With school out for the holidays, you might be looking for ways to stay entertained, whether it’s getting creative with handmade gifts, or enjoying the great outdoors with winter activities. Here are a few ideas on how to enjoy a healthy, happy, and green holiday break.
Get crafty
Time off school is a great opportunity to have fun with arts and crafts. While you probably have a few of your own favourite crafts, why not branch out and try a new crafty project or two?
- 26 upcycled holiday crafts: Your recycling bin might be holding treasures! We’re sure you’ll find a craft for which you already have the supplies in this list – from ornaments to a kid-sized gingerbread house. These are mainly Christmas decorations, but you can always adapt to make whatever you wish to celebrate the season.
- 14 eco-friendly Christmas ornaments: Want to exercise your DIY skills with ornaments for your tree? Crafting a Green World has plenty of suggestion on how to make unique decorations from recycled (soda cans, fabric scraps, etc.) or environmentally-friendly materials.
- Are you on Pinterest? Search “recycled crafts” and you’ll surely find one that inspires you!
Give sustainably
Giving gifts to your friends and family doesn’t have to mean breaking the bank, or buying the most new items. The holiday season is an opportunity to share your environmental values, whether it’s encouraging others to donate to a cause dear to you, or thinking outside of the box by giving gifts of activities or outings rather than objects.
- It may seem like a small thing, but making the switch from paper card to e-cards can make a difference – especially if it’s tradition to send out dozens! The David Suzuki Foundation has a fun selection of holiday cards. Don’t worry – you can customize them with a personal message.
- There are so many environmental charities in Canada: why not identify one or two whose work you’d like to support?
- The holiday season doesn’t have to add to your eco-footprint. Celebrate the season while caring for the planet with these tips from Earth Easy, from green gift wrapping ideas to taking the time as a family to donate items that somebody else could enjoy.
- If you will be doing a bit of holiday shopping, keep in mind the environmental impact your purchases can have. Check out this guide to an “An Environmentally Friendly Black Friday”.
Get Outside
And, just because school is out, doesn’t mean your environmental learning has to be put on hold. Why not explore your local outdoor education centre, or go for a hike in nearby nature and observe the changing season?
- It might be tempting to stay inside and cozy up as the temperatures dip, but getting outside and experiencing a new place or activity is a great way to enjoy winter without resorting to hibernating. Head to Ontario Travel to find a snowy adventure to embark upon!
- Visit Ontario Parks to find an outdoor activity near you.
- You can also check out Ontario Nature’s list of events, from bird walks to snow-shoeing.
Wishing you a joyful holiday season, and please share with us how you incorporated green into your festivities via Twitter or Facebook.
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