Give Tree Gifts Blog

With Earth Day 2010 quickly approaching, I felt now would be a good time to start thinking about some earth day activities to celebrate Mother Earth. 

I'm a firm believer that Earth Day is a family affair, so I've been researching various resources to compile a list of terrific activities for both your family and your community.

One of my favorite discoveries for wholesome family crafts and activites is http://www.kaboose.com/.  I mention this first because it is a fabulous resource for healthy living, which includes recipes, activities, crafts. tools for parents, games, and so much more.  I encourage you to bookmark the site and take advantage of the wonderful support they offer.  On their holidays page, I found a complete page dedicated to Earth Day 2010, which includes crafts, home, green and organic food, games, coloring pages, projects, entertainment, and lessons - all supporting Earth Day. 

Your primary resource for Canadian Earth Day events and activities would be Earth Day Canada.   You'll also learn about various programs and events held throughout the year, which help to sustain our beautiful planet.   

Last, but definitely not least, is Earth Day Network.  Their pledge is "Protecting the Earth and its people every day."  If, like me, you admire and and wish to support that pledge, there is a wealth of information available for you on this site.  Their Programs Page includes links to International Programs, Earth Day Events, and Education; but that's only a small sampling of what they offer.  Their Resources include Earth Day In A Box.  This is a collection of all of the information you need to plan a successful Earth Day event.   

If you would like to help increase awareness, please feel free to use the Earth Day Countdown banner above, by including the following html code on your site, blog, or emails:

http://www.givetreegifts.com/earth_day_products" title="Earth Day Tree Seedlings" target="_blank">

Someone once defined public relations as "doing good and getting credit for it." One area where this is especially true is in crisis management. If Company A experiences a crisis situation and has a reputation for poor treatment of employees, environmentally unsound practices, lousy customer service, and a heavy hand with the press, then recovery from the crisis - if it comes at all - will be slow. As the crisis unfolds, all of these wronged groups will surround them, eager to exact their pound of flesh. Such a scenario could easily sink Company A.

On the other hand, Company B has developed strong community support by sponsoring charitable events, providing free services to the needy, adopting environmentally friendly business practices, and encouraging their employees to volunteer in the community. When a crisis occurs, what happens? The community rallies around Company B. Its messages explaining the crisis - press releases, media interviews, public service announcements and direct mail - are well received and the company is given both the benefit of doubt, and the crucial time it needs to resolve the situation. The company was there for the community, now the community is there for the company. So, how do you model yourself after Company B?

Be a good corporate citizen:

1. Conduct your business with integrity and honesty.

2. Encourage and reward employees for volunteer activities.

3. Sponsor a charitable event

4. Fund scholarships

5. Donate cash or services to a worthy cause

Publicity:

1. Focus efforts to get increased visibility. For instance, it's better to support 3 charities well, rather than 40 smaller contributions, which have lower impact.

2. Select a good cause that does not already have a known corporate sponsorship.

3. Alert the media of newsworthy fundraising or charity events that your organization hosts, sponsors, or participates in.

4. Use a unique approach to fundraising (e.g., a green fundraiser, a Dunk-the-Boss tank; a car rally for UNICEF) with your company's name as corporate sponsor. A unique approach means that your event will receive the media coverage it deserves.

Of course community involvement and support is its own reward, and not every charitable act will hit the front page - nor should it. Instead, focus on the positive results of these efforts.  You will be building a stronger community from within and fostering a sense of pride and accomplishment amongst your employees.  Simply put - doing good feels good.  By becoming a leader in your community, you will inspire others to join in the efforts and show their support.  Its a win/win situation.

Yvonne Meacham Buchanan is a public relations instructor for PR Essentials, an online public relations course available through Careers in Public Relations

Mother Nature's Playground

Each year, a small fortunue is spent on toys for our children.   Sadly, many times this includes video games, which, perhaps with the exception of a few, do little to stimulate children's minds or provide much needed exercise. Because it's so important to keep young minds and bodies active, why not take advantage of nature's playground? It's free and it's as close as the great outdoors.

Manufacturers and developers are busy designing and redesigning toys, books and television programs, making them more entertaining for kids. In some cases, they include good educational content; however, more often than not, it's the "entertainment" value that they are focusing on. By introducing your child to nature, you're opening up a whole new world, which will both entertain and stimulate the imagination, while being educational. Nature can inspire future scientists, economists, creativitive thinkers, and conservationists, while encouraging a sustainable lifestyle.

Let's face it. With today's faltered economy, we are all looking for ways to have a good quality of life on a budget. By including nature exploration in your family activities, you have good quality entertainment and enlightenment for little or no cost. As soon as you step out the door, nature is all around you. You'll find it in backyarda, parka, nature centera or natural museuma. Why pay for costly toys, outdoor play structures, or memberships to  entertainment centers, when you can explore the great outdoors and get full benefit of stimulating and educational play?

Research indicates that, children that are given opportunities to explore and investigate will gain experience to make sound decisions on their own.  This added confidence helps to improve their retention and learning, as they are actively participating in their own education by applying practical experience to theory.  By introducing children to an environment where inquisitive thinking is nurtured, they develop their learning skills and grow to be independent thinkers. In fact, we can all benefit from the lessons learned, while exploring the world outside.

It's become increasingly important that we all do our part to be more environmentally conscious. What better way to help do your part than to encourage your children's interest in their planet, while they're young and impressionable? When people, children included, develop an appreciation for the environment, they are more apt to do their best to improve and preserve it.

I had what I consider to be a privileged childhood. I was blessed with space, fresh air, green grass, and all kinds of trees for me to climb or just sit in their shade and let my imagination fly. We had a resource reader, which provided information about various wildlife species, including how to identify their tracks. I had fun. Actually, I had loads of fun. As an added bonus, my mind and curiosity was stimulated and I learned valuable lessons, which I still draw on today. Nature gave me the freedom to be a kid; but it also gave me a priceless education.

While unstructured outdoor play is terrific for children, you can also seek out places that offer structured classes and learning sessions for kids that focus on the natural world. Check your local park, zoo, library, or museum. There's a good chance they have classes you can sign up for and, since many of these organizations are nonprofit, they're usually affordable as well as informative.

I've found a terrific resource for kid's indoor and outdoor activities.  CreativeKidsAtHome.com provides a variety of crafts and activities designed to engage children's minds and encourage exercise.

There's no reason why kids should have all the fun. There is no greater escape than getting out and enjoying the rich bounty that nature offers. Enjoy quality time together and reconnect with each other. There's a great big world out there, just waiting for you. 

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