Going Green, One Shade at a Time IP

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The Going Green, One Shade at a Time IP is an interest project from the Girl Scouts of Connecticut Council.

* + - Do the one REQUIRED activity
		- Do ONE activity of your choice from each of the THREE categories (LEARN, DO, SHARE)
		- Design and do ONE activity of YOUR OWN
		- Create a short REFLECTION after you've completed all of the activities

Often, an activity in the "LEARN" category will help you build a skill that you'll have the chance to try in the "DO" category and then share in the "SHARE" category. Make connections between the "steps" when planning which activities you'll do. For an example of a skill-building connection, check out the first activity of each "Going Green, One Shade at a Time" category.

# Breakin' It Down

Explore how pollutants from our everyday life impact the environment and health. This IP will help guide you to make a difference individually or collectively in your environment at home and in the world.

# HERstory

The “Going Green, One Shade at a Time” Council Interest Project is the direct result of an IP creation by Kathryn P. Jackman-Murphy, MS, RN, Girl Scouts of Connecticut member. She is very committed to healthy living and the environment.

# You’ve got MAD skills

By completing activities in the “Going Green, One Shade at a Time” Interest Project, girls can:

* + - Gain awareness of the effects personal actions and choices can have on the environment and health
		- Explore environmental careers
		- Gain awareness of pollution and the effect on our environment
		- Gain awareness of organic and non-organic products
		- Gain awareness of products created by recycled materials

# Required

Have you ever thought about the connection between the environment and your health? Learn where a recycling or transfer station is located in your community. Visit the station. How did they begin? What materials do they accept? What materials are not accepted? Why do they not accept these items and how can they be safely disposed? What is the average amount received of each material? How is the station staffed? What education or training is required? What goes into the design of the station? What are the costs of operating a station? Has the usage varied over the years? What happens to the recycled items once they are collected? Who oversees the protection of the environment in and around the station? What tests are conducted to ensure the area’s health? What is a Carbon Footprint? Determine what your Carbon Footprint is and how you can reduce your input. Tip: See Helpful Links.

# Learn

1. 1. 1. Use your detective skills. Walk about the house and identify 10 items that can be recycled. (Hint: look for the chasing arrows symbol). Identify 10 items used during troop meetings. What items can be recycled? Are there other less “disposable” items that could be used?

2. Learn what products are created from recycled materials. Are any of these products used in the home or at school?
3. What is an organic product? What is the difference between an organic and non-organic product?
4. Learn what ingredients are found in soap, shampoo and body lotion. Learn how your body might react to some of the ingredients.
5. Learn about careers involving protecting our environment. Find out what education is required for these careers. Tip: See Helpful Links.
6. Select a country you would like to visit. Study what they are doing to help the environment. Do they offer more recycling for different items? Do they allow use of the same chemicals/ingredients as the United States?
7. Pollution comes from many areas. Research what pollution comes from cities, towns and farmlands. Tip: See Helpful Links.
8. We all need clean water to live. Pollutants enter our water from many places. Research how life in urban areas, farm lands and industrial areas can impact our water quality.
9. Many “high tech” items use rechargeable batteries which make our life easier. Investigate the proper disposal of these items.
# Do

1. 1. 1. Set up a recycling station at home. Ask your family to join you in using these stations for two months. Make a recycling box for troop meetings and events and ask members to use the box for items that can be recycled like soda cans. Keep a journal of the items your family and troop recycles each week. Deposit your recycled items at a recycling or transfer station. Discuss thoughts and ideas of changes your family and troop could make to use items that are less “disposable”.

2. Visit a store that sells products created from recycled materials. What items are sold? Are there differences in products not made from recycled materials? What are they?
3. Visit a supermarket that sells organic products. Compare organic and non-organic products. Do they differ in price? How are they similar or different?
4. Visit several different types of stores that sell soap, shampoo and body lotion. Compare two products from each group and learn if \*one\* product is safer than another.
5. Lead and mercury are some common pollutants. Find out how these toxins affect our body. What are sources of these toxins? What can you do to avoid them?
# Share

1. 1. 1. Share what you have learned about recycling in your home and troop and using items that are less “disposable” with another troop or group.

2. Share information you have gained about products created with recycled materials.
3. Share information you have gained about organic and non-organic products.
4. Share what you have learned about soap, shampoo and body lotion with your troop/group.
5. Develop a play about recycling for children. Share your recycling play with others.
# Important

The Going Green, One Shade at a Time Council Interest Project Award may be obtained through the Girls Scouts of Connecticut Shops. You may shop online at http://www.gsofct.org/shop/. You may also contact them at 203-234-6253 or shop@gsofct.org. Please contact the Girl Scouts of Program Department for more information about this award at 203-239-2922 or 800-922-2770 or program@gsofct.org.

# External Links

Carbon Footprint- Reducing Your Input
National Library of Medicine- Tox Town
National Recycling Coalition
The Internet Consumer Recycling Guide
U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics- Occupational Outlook Handbook
Your local Recycling or Transfer Station
Connecticut Resource Recovery Authority
Girl Scouts of Connecticut: Membership: Forms
Going Green, One Shade at a Time IP