Leave No Trace...

How can we teach our kids about ethical, sustainable, eco-friendly fun at the beach?

• Talk about activism and advocacy regularly

• Read and take lessons from other relatable young activists

• Chat about how we can make a big difference with small actions

• Discuss their ideas on how they can help take action

• Support their ideas and guide their efforts

• Walk the talk and involve local families (kids love projects with their friends!)

Start with this little poem I wrote! :)

It’s a perfect day to head to the beach.

Let’s grab our steel straw cups for juice,

And a refillable bottle of water each!

Putting on some Reef-Safe sunscreen –

We don’t want those chemicals to wash into the sea.

This is better for the corals, and for you and me!

We pick up after ourselves (and others),

In the recyclable trash bags we take along.

We stop plastic from being swept far and long!

Those gorgeous shorebirds don’t need human food.

It dulls their natural instinct to forage,

And also messes with their mood.

Don’t drive on the sand, never touch a habitat.

That innocent starfish in the tide pool is not a toy.

Even from afar – this wildlife we can enjoy.

We remember to flatten that sand castle dome.

In case a baby sea turtle might fall in the moat,

While making its way back home.

Bidding adieu to the crystal waters and the sky so blue,

We thank mother nature for her generosity,

And we strive to leave no trace, in lieu

Always look for the sustainable solution.

Make a true resolution, this problem we can tackle,

Remember the mantra - Reduce, Reuse, Recycle!

-Rujuta Kelkar

01.25.2022

NJ, USA