Summer is coming! That means long, lazy days with no school, lots of extra time and, sometimes, nothing to do. This summer why not start a Green Club? Round up friends and neighborhood kids and make a plan to save the planet – or at least make a difference in the place where you live. Here are some ideas to get you started.

Get members – Send out invitations during the last week of school, at your church, synagogue or mosque and around the neighborhood. Make sure you have a place and time to meet, or make it an online club, where you ‘meet’ through the email or texting. Try to meet at least once each week or every other week throughout the summer.

During your first meeting, decide what you’re going to do for the next month. You might pick one idea for the whole month or different activities for each week.

Pick from below, or get a book on the subject. Check out Easy to Be Green: Simple Activities You Can Do to Save the Earth by Ellie O'Ryan, the ‘Why Should I?” books by Jen Green and Recycle! A Handbook for Kids, Gail Gibbons will get you started.

1. Start a recycling program for your neighborhood – Lots of grown-ups want to recycle, but they think they’re just too busy. Make it easy for them. Offer to pick up their newspapers, glass and other recyclable items each week. Make sure to clear this with a parent, and let them help you plan how you’ll collect the recyclables and get them to the recycling center.

2. Conserve water on a big scale! – Toilets use a lot of water. Now imagine how much water is used by all the toilets in your neighborhood. Your club can cut that number down by offering the people who live around you a water-reducing solution. It’s easy and even recycles old milk jugs. For everyone who’s interested in cutting their water use, just fill a milk jug with water and put it in the tank of their toilet. It will cut down on the amount of water it takes to fill the tank, saving water with every flush. Now, multiply THAT!

3. Make a worm farm! – Pick a spot in your yard to compost vegetable peels, tea or coffee grounds, paper napkins or towels, bird cage yucky and even pet hair!

Some things to remember:
Never, ever go into someone’s house without an adult that you trust. Especially when helping or speaking to strangers, have a Club member’s parent nearby.
Moms and Dads need to be part of the Club, too. Face it, you’re going to need their help, their ideas and their car!

Look for more Green Club articles, full of ideas on how you and your friends can make a big difference in your community. And have a great summer!