Whenever I get pessimistic about our ability to solve our major environmental issues, like climate change, I remind myself that kids are actually more hopeful and motivated about making change than their parents.  If you've ever watched Jeff Foxworthy's show, you know that there are some smart 5th graders out there! Turns out 5th graders - and other "graders"- may be worth learning from in other ways. (Of course, as a parent of teenagers, I know that teenagers know EVERYTHING! But that's for another blog...) 

Recent research done by the Pew Center on Global Climate Change  for Nickelodeon found that: 1) the majority of kids believe that global warming is a problem and 2) kids are twice as likely as parents to believe they can do something to stop global warming. Just as my parents' generation learned to wear seat belts from their kids (remember those long car trips flopping around in the back of the station wagon with the seats down - we had seatbelts - we just didn't wear them!), my generation is learning to recycle, drink tap water, and drive less - from our kids.

My organization, ERTHNXT, provides environmental education programs for children and youth organizations across the country. We work closely with Girl Scouts of the USA and Boys Scouts of America. Both organizations are listening to their "customers" - the 6 million+ kids who participate in their programs - and focusing more on environmental education and activities.  As an example, both are celebrating their major anniversaries with nationwide tree planting events. In 2007, ERTHNXT provided 95 trees to each Girl Scout council that wanted to plant trees in honor of their 95th anniversary. Through this program, we engaged 144 councils in 46 states to plant 14,000 trees! In 2012, the Girl Scouts of the USA's 100th Anniversary service project will include a national effort on greening schools. The Boy Scouts of America will celebrate their 100th anniversary in 2010 with a nationwide tree planting service project in conjunction with the Arbor Day Foundation.

The National 4-H  Council is another such partner. Laura Webber, the 15-year old founder of the 4-H Million Tree program is an active ERTHNXT partner and member of our Advisory Board.  Together, 24,000 4-H-ers have planted almost 70,000 trees!

Inside the classroom, more and more schools have been incorporating environmental education into their curricula. Congress is also supporting this effort. Congressman John Sarbanes and Senator Jack Reed introduced the No Child Left Inside Act on Earth Day 2009. This bill urges Congress to include critical environmental education measures in the No Child Left Behind law. The bill, which passed the House in September of 2008, has 17 co-sponsors in the Senate.

And on the home front, my 17-year old son, raised in the city, has an acute sense of how his day to day actions impact the environment. (Although I've set a good example, it can't be solely my influence, judging by his sister's very different lifestyle!) My son is not in any environmental clubs and he doesn't proselytize, but he lives his beliefs - riding his bike or bus or train rather than learning to drive, shopping almost entirely at thrift stores for his clothing, piecing together a new bike from old parts.  And he would tell you he just does these things because he wants to, not because anyone is forcing him to or because he feels he has to. He is already part of the solution. And that gives me hope.

For some more great ideas on how to connect kids to nature and help them protect the environment check out www.erthnxt.org.