Feb 19, 2008 7:29 pm US/Eastern
Kids Living Green & Trying To Save Environment
PALMETTO BAY (CBS4) ―
The green movement to save the earth is growing by leaps and bounds. Kids are also hearing the message but many are doing a lot more than just listening. They are taking action to save the planet for future generations.
Sophia and Ian Poveda are so-called normal fifth graders. They go to school and love playing with their beagle Maggie. They also do whatever they can to save the earth. They even recycle their scrap paper at home.
"We never used to recycle paper we only used to recycle cans," Ian Poveda told
CBS4'S Liv Davalos.
These little eco-warriors are keeping their parents on their toes. Their mom says sometimes they catch her if she accidentally throws something away.
"They definitely do catch us if I'm throwing something away that should be recycled. They are always making sure we recycle," said Anna Poveda.
And she's not alone. Her friends' kids are saving everything as well. Sometimes it gets to be a little frustrating.
"If it was up to them we would eliminate the garbage can completely," explained Anna Poveda.
In households across the country kids are going after their parents for environmental offenses. You could call them the green movement's stealth weapon.
More and more kids are getting the message from global warming documentaries like "Arctic Tale", children's environmental books, and Web sites geared for kids like the one by the
Environmental Protection Agency.
In schools across the country, children are learning ways to save the environment as well.
At Westminster Christian School in Palmetto Bay, a group of fifth graders saved thousands of bottle caps and recycled the plastic bottles.
The brightly colored caps are being used to decorate fish which they will display on a school wall. The students also saved and recycled scrap paper, grinded it up into pulp then back to paper for art projects.
Art teacher Anne Heetderks says the excitement students feel by making art from trash while helping the environment is an empowering lesson.
"They quickly realized the amount of garbage that would have been thrown away instead was turned into something else and not going into a landfill," said Heetderks.
It doesn't end there. In their science class, the environmental theme continues as the students learn about what is biodegradable and what it means to the earth.
While sometimes it does take a little more time to sort and separate, Anna Poveda is glad her kids care about the future and may start saving for what could be the next thing on their list.
"They haven't pushed us towards a hybrid car just yet but I'm sure they will when they turn 16," said Poveda.
Parents may want to start saving for that hybrid car now.
The difference between a gas guzzler and a hybrid is usually several thousand dollars or you could tell your eco-warrior that you can all help the environment by cutting back on your driving, turning off the lights and not watching so many cartoons.
(© MMVIII, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
