to come and items, look for items that are recyclable. share information (to find them, visit RethinkRecycling.com). You can also request free pencils made from recycled materials.

Environmental Education Toolkit for Congregations/Special Events Ideas...... 57 PJ party Green fair Host a Friday night PJ party with a Organize a resource fair of area com- storyteller. The theme could be “stories munity resources and services such as around the campfire.” As a family activ- city recycling coordinators, Minnesota ity, make camping vests from brown Extension Service Master Gardeners paper grocery bags and decorate with to demonstrate and discuss compost- cutouts from old wallpaper books or ing, non-profit thrift stores, vendors of other scrap materials. eco-products, etc. Have activities that involve children, such as making toys Nature center field trip and playing games with “trash.” Encourage your group members to get outside and experience nature by visit- Thrift store style show/toy exchange ing a nature center. For ideas, visit the Working with local thrift stores, have Three Rivers Park District website at group members dress up in thrift store www.threeriversparkdistrict.org or check outfits. Have audience members guess your city for other local nature areas. the cost of the items. Consider including a toy, book or clothing exchange as Garage sale part of the event. Host a garage sale and encourage

groups members to sell items they no Fundraiser longer need. Consider including an Sell Chinook Book coupon books that information table about environmental offer coupons from local green business- topics at the event. es as a fundraiser. Visit www.ecometro. com/twincities/fundraise.aspx for more information.

58E��Environmental Education Toolkit for Congregations/Special Events Ideas Service Learning Service learning combines meaningful Follow these five stepsto plan the Reflection community service with thoughtful service activities and learning outcomes Reflection helps transform a ser- reflection and intentional learning. for your project. vice project into a service-learning Service learning transforms a traditional 1. Investigation: Adults and youth in- experience. Reflection can in- service experience into a deeper vestigate the environmental issues they clude verbal, written, artistic and learning experience with strong out- want to address, such as by reading the nonverbal activities before, during comes for youth and other participants. background information on each issue and/or after the service experi- Use the following tools and resources included in the toolkit. ence. Reflection activities prompt to plan an environmentally focused 2. Planning and Preparation: Represen- participants to think deeply about service-learning project. tatives of the project, together with community or county representatives if environmental problems and appropriate, plan the learning and ser- solutions and make connections vice activities, addressing administrative between these issues and their issues needed for a successful project. own lives. 3. Action: Engage in a meaningful service The following are sample experience that benefits the environ- reflection questions. ment and helps your participants develop knowledge, skills, and attitudes Pre-reflection (see list of project ideas later in this to ask before the service experience: section). ••What do you already know about (the environmental issue, the 4. Reflection: Reflection activities help neighborhood, etc.)? participants understand the service experience and think about its connec- ••How do you feel about tion to them and our world (see sample (the issue)? reflection questions below). ••What do you think will happen 5. Sharing/Celebration: Participants share during the service project? what they have done with others and celebrate the results of the project.

Environmental Education Toolkit for Congregations/Service Learning Project Ideas...... 59 Describing Environmental Service Conduct congregational audits ••Describe what you saw, describe Learning Project Ideas Audit how resources are being used what you did. Who did you meet? at your house of worship. Look at Before planning your project, make how much waste is being created, ••What did you accomplish? sure to talk with the intended ben- how well members are recycling, ••What about it was challenging or eficiaries of your service (organiza- how much energy and water is being easy? tions or individuals) to make sure used. Use the resources identified in the background sections of this Interpreting the service is needed and wanted. toolkit. ••How did you feel about the project? Raise money for an Create an environmental mural ••How did this issue become a environmental organization Create a mural with an environmen- problem? Fundraisers could include making tal theme in an area prone to graffiti. Consider incorporating materials ••Why do you think people need to and selling items described in this that are reused or found, such as re- work on this problem, and whose toolkit, such as reusable shopping cyclable materials that were thrown responsibility is it? bags, gift bags made from reused materials, non-toxic cleaners, etc. in the trash, litter collected from Applying the experience nearby, etc. ••What did you learn, what skills Donation drive for used goods Recycle bottle caps did you gain? and clothing Collect, sort, and deliver used cloth- Recycle Caps With Aveda is a ••How did this experience change ing or household good for donation program to increase the recycling your outlook on this issue/the to local organizations that need of plastic bottle caps coordinated environment? them, such as Goodwill, Arc, Salva- by Aveda. Visit www.aveda.com/ ••What could you or others do to tion Army, Epilepsy Foundation, etc. aboutaveda/caps.tmpl for more infor- solve this problem (in the short- mation. Sustainable gardening term, long-term)? Create or maintain gardens for Recycle old shoes Some information above is based your church, for senior citizens or Collect old shoes to be recycled on the Service-Learning Project other groups. Implement sustain- through the Nike Grind program. Planning Toolkit, found able gardening techniques, such as Visit www.nikereuseashoe.com for details. for free online at the National composting, planting native plants, or planting food to eat without us- Service-Learning Clearinghouse. Recycle cell phones ing chemicals using ideas from the Collect cell phones to benefit Visit www.service-learning.org for Protecting Water Resources section non-profit organizations. Visit information and planning tools. of this toolkit. www.wirelessfoundation.org for cell Organize a cleanup event phone donation options, or visit Organize a street or river cleanup us- www.call2recycle.org for informa- ing ideas from the Protecting Water tion on recycling campaigns for cell Resources section of this toolkit. phones and rechargeable batteries.

Make reusable gifts Make homemade gift wrap, gift bags or greeting cards out of reused materials to give away before holidays. Make bookmarks from reused materials to give to a local library.

60E�� Environmental Education Toolkit for Congregations/Service Learning Project Ideas When organizations begin to educate Reduce Reuse others about environmental issues, •• Preventing waste from being generated •• Set up a system in your office they may also want to look at internal in the first place is an easy and effective for reusing office supplies and way to lower disposal costs. Look equipment, such as a central operations and makes changes to im- for creative ways in your day-to-day storage area or online database. prove their environmental performance. operations to reduce waste. •• Consider donating office The following tips and resources can •• Avoid unnecessary printing and make equipment and materials that help you implement these changes. double-sided printouts and copies. your business no longer needs. This information can also be found Start a paper reduction campaign in Go to RethinkRecycling.com/ in the Environmental Stewardship for your office. business and look under donating Business factsheet (see Appendix). •• Use e-mail for communications opportunities for options. and consider using e-newsletters to •• When shipping items, reuse reduce paper use. packaging materials or use •• Check documents carefully shredded paper. before printing and edit drafts on •• Use reusable nametags at the computer. meetings.

•• Reuse scrap paper for notepads. Recycle •• Use a small fax transmission sticker •• Make sure your organization is instead of using a large cover sheet. recycling as much as possible •• Use reusable cups and dishware for – office paper, newspapers and meetings. Encourage attendees to bring magazines, cardboard, plastic their own reusable coffee mug. bottles, metal cans and glass are all recyclable. •• Encourage employees to pack lunches in reusable containers. •• Make sure recycling containers Provide a microwave, refrigerator, are clearly labeled and readily area for dishwashing and dishware available. Posters and labels are to make this easier. available from Hennepin County for recycling programs. Go to •• Use non-hazardous or less-hazardous www.hennepin.us, search: recycling cleaning supplies. resources.

Recycle, cont’d on next page

Environmental Education Toolkit for Congregations/Resources for Internal Operations...... 61 Develop a green purchasing Energy efficiency and renewable program energy •• Purchase environmentally prefer- Electricity production results in Recycle, cont’d from previous page able office supplies and equipment. significant greenhouse gas emis- •• To encourage recycling, eliminate Environmentally sions and air pollution. Conserv- trash bins in individual offices; preferable products contain ing energy and improving energy put them in the break room and recycled content, are sustainably common areas instead. harvested, are made with less toxic efficiency can reduce your organizations impact on the environment •• Start an organics recycling program. materials, or conserve energy or Organic waste – food waste and water. Visit www.epa.gov/epp for and save money. food-soiled paper – can be more information. •• Turn off lights in unoccupied of- recycled into compost, a valuable •• Purchase printers with double- fices and restrooms. Install motion resource used in landscaping and sided printing capabilities. sensors for lights. road construction projects. Visit Purchase refillable toner cartridges. •• Convert to energy efficient lighting www.hennepin.us, search: organics, •• Buy office supplies in bulk. and purchase energy efficient office for more information. •• Purchase recycled-content office equipment. paper. Set a standard for recycled- •• Turn off copiers, lights and content paper used in your computers at night. organization. •• Carpool, take public transit or •• Encourage suppliers to ship bike to events and meetings. materials in returnable or reusable Offer incentives for employees containers. that do this. Keep hazardous materials out •• Have your heating and of the trash cooling system audited for Certain supplies and products that energy efficiency. may be used in your business, such •• Buy renewable energy. Some busi- as electronics, cleaners, fluorescent nesses have installed solar panels or wind turbines to meet their light bulbs, appliances, cleaning energy needs. You also may be able supplies and paint, contain hazard- to purchase renewable energy from ous or toxic materials and must your utility provider. not be placed in the trash. Go to •• Understand and mange your orga- www.hennepin.us/businesshazardous nization’s greenhouse gas emissions waste for information on proper by preparing a greenhouse gas disposal. inventory and setting long-term emission reduction targets. The Environmental Protection Agency offers a Climate Leaders program that provides technical assistance and recognition for organizations taking steps to reduce emissions. Go to www.epa.gov/climateleaders for more information. •• Utility providers offer a variety of tools and incentives to help organizations conserve energy and improve energy efficiency.

62E�� Environmental Education Toolkit for Congregations/Resources for Internal Operations Resources for Businesses, Minnesota Materials Exchange Schools and Organizations www.mnexchange.org 612-624-1300 Waste reduction and recycling This free service connects businesses and organizations that have quality Hennepin County Business Waste reusable goods they no longer need Reduction Program to those that can use them. Find low- www.hennepin.us/businesswaste cost or free materials, save money on 612-348-3777 disposal, and find new markets for Hennepin County offers free web infor- surplus materials. mation, phone assistance, and links to other resources to help business save Minnesota’s Sustainable Healthy money by reducing waste. Schools program Resourceful Waste Management www.pca.state.mn.us Guide search: Sustainable Healthy Schools Guide rethinkrecycling.com/businesses Resources for parents and educators This resource provides information on including a “Guide for Change,” how to reduce, reuse, recycle or prop- “Assessment Tool for Change,” and erly dispose of just about anything success stories. your company uses. The website also Minnesota Technical Assistance has a step-by-step guide to help your Program—MnTAP business develop and maintain a waste mntap.umn.edu management program. 612-624-1300 Hennepin County drop-off facilities – A free, non-regulatory program that recycling only provides businesses and organizations www.hennepin.us/dropoffs with company-specific, cost-saving 612-348-3777 solutions to manage waste and improve Small business may self-haul recyclables energy efficiency. to drop-off facilities in Brooklyn Park Minnesota Retired Engineer and Bloomington free of charge. Larger Technical Assistance Program quantities of recyclables should be de- (ReTAP) livered directly to a recycling company. www.pca.state.mn.us, search: retap Hazardous waste is not accepted from 612-624-1300 businesses at these facilities. ReTAP provides free, confidential, non-regulatory pollution prevention, waste reduction and energy conservation assistance to Minnesota businesses, industries and institutions.

Environmental Education Toolkit for Congregations/Resources for Internal Operations...... 63 Energy efficiency and Database of State Incentives for renewable energy Renewables and Efficiencies Minnesota Waste Wise www.dsireusa.org Hennepin County Cool County www.mnwastewise.org A comprehensive source of informa- Initiative 651-292-4681 tion on state, local, federal and utility www.hennepin.us/coolcounty A private, non-profit, member- incentives that promote renewable 612-348-3777 supported organization affiliated energy and energy efficiency. Hennepin County has committed with the Minnesota Chamber of to reducing greenhouse gas emis- Commerce that helps businesses ENERGY STAR sions from county operations. Find and organizations reduce waste www.energystar.gov out what the county is doing and and save money. Offers information on energy what residents and businesses can efficient products and practices. Eureka Recycling do to reduce emissions. www.eurekarecycling.org/bg_coop.cfm U.S. Department of Energy 651-222-7678 Minnesota Office of Energy Security www.energysavers.gov/your_workplace Eureka Recycling offers a coop- www.energy.state.mn.us Information for businesses about erative purchasing program for 651-296-5175 implementing energy efficiency recycled paper and compostable Information about energy efficiency programs and utilizing renewable products. and renewable energy. energy.

Center for Energy and the Xcel Energy Environment – Commercial www.xcelenergy.com/minnesota/ Lighting Program business www.mncee.org/programs_bldgs_ 1-800-481-4700 facilities/commercial_lighting Offers a variety of resources and 612-335-3487 programs on energy efficiency and Offers energy audits and rebate for utilizing renewable energy. small businesses that retrofit their existing lighting system with more energy efficient lighting

CenterPoint Energy www.centerpointenergy.com/services/ naturalgas/business Offer free Custom Energy Analy- sis in which an auditor inspects a business’ natural gas use to help manage energy costs.

64E�� Environmental Education Toolkit for Congregations/Resources for Internal Operations Evaluation Questions

Evaluation questions for behavior change Please see the following questions. You will choose questions from this list to ask of the people who participated in your project. The “respon- dents” are the people who learned about environmental issues because of your efforts.

About the questions Choosing the right When to administer The first part of each question (asking questions to ask the questions the respondent to consider how Only those questions that relate to the These questions should be frequently they make waste reducing content of what people learned through administered only after a person choices), reminds the respondent what your Community POWER project should participates in your program or they learned through your project. The be used. If some of the questions do not goes through an educational ex- second part of the question (asking if relate to your project, remove those from perience that you organized, and they changed their behavior because of your survey or questionnaire. enough time has passed so that your program), is what we are keeping they could implement what they track of to determine if your efforts learned in their daily life. We had an impact on their behavior. estimate the questions should be asked two to six months after the person learns about the issues.

Environmental Education Toolkit for Congregations/Evaluation Questions...... 65 How to administer the questions In the past, grantees have used the questions in written surveys, online surveys, or in an interview format (over the phone or in person). If the people who participated in your project attend a follow-up meeting or event, that is a great time to administer the questions. You could also mail surveys with a stamped return envelope.

Customizing the questions/survey This word document can be downloaded from www.hennepin.us/CommunityPOWER. The name of your program, project or workshop can be inserted throughout the questions. Other language of the questions should not be altered. These questions can be inserted into an existing survey or accompany other questions you design. It can be useful to ask the respondent’s level of experience with the program (days or hours or participation, for example) as well as other background information.

Questions? If you need more information (i.e., about surveys or how to overcome challenges in using questions), please contact [email protected] or call Ellie Jones at 612-348-9352.

66E�� Environmental Education Toolkit for Congregations/Evaluation Questions AppendixActivity supplies: – Sample Pledge – Wise-Up About Waste quiz – Packaging Reduction – Potato Chip Bracelet activity – Blue Jean Bag activity – Build a Junk Mail Tree guide – Recycling Chart – Trash Checklist – Rethink Recycling articles – Label Reading Activity – Home Hazardous Product Survey – Chemicals in the Home quiz – “Household Hazardous Waste” PowerPoint presentation – Watershed Map – Storm Drain Stenciling Guide – Bio Bingo activity These resources are also available online at www.hennepin.us/environmentaleducation

Handouts from Hennepin County: – Hold the Mail – How to Identify Hazardous Products—Read the Label – Too Much Packaging is a Waste – Ways to Reduce Harmful Chemicals in your Home – Donation Opportunities – Fluorescent Light Bulbs: Buy them, Use them, Recycle them. – Greening Your Celebrations – Mercury and Mercury-Containing Products – How to Pack a No-waste Lunch bookmark – Drop-off Facilities brochure – Remember Your Bags window clings – Earth-Friendly Home Landscaping Guide – Choose to Reuse Directory magnet – Non-Toxic Cleaning Recipes – Residential Curbside Recycling Guide – Hennepin County Road and Bike Map (also available in Spanish) – Household Hazardous Waste and Problem Materials Guide (also available in Spanish) – Making Hennepin a Cool County – Environmental Stewardship for Businesses – Ten Things You Can Do to Improve Minnesota’s Lakes, Rivers and Streams – Landowner Guide

Order literature online at www.hennepin.us/literatureorderform or call 612-348-4168 Handouts from the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency: – Reducing Waste at Home – How to Compost Your Organic Waste – Reducing Waste at Work – Reduce the Need for Pesticides and Herbicides – Reducing Waste at School – How to Grow a Healthy, No-waste Lawn and Garden – Reduce Trash When You Shop

Order literature by e-mail at [email protected] or call 651-757-2120. PDF versions can also be downloaded at reduce.org

Environmental Education Toolkit for Congregations/Appendix...... 67