Happy April, Watershed Explorers! What an exciting month? April is Earth month! It is also the birthday month of one of Mrs. Morissette's role models, Dr. Jane Goodall.
I know that many of you already know who Dr. Jane is, but for those that don't, I encourage you to check out the https://www.janegoodall.org/
Dr. Jane will be 88 on Sunday, April 3rd. A true conservation hero already, Dr. Jane continues to share her message of hope for all creatures and our Earth through speaking engagements with people of all ages.
I have two favorite quotations from Dr. Jane that inspire my daily actions. The first is, "You cannot get through a single day without having an impact on the world around you. What you do makes a difference, and you have to decide what kind of difference you want to make." The second came from a presentation that Dr. Jane shared in Tanzania (where Dr. Jane did a lot of her early research and where her youth organization Roots and Shoots started) for a group of 16,000 people. After Jane finished her presentation, the crowd began shouting, "Together we can." Dr. Jane returned to the mike and said, "Yes, absolutely we can, but will we?" In the writing piece where this story came from, Jane explained that her question startled them at first. However, after a few moments she said that it was clear they understood what she was saying. She finally said, "Together we can, together we will."
When Dr. Jane speaks, she always shares her reasons for hope. These reasons are:
The Amazing Human Intellect (how smart we are)
The Resilience of Nature (how strong nature is)
The Power of Young People (my favorite, wink, wink)
The Indomitable Human Spirit (this means that humans have a lot of fight, we don't give up even when faced with incredible adversity (adversity means troubles or difficulties)
I believe that Dr. Jane's message, "Together we can, together we will," is incredibly important right now. Watershed Explorers, we can change the world. What better month to collaborate efforts than Earth month? Mrs. Morissette is going to share a few ideas for small changes and/or activities that you can participate in to celebrate Earth month. Your part of the "together we will" is to choose something from the list and share your story of doing it! I would love to be able to share hundreds of stories of all of us making positive changes. If you are ambitious, get your family or friends involved too! If you already do some of the items on the list, try to choose something you haven't done!
Take a nature walk
Use reusable shopping bags when you shop
Turn off the water when you brush your teeth
Start a nature club with your friends at school (if you can, explore some natural spots outside at recess, or if allowed, bring a sketchbook outside and do some nature drawing)
Read about someone who has either made a difference or is making a difference in the world (Jane Goodall, Greta Thunberg, Martin Luther King, Mahatma Gandhi, Rachel Carson, Sylvia Earle, there are so many to choose from)
Plant a tree
Make seed bombs https://www.wildlifetrusts.org/actions/how-make-seed-bomb
Plant your socks "say what, Mrs. Morissette." Plant your socks! Take an old pair of socks and walk through the grass, preferably where there are plants. Your socks will pick up seeds. Once you feel you have collected items on your socks, plant them! Check it out at https://thewonderofscience.com/phenomenon/2018/5/3/plant-your-socks
You will need your family to help you with this one! Swap some of the plastic items you use at home for more eco-friendly items. You could replace your plastic toothbrush with a bamboo one, or use reusable containers to take your lunch to school instead of plastic bags.
Be sure to turn the lights off in rooms that you are not in!
Make a home compost bin or pile. There are many resources that you can use to help you succeed at composting. If you are interested in composting, please let Mrs. Morissette know and she can help you with some books and guides. Composting is quite a bit of work and would require your parents'/guardians' help.
Do a clean-up in your neighborhood, or join one in your community
Visit a local Audubon Society or Nature Conservancy
Learn about pollinators or plant some native pollinator attractors.
Create a nature critter using natural materials such as rocks, sticks, shells, fallen leaves, flowers, acorns, or cut grass. The photo below is from one of last year's students.
"Together we can, together we will!" Let's give Dr. Jane the best birthday present ever and make this world as AMAZING as her.
Much love, Watershed Explorers and Happy 88th Birthday Dr. Jane!
Mrs. Morissette