How small an eco-footprint does a Spark make? How about a Brownie? The 12th Milton Sparks and 19th Oakville Brownies could tell us! They were busy learning from Halton Recycles in preparation for World Thinking Day 2012! This post was written by Stacey Gibbs, and originally appeared on the Halton Recycles blog, February 21, 2012.
Thank you Halton Recycles for letting us share this with our audience!
—————————————————————–

12th Milton Sparks learn about recycling from Halton Region staff.

This year, my girls joined Brownies, which is part of the Girl Guides of Canada. I enjoy watching my girls make bonds with other girls, but I really appreciate the focus Girl Guides places on helping our community and the world.

Every year on February 22, Girl Guides all over the world celebrate World Thinking Day, a day that honours the Guiding movement’s founders, Members and worldwide organization. The theme for this year’s World Thinking Day was “we can save our planet.” This day really helped my girls become more aware of the things they can do every day to make our planet a better place.

“For over 100 years, Girl Guides of Canada has been consciously aware of the importance and significance of our natural world,” said Girl Guides of Canada Ontario Council Member Kris McGee. “As the world’s largest organization for women and girls we have taken on various leadership roles when it comes to environmental awareness. Our Members are frequent guests at global symposium and conferences where their participation and experience are valued by agencies such as the United Nations and the World Health Organization.”

As World Thinking Day approached, I asked my girls that World Thinking Day means to them: “To keep our earth healthy,” said one, and “That we and people we know recycle,” said the other.

“In Halton, our members have decreased their own eco-footprints, promoted and cared for our environment on a daily basis,” stated Kris. “Local Units have educated others about ground water contamination, initiated recycling and composting programs at local camps, conducted countless litter chases, planted trees and bulbs, restored natural habitats, built environmentally friendly picnic tables, completed restoration projects and designed public service announcements about Earth Day and Earth Hour.”

Brownies

Inspired by girls around the world taking action on World Thinking Day, my girls and I decided we will try the following for the next year to make our world better:

• Walking more to the local grocery store and restaurants instead of taking the car.
• Picking up litter (like coffee cups), when walking the dogs…this includes cleaning up at our local playground more.
• Carpooling more, if possible, when going on an outing with family or neighbours.
• Planting our own vegetable garden.
• Using reusable water bottles!

On World Thinking Day, what commitments did you and your family make so “we can save our planet?”

19th Oakville Brownies with Halton Recycles

In Halton, many Girl Guide Units are recognizing World Thinking Day with a large event on Saturday, February 25, 2012. See you there!

By Stacey Gibbs, for the Halton Recycles blog, February 21, 2012.
——————————————————
Our best blog posts come from girl and adult Members, volunteers and parents just like you! Pitch us your idea. Writing a short blog is easy and fun! Know someone you think would be great for our new Who’s Who in Canadian Guiding Column? Tell us! Email us at marketing1 (@) girlguides.ca