Treehugger Babysitting: Episode 3- Best Birdfeeders Ever

These birds are actually angry
because you haven't made them a
milk carton bird feeder.

Hi everyone! This is GEEKs cofounder Katie M-T, bringing you the long-awaited third episode of our captivating and ingenious new series, Treehugger Babysitting. These episodes follow my adventures in trying out sneaky environmental education activities on the kids I nanny. Read through this whole post to find out how to use a milk carton, glue and some old magazines to inspire a love of environmental stewardship and creative recycling in young children, or skip to the bottom for a summary of what I learned as well as a picture of Barney the Dinosaur.

Treehugger Babysitting: Episode 2- Urban Gardens

What a well-maintained garden! Good job
kids.

Hi everyone! This is GEEKs cofounder Katie M-T, bringing you the long-awaited, action-packed second episode of our new series, Treehugger Babysitting, which follows my adventures in environmental education with the kids I'm nannying this summer. 

In our first episode, I learned how to get the kids interested and engaged in environmentalism through art. Read through this whole post to see what sneaky education tactics I tried this time, or just skip to the bottom to see what I learned during this episode, summed up this time in haiku form.

Treehugger Babysitting: Episode 1

Let's redirect Calvin's
energy to socially
productive uses

Hi everyone! This is GEEKs cofounder Katie M-T, and I'm bringing you the first episode in our new series "Treehugger Babysitting". This series will follow my adventures in getting unsuspecting children who I'm babysitting interested in environmental stewardship.
As usual, if you don't have time for this whole post, skip to the bottom to see what I learned, summed up in a single uplifting paragraph.
Also, if you have a story related to this post to share, please let us know! Send us an email at get.geeky28@gmail.com, or leave a post on our Facebook page here.

Join Us: GEEKs Collaborative Art Project!

A collage submitted by
10-year-old Eliza

We Need You!
Are you looking for a way to express yourself, relieve stress, entertain those energetic kids you're babysitting over the summer, unleash your creative potential, kill a few minutes of free time, or get involved in a nationwide intergenerational art project? Then you are the perfect participant for our first GEEKs Collaborative Art Project!


What is the GEEKs Art Project?
The goal of the project is to build an online collection of art created by people of all ages and art skill levels. The collection will show artists' answers to this question: What does an environmentally sustainable world look like to you?    

Action Opportunity St. Paul: Volunteer with the Youth Farm and Market Project!

Students working on a new farm project in Whittier

St. Paul GEEKs! Looking for some fun volunteer hours over the summer? The Youth Farm and Market project (website here), is looking for young volunteers all summer, all across the city. The Project's mission is "Growing Food to Develop Youth", and that's exactly what they're doing- you get leadership experience and a good excuse to get outside and play in the dirt. Skim through for whatever place and time you're available! Without further ado, here's their official notice for volunteers:


The Youth Farm and Market Project is gearing up for our summer program, and we are looking for volunteers!  YFMP has lots of exciting new volunteer opportunities this

Lesson Plan: Owl Moon by Jane Yolen

Age Group: 5-7

Materials: Owl Moon, Brown construction paper, scissors, markers, feathers, string, glue, pictures of
owls.

Book: The Berenstain Bears and the Ghost of the Forest by Stan and Jan Berenstain

Age Group: 4-7

Materials: The Berenstain Bears and the Ghost of the Forest by Stan and Jan Berenstain; optionsal: cotton balls,
shredded paper, plastic bags or rubber bouncy balls; squares of fabric; rubber bands; markers, glitter,
googly eyes, etc; string.