Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.
– Nelson Mandela, South African anti-apartheid activist and politician (1918-2013)

The Nature Explore e-newsletter features a monthly sustainability tip from the book, Keeping it Growing. Here is a helpful tip:

Tip: The care with which you choose plants and materials for your outdoor classroom will have a profound impact on your ability to keep your space well-maintained over time.

Recommendations:

• Choose native, low-water plants. Doing so will alleviate the need for frequent watering. Check out the Audubon’s Native Plants Database, and here is an interesting article about native plants that are safe for children and pets.
• Use nature’s free loose parts as part of a low-maintenance plan. Collect pinecones, pods, acorns, etc. from nearby parks, forests, or from your own yard. Be considerate, legal and sustainable when collecting – for example, it’s illegal (and unsustainable) to remove materials and resources from national parks, and shell collecting is forbidden on many beaches. Removing too many shells, seed pods or other natural items from an area can disrupt the life cycle and diminish the ecosystem.

Help make nature become an integral, joyful part of children’s daily learning. Join the Nature Explore mailing list for the latest resources and opportunities.