Kids Can Make an Eco-Difference

I remember being fascinated with how things grew when I was a kid. My parents both have green thumbs and were always excited for spring, transferring the wee seedlings that had lived in the basement to the garden.

As adults we've become more aware of our green footprint and that awareness has been transferred to our kids. Sunlight has recognized that kids have some pretty great ideas and established the Sunlight Green Clean Kids team, a group of 10 Canadian kids from ages 8-13. The kids team, along with a panel of eco-experts, are awarding fellow green kids up to $1500 for a green idea with the Sunlight Green Grant.
The kids panel and environmental organizations Evergreen, Sierra Club, Green Learning, The Quebec Environment Foundation and Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society assess essays written by Canadian kids about their plan to protect the planet or inspire people to go green.

Grants can be used for a variety of ideas including rakes and bags for a park clean up program, paper and paint for a school poster program or equipment for community composting.

Kids between the ages of six and 13 are asked to write 150 word essay to explain how they would protect the planet or inspire others in five categories: water, nature, air, energy or reduce. Essays can be submitted online or via mail.

The deadline for submissions is November 30, 2010 and more information can be found at www.sunlightgreencleankids.ca.