Hello! I’m Woodsy Owl. I hope you will join me to learn how to “Lend a Hand — Care for the Land!” Do you know what that means? It means that if we all work together, the Earth will have clean air and water and will be a healthy place to live for trees and plants, fish, animals and birds like me! Oh, and it also means it will be clean for you, too!
So, let’s get started!
Reduce
This means to cut down on the amount of stuff you use every day to reduce your daily garbage. Use a cloth lunch bag you can wash and use again and again instead of paper of plastic bags you have to throw away. Save water by turning off the faucet while you brush your teeth. Save electricity by turning off the lights when you leave a room. Every time you reduce, you help the environment. Can you think of other ways to reduce?
Reuse
This means to use the same thing more than once. If clothes do not fit you anymore, give them to a sibling or ask your parent if you can donate them. The same goes with toys, games and books. Draw pictures on the back of printed paper or use old items to make art, like a piggy bank out of an old bleach bottle. Reuse plastic bags from the grocery story. Can you think of other ways to reuse paper or plastic? What kind of art projects can you do?
Recycle
Recycling is a way of taking something old and turning it into something new again. You can take paper, glass and cans to a recycling center so they can be turned into new items, like clothes, carpet and outdoor furniture. Even old tennis shoes can be remade into a sidewalk and old tires are used on playgrounds. You can even make toys out of old things. How about a helicopter out of an egg carton? Or collect toilet paper rolls to use them to plan seeds or make creative artwork. What can you recycle into something new?
Rot
A natural way to turn leftover fruit and vegetables into really good plant food is called compost. A pile of old broccoli, leftover salad, banana peels, egg shells, fall leaves and grass clippings can be saved outside in a compost bin. In one year, you’ll have moist compost that can be used in your garden to help grow more delicious food!
Practice your 4Rs, then write me a letter and let me know how much you have learned.
Woodsy Owl
U.S. Forest Service
1400 Independence Ave., NW
Washington, D.C. 20250-0003
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