End-of-Year Giving: How Your Support Activates Lifelong Climate Leaders

Every school year brings a new wave of curiosity, creativity, and potential. But for many classrooms, especially those with limited budgets, important learning experiences about our planet remain out of reach. That’s where you come in. When you donate to Change is Simple, you are fueling a movement that helps young learners understand their role in building a sustainable future.

Funding for the 2025 end-of-year giving is open, and your support can make all the difference. At Change is Simple, your generosity turns lessons about recycling, energy, and ecosystems into real-world experiences that spark a lifelong commitment to protecting Earth. Your tax-deductible donations ensure that every child, regardless of background, has the chance to learn about our planet.

The State of Environmental Education Today

Across the country, climate education faces a growing gap. While most teachers recognize its importance, many lack the time, resources, and training to deliver it effectively. That’s why environmental education funding is essential. It brings expert-led programs into schools and equips students with hands-on learning experiences that inspire environmental stewardship.

Here’s what’s happening in classrooms today:

• Limited Funding: Since 1992, the US Environmental Protection Agency has awarded approximately $95 million in environmental education grants to over 3,900 projects nationwide. Despite this, funding remains insufficient to meet the growing demand for quality environmental education programs.

• Resource Gaps: Many schools lack access to updated curricula, hands-on materials, and professional development opportunities for educators, limiting the depth of environmental education.

• Curriculum Integration Challenges: Environmental education often falls between traditional subject areas, leading to fragmented implementation and inconsistent delivery across different educational settings.

• Policy and Legislative Barriers: Despite strong public support (over 86% of teachers and 84% of parents advocate for climate change education), there is no national consensus or standardized curriculum, resulting in uneven educational experiences for students. 

Your giving helps close this gap. With every contribution, you help bring engaging, science-based climate education into classrooms.

What Your Support Makes Possible

Your donation transforms classrooms into hubs of environmental innovation and student-led action. Here's how your support is making a tangible difference:

• Hands-On Climate Lessons: Over 8,000 students engage in interactive lessons annually, covering topics such as biodiversity, energy, and sustainable food systems.

• SCiLL Mobile Learning Lab: This traveling classroom brings immersive, climate-focused education directly to schools, ensuring accessibility even in under-resourced communities.

• STEAM Integration: Programs blend science, technology, engineering, arts, and math through an environmental lens, allowing students to design, build, test, and audit.

• Career Exploration: Programs introduce youth to ideas that can spark curiosity and inspire interest in exciting environmental science careers.

• Program Evaluations: Third-party studies were conducted exploring the effectiveness of Change is Simple programming. Both short-term and long-term impacts have been measured and verified. Short-term studies remain ongoing while the long-term study showed alumni reporting lasting changes in their environmental attitudes and behaviors, demonstrating the enduring effect of early climate education.

Each of these opportunities helps students move from awareness to action, building confidence and knowledge they’ll carry into adulthood. We can prove it.

Empowering Teachers and Schools

Teachers are the foundation of strong climate education, but many feel unprepared or unsupported when it comes to teaching sustainability. Your giving empowers educators to integrate environmental lessons into their existing curricula.

Our professional development resources are designed to boost the impact of environmental education by equipping educators with the knowledge, tools, and strategies to lead transformative experiences.

Our professional development offerings include:

• Personalized, DESE-certified training tailored to teacher needs.

• Workshops and lesson plans aligned with Next Generation Science Standards and Common Core, with an emphasis on experiential learning.

• Hands-on sessions, such as setting up hydroponics or Green Classroom audits.

• Customizable professional development for schools or districts, delivered in-person or virtually.

By empowering teachers, we enable schools to build classrooms where sustainability is woven into every lesson.

Give in a Way That Works for You

You’ve got options when it comes to making a difference. Whether you prefer a one-time gift, a lasting legacy, or a match through your workplace, every contribution helps bring climate education to more students and schools. Here are some of the key ways you can support our efforts:

• Online Donation: Make a secure one-time or recurring gift directly through our website to support climate education programs.

• Check by Mail: Send a check payable to Change is Simple, Inc. at 100 Cummings Center Suite 227Q, Beverly, MA 01915.

• Become a Monthly Donor: Monthly donors give an average of 42% more per year than one-time donors. Recurring donors increase donor lifetime retention, and donation stability and sustainability.

• Gift of Stock: Transfer shares via Morgan Stanley (DTC# 0015), and notify us with details to receive a tax receipt.

• Donor-Advised Fund: Leverage your donor-advised fund to support climate education programs and maximize your impact.

• Planned Giving: Consider a planned gift to create a lasting legacy and benefit students for years to come.

• Employer Matching: Check whether your employer matches charitable giving to double the impact of your contribution.

Even a modest donation can spark curiosity, inspire young minds, and help build a generation of environmental stewards ready to care for our planet. Plus, all these options are tax-deductible donations, so your support benefits both students and your giving goals. 

Power the Change: Make an Impact This School Year

Ready to make a difference? Donating to fund the school year is an opportunity to ignite young minds and inspire action for a healthier planet. Your donations for education empower a generation to think critically, care deeply, and act boldly.

Change is Simple is a nonprofit dedicated to bringing environmental and sustainability education into schools through fun, hands-on learning. By empowering children with the knowledge and tools to care for the planet, Change is Simple inspires a generation of young leaders ready to build a healthier future. To support our mission or learn more, visit our site or donate here.

America Recycles Day: Debunking 5 Common Recycling Myths

Every Nov. 15, America Recycles Day reminds us that the choices we make about our waste can have a lasting impact. Recycling plays a crucial role in environmental sustainability, but confusion often keeps people from doing it effectively. Misinformation and long-standing recycling myths can make the process seem complicated or even pointless. By clearing up these common misunderstandings, we can reduce waste and take meaningful steps toward protecting our environment.

In this article, we will debunk some of the most common myths about recycling, explore recycling facts, and highlight the real benefits of recycling.

Myth 1: Recycling Doesn’t Really Make a Difference

This is one of the most common and damaging recycling myths because it can discourage people from even trying. It may feel like our individual efforts are too small to matter, but when everyone participates, collective action truly adds up. Recycling statistics show that when everyone contributes, we can make a huge difference.

So, why is recycling important?

• It Benefits the Economy: In the US, recycling and reuse activities annually support about 757,000 jobs, generate $36.6 billion in wages, and contribute $6.7 billion in tax revenue for every 1,000 tons of recycled material.

• It Benefits the Environment: Recycling helps conserve natural resources such as timber, water, and minerals while reducing energy use and greenhouse gas emissions. For example, in 2018, nationwide recycling of municipal waste helped save more than 193 million metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent. Recycling also diverts trash from landfills and incinerators, protecting ecosystems and cutting down on pollution.

• It Benefits Future Generations: Recycling helps preserve the planet’s resources and natural habitats so that future generations can enjoy clean air, water, and healthy ecosystems. By reducing waste, conserving energy, and lowering greenhouse gas emissions today, we leave a healthier, more sustainable world for our children and grandchildren.

Understanding the importance of recycling is key to practicing effective environmental stewardship. By making small, consistent efforts to recycle properly, we can protect natural resources, reduce pollution, and contribute to a healthier planet for everyone.

Myth 2: The Recycling Symbol Means an Item Is Recyclable

The recycling symbol is often misunderstood. Many believe that if an item has the symbol, it can be recycled. However, the symbol primarily indicates the type of material, not its recyclability. This misconception can lead to improper disposal and contamination of recycling streams.

How can you find out what is recyclable?

• Check Local Guidelines: Recycling rules vary by location. Always refer to your local recycling program's guidelines to determine what is accepted. RecycleSmart is a great tool for those in Massachusetts.

• Avoid Composite Materials: Items made from mixed materials, such as juice boxes or chip bags, are often not recyclable.

• Understand Resin Codes: Familiarize yourself with the resin identification codes, usually found inside the recycling symbol, to know which plastics are commonly accepted in your area.

Sorting recyclables with kids can turn an everyday chore into a fun and educational activity. As children learn about recycling and how to separate materials, they develop hands-on skills and gain a deeper appreciation for sustainability. Activities like these can inspire curiosity about the natural world and even spark an interest in future careers in environmental science.

Myth 3: You Don’t Need to Rinse Out Containers

Many people think it’s okay to toss containers into the recycling bin without rinsing, but this is a common misconception. It might feel like a small detail, but leftover food or liquid can contaminate entire batches of recyclables, rendering them unrecyclable.

Contamination can affect hundreds or even thousands of pounds of material at a time, and when a batch is too dirty, recycling facilities often have to send it to a landfill instead. This wastes energy, resources, and the effort of everyone who recycled properly. Properly cleaning containers helps ensure that the materials actually get recycled and reduces waste.

Remember to:

• Before recycling, replace caps back onto containers after rinsing out and drying them.

• Avoid crushing or changing the original shape/size of containers.

• Remove any leftover food residue from cardboard. For pizza boxes, greasy, residue-free cardboard can be recycled in Massachusetts, and BPI certified pizza boxes can be composted.

• Compost or send greasy pizza boxes to the landfill.

By taking these small steps to reduce contamination, we can make recycling more effective and meaningful. Reducing overall plastic use is another way to lessen the strain on recycling systems, prevent contamination, and protect the environment.

Myth 4: Recycling Does More Damage Than Manufacturing

Some argue that recycling uses more energy and creates more pollution than simply making new products. This is not true. Studies consistently show that recycling uses less energy and reduces environmental impacts compared to creating products from virgin materials.

• Aluminum: Recycling aluminum cans uses about 95% less energy than producing new aluminum from bauxite ore.

• Steel: Recycled steel requires up to 74% less energy than steel made from iron ore.

• Paper: Recycling paper saves trees, water, and energy and reduces carbon dioxide emissions compared to making paper from virgin pulp.

• Plastic: Recycling PET bottles conserves energy and reduces the demand for new petroleum-based plastic.

By understanding these benefits, we can appreciate the importance of recycling in reducing environmental impact. Engaging in recycling practices also offers opportunities for experiential learning, especially for children, fostering a deeper understanding of environmental science and sustainability.

Myth 5: Items Made From Recycled Materials Are Not as Good

Some people believe that products made from recycled materials are lower in quality, but this is far from the truth. Many everyday items are already made from recycled content, and you probably use them without even realizing it. Office paper, aluminum cans, glass bottles, plastic containers, and even textiles can be produced with high levels of recycled materials without sacrificing performance or durability.

In fact, recycled materials often perform just as well, and in some cases better, than their virgin counterparts. For example, research has found that concrete mixed with a small amount of recycled PET plastic can actually increase its compressive strength compared to standard concrete.

Buying products made from recycled content is one of the easiest and most effective ways to close the recycling loop, reduce waste, conserve natural resources, and promote long-term environmental sustainability. Every purchase reinforces the value of recycling and helps build stronger, greener systems.

How You Can Celebrate America Recycles Day

This America Recycles Day, take a moment to examine your habits and consider where you can improve. Recycling is not perfect, but it is an essential part of reducing waste and protecting the environment.

Here are a few simple ways to celebrate:

• Learn what is recyclable in your community and share that information with friends and family.

• Buy products made from recycled content to create demand for sustainable goods.

• Teach kids about the benefits of recycling and how it connects to environmental education programs.

• Reduce contamination by rinsing containers and keeping recyclables clean.

• Spread the word on social media to encourage others to take part in recycling efforts.

By taking these steps, you can support environmental sustainability and help build a culture where recycling is valued.

Change is Simple is a nonprofit dedicated to bringing environmental and sustainability education into schools through fun, hands-on learning. By empowering children with the knowledge and tools to care for the planet, Change is Simple inspires a generation of young leaders ready to build a healthier future. To support our mission or learn more, visit our site or donate here.

Energy Awareness Month: Simple Steps to Reduce Your Carbon Footprint at Home

October is Energy Awareness Month, a perfect time to reflect on how our daily choices affect the planet and our wallets. Energy use in homes accounts for approximately 20% of US greenhouse gas emissions, making household changes a crucial part of the global climate solution. By adopting energy-saving habits and taking small, consistent actions, you can help reduce your carbon footprint, improve home energy efficiency, and lower energy bills, all while supporting a more sustainable future.

Understand Your Energy Use

Even well-run homes can waste surprising amounts of energy without anyone realizing it. Addressing the biggest culprits can cut your utility bills and shrink your carbon footprint at the same time. Here are some of the top sources of residential energy waste:

• Heating and Cooling Inefficiency: On average, HVAC systems account for more than half of a home’s total energy consumption. Poor maintenance, clogged filters, and aging equipment can waste hundreds of dollars per year.

• Air Leaks and Poor Insulation: Gaps around windows, doors, and walls allow heated or cooled air to escape, forcing your HVAC system to work harder.

• Standby Power (“Vampire Loads”): Electronics and appliances left plugged in can quietly add up to a surprising portion of your household electricity.

• Inefficient Lighting: Traditional bulbs waste up to 90% of their energy as heat; switching to LEDs can cut lighting costs by half or more.

• Water Heating: Standby heat loss, overheating, heat lost through pipes, and leaks can cause your system to waste energy.

Addressing passive inefficiencies offers the biggest potential for long-term impact. These measures provide a lasting fix, often allowing years between maintenance. By taking the time to schedule a home energy audit, you can uncover these hidden wastes and make improvements that truly matter. Small changes add up, and committing to energy conservation at home plays a vital role in environmental stewardship.

Adopt Energy-Efficient Habits

Daily actions can add up to meaningful energy savings over time. Even small adjustments in daily routines can reduce your environmental impact and cut costs. Here are some energy-saving tips:

• Turn off lights and electronics when not in use. Even a few minutes can add up over time.

• Unplug chargers and appliances when they aren’t actively in use to reduce standby power.

• Use natural light whenever possible instead of switching on lamps during the day.

• Run full loads in your dishwasher and washing machine to maximize energy efficiency.

• Set thermostats wisely by setting them lower in winter and higher in summer, especially when you’re away from home.

• Take shorter showers and use cold water when possible to reduce water heating energy.

• Seal unused rooms by closing doors or vents to avoid wasting heating or cooling.

Incorporating these small daily habits is a practical step toward energy conservation and can complement larger home efficiency improvements. For more sustainable living ideas, explore energy-saving resources that make it easier to reduce your environmental footprint while saving money.

Upgrade to Energy-Saving Devices

Upgrading to energy-efficient appliances helps your home use less power without requiring constant effort. Look for the ENERGY STAR label when replacing refrigerators, washers, dryers, and dishwashers. These models use less electricity and water without sacrificing performance.

Some smart home technologies can also help you manage your usage more effectively. For example:

• Smart thermostats learn your schedule and adjust heating and cooling automatically.

• Smart plugs and power strips monitor and reduce standby power.

• Smart lighting systems turn off automatically when rooms are unoccupied.

• LED lighting uses less energy than incandescent bulbs and lasts much longer.

• High-efficiency HVAC systems reduce energy demand while keeping your home comfortable.

If the upfront cost feels high, remember that these upgrades often pay for themselves through lower energy bills over time.

Advocate for Renewable Energy

Most US cities still rely heavily on fossil fuels, with about 60% of electricity coming from coal, natural gas, and oil. Even so, cities such as Burlington, Vermont, and Aspen, Colorado, now run primarily on renewable sources, including wind, hydro, and solar. Renewable energy produces far less pollution and greenhouse gas emissions compared to fossil fuels.

Wherever you live, supporting clean energy policies, community initiatives, or utility programs can make a difference. Participating in local programs (such as community solar gardens or neighborhood energy challenges) can also reduce reliance on fossil fuels while building a culture of conservation. Even small actions, such as sharing credible information online, can have a significant impact. For homeowners, adopting home solar energy is a direct way to reduce reliance on fossil fuels, lower energy costs, and advance broader waste reduction and sustainability goals. While the initial investment can be significant, tax incentives and rebates often help offset the cost.

By advocating for cleaner energy, sharing credible information, and exploring renewable energy options for your own home, you help create momentum toward a low-carbon future.

Commit to Long-Term Change

True sustainable living goes beyond one-time improvements. To make lasting changes, set measurable goals for reducing your home’s energy use each year. Track progress with energy monitoring tools, and involve your family in the process so that conservation becomes a shared responsibility.

Environmental education lays the groundwork for lasting impacts, especially when children understand how energy is used and misused. Programs such as Sustainability & Climate Innovation Learning Lab (SCiLL) bring hands-on, mobile lessons right into schools, camps, and community events. They engage students and families with activities such as energy audits, building wind turbines, and comparing incandescent versus LED bulbs. By teaching kids not just the science but the real-world implications and efficiency choices, these experiences build environmental literacy and empower them to act thoughtfully.

Supporting initiatives such as SCiLL ensures the next generation grows up informed, invested in sustainability and energy stewardship, and inspired to pursue careers in environmental science.

Small Changes, Big Impact

Energy Awareness Month serves as a reminder that we all have the power to make a difference right from our own homes. By understanding your energy use, adopting efficient habits, investing in energy-efficient appliances, and exploring renewable options such as home solar energy, you can reduce your carbon footprint, enjoy lower energy bills, and contribute to a healthier planet.

The key is to start small, stay consistent, and keep learning. Every light you turn off, every appliance you upgrade, and every draft you seal brings us one step closer to a more sustainable future.

Change is Simple is a nonprofit dedicated to bringing environmental and sustainability education into schools through fun, hands-on learning. By empowering children with the knowledge and tools to care for the planet, Change is Simple inspires a generation of young leaders ready to build a healthier future. To support our mission or learn more, visit our site or donate here.

Why Experiential Learning Is Essential for Environmental Education

Our planet is facing urgent challenges, from climate change to biodiversity loss, so preparing the next generation has never been more important. Environmental education plays a crucial role in developing the knowledge and values necessary to protect our world, but facts alone are not enough. While textbooks and lectures can introduce concepts, they rarely inspire the deep connection and lasting environmental awareness required for real change. That’s where hands-on learning comes in. By engaging students directly with the natural world, abstract ideas transform into lived experiences, which fosters both understanding and a personal commitment to stewardship.

This is why educators and organizations such as Change is Simple integrate action-based approaches into their programs, ensuring students learn by doing, not just by listening.

Why Experiential Learning Works

Experiential learning is an educational approach that enables students to gain knowledge and skills through direct, active engagement with real-world situations. At its core, experiential learning theory (most famously outlined in the Kolb learning cycle) describes a four-stage process: concrete experience, reflective observation, abstract conceptualization, and active experimentation. This cycle mirrors how our brains naturally learn, connecting new information to lived experiences and reinforcing it through reflection and application.

Neuroscientific studies show that hands-on activities activate multiple areas of the brain, improving memory, critical thinking, and problem-solving. By linking abstract concepts to tangible experiences, experiential learning fosters deeper understanding, stronger retention, and a greater ability to apply knowledge in new contexts.

This makes it especially powerful for complex subjects such as environmental education. Outdoor education and nature-based learning bring these benefits to life by immersing students directly in the environments they seek to understand and protect.

Bringing Environmental Learning to Life

The best environmental education strategies turn abstract concepts into concrete experiences. Here are five environmental concepts and how they can be taught through real-world learning. These examples won’t work for every school (due to time, resource, policy, or location limitations), but they offer ideas to try when possible.

1. Water Cycle and Conservation: Instead of just drawing the water cycle, students can participate in rainwater harvesting projects at their school, monitoring collection rates and water usage. They can also conduct water quality testing on a local stream, analyzing samples for pollutants and discussing the impact of human activity on aquatic ecosystems. This direct engagement reveals the importance of clean water and local conservation efforts.

2. Biodiversity and Ecosystems: A field trip to a local park or nature preserve allows students to engage in species identification using field guides. They can participate in habitat restoration projects, such as planting native species or removing invasive ones, directly observing the interdependencies within an ecosystem. This activity teaches about ecological balance and the importance of protecting diverse life forms.

3. Waste Management and Circular Economy: Students can conduct a waste audit of their school's trash, categorizing and weighing different types of waste to understand consumption patterns. Implementing a composting program for cafeteria waste or organizing an upcycling workshop to transform discarded materials into new products are powerful ways to teach about reducing waste. Activities such as participating in a Plastic Free July challenge help illustrate these concepts directly.

4. Climate Change and Renewable Energy: Students can build simple solar ovens or wind turbines to explore renewable energy in action. Organizing energy audits at school to track electricity use or participating in local tree-planting events helps illustrate the concept of carbon footprints and climate solutions through hands-on, practical experience.

5. Food Systems and Sustainable Agriculture: Tending a school garden allows students to experience the entire food production cycle, from planting seeds to harvesting produce. They can learn about soil health, composting, and the importance of biodiversity in growing food sustainably. Hands-on activities, such as seed saving or creating pollinator habitats, deepen understanding of ecological connections in agriculture.

Each of these activities applies active learning strategies that boost retention and can motivate students to explore careers in the environmental field.

Overcoming Barriers to Experiential Environmental Education

While place-based education is effective, schools often face challenges in implementing it. Common barriers include limited funding, lack of transportation for field trips, and insufficient teacher training in outdoor activities.

Solutions can include:

• Bringing the outdoors closer by creating an outdoor classroom on school grounds. Even a small courtyard or garden can be transformed into a space for science experiments and observations.

• Partnering with local environmental education organizations that can come to you.

• Seeking small grants from local businesses, environmental agencies, or parent-teacher associations to fund materials for hands-on learning projects.

• Using virtual tools to connect students with scientists, conservation projects, and natural sites when physical visits are not possible.

By using these ideas, schools can make nature-based learning accessible to all students, regardless of location or budget.

Learning by Doing for a Sustainable Future

Experiential learning in environmental education is a call to action. Students who test the water in a polluted stream or plant trees in their community form lasting connections with the natural world. These hands-on experiences inspire a sense of environmental stewardship, encouraging students to take responsibility for protecting their local ecosystems. By actively participating, they become empowered stewards who understand that their actions can make a real difference.

Through real-world learning, we can foster the next generation of environmental leaders. When educators embrace experiential learning theory and the Kolb learning cycle, they give students tools to think critically, solve problems creatively, and act responsibly.

Change is Simple is a nonprofit dedicated to bringing environmental and sustainability education into schools through fun, hands-on learning. By empowering children with the knowledge and tools to care for the planet, Change is Simple inspires a generation of young leaders ready to build a healthier future. To support our mission or learn more, visit our site or donate here.

Cool Environmental Science Careers for Curious Kids and Teens

What if your love for animals, oceans, forests, or solving big world problems could turn into a future job? Environmental science careers offer exciting paths that combine curiosity, creativity, and care for the planet. From studying sea turtles to designing wind farms, young people today have more opportunities than ever to turn their passion for the Earth into a purpose-driven profession.

In a world facing climate change, pollution, and biodiversity loss, we need to help the next generation to be ready. Whether you’re a teen who loves science or a kid who asks “why” every time you go outside, there’s a place for you in the growing world of environmental science.

What Is Environmental Science?

Before diving into jobs, let’s start with the basics: What is environmental science? It's the study of the different components of the natural world and their interactions, with a focus on the impacts surrounding humans and human activity. It's important because it helps drive decisions and solutions on environmental challenges. Environmental science combines biology, chemistry, physics, earth science, and even social studies to understand how to protect the environment and live more sustainably.

Environmental scientists ask questions such as:

• How does air pollution affect our health?

• What is causing coral reefs to bleach?

• Can we stop plastic from entering the ocean?

At Change is Simple, our approach is hands‑on, project‑based, and STEAM‑driven, helping students learn environmental science through fun, real-world experiences.

What Do Environmental Scientists Do?

Environmental scientists wear many hats. Depending on their specialty, they might:

• Test soil or water for toxins

• Analyze the impact of construction projects on wildlife

• Help communities prepare for climate change

• Study endangered species in their natural habitats

• Create policies to reduce pollution or manage natural resources

The common goal of these scientists is to understand how natural systems work and find sustainable solutions to protect people, wildlife, and the planet.

Many professionals in the field started out as curious kids who loved being outdoors or wanted to make a difference. With today’s challenges and tech advancements, environmental science jobs are not only meaningful but also high in demand.

Cool Careers to Explore

If you love being outside and exploring the world around you, there are plenty of careers in nature that let you do just that. Here are some amazing jobs that help the environment:

1. Environmental scientists study ecosystems and how human activity affects the natural world. They may work in labs, offices, or out in the field collecting data and shaping environmental policy.

2. Marine biologists specialize in ocean ecosystems and the flora and fauna that live in them. This is a popular path for those passionate about addressing the plethora of issues our oceans face.

3. Conservation scientists work to protect forests, wetlands, and other vital wildlife habitats. Their efforts help maintain biodiversity and natural resources.

4. Wildlife biologists focus on the behavior, biology, and habitats of wild animals. This is an ideal career path for those who love animals and the outdoors.

5. Renewable energy engineers design solar panels, wind turbines, and other clean energy systems. This is a great fit for anyone interested in renewable energy careers that fight climate change.

6. Sustainability consultants help businesses reduce waste, conserve energy, and minimize pollution. Their work leads to more eco-friendly practices across industries.

7. Climate scientists analyze weather and environmental data to understand global climate trends. They also create predictive models to help guide climate action.

Small actions now can lead to big career decisions later. Whether it’s starting a school recycling program or learning about waste reduction, every step helps build a future in environmental science.

What Kids and Teens Can Do Now

You don’t have to wait until college to explore environmental science careers. Here are simple ways to dive in:

• Get outside and observe: Explore a park, nature trail, or beach. Take notes or pictures of what you observe and ask questions.

• Start a small project: Try growing a garden, organizing a litter cleanup, or tracking your family’s plastic use.

• Join science clubs or competitions: Science fairs, eco clubs, or youth challenges are great ways to experiment and connect with others.

• Volunteer or intern: Many nonprofits offer youth programs or internships. Change is Simple offers an internship opportunity for college students to make an impact on the next generation.

• Use online resources: Explore teacher and student resources like how to get started with composting that introduce kids and teens to real-world science and environmental responsibility.

Skills and Subjects That Help

Whether you’re into animals, art, or algebra, there’s a place for you in environmental work. These subjects are especially useful:

• Science (biology, oceanography, chemistry) is core to understanding ecosystems and environmental problems.

• Math is useful for data analysis and research.

• Geography helps you study how the environment and humans interact and affect one another.

• Technology skills such as coding, modeling, and GIS mapping are valuable tools.

• Writing and Communication are crucial for sharing findings, persuading leaders, or educating communities.

Beyond school subjects, essential soft skills for future environmental scientists include curiosity, observation, and critical thinking. Teamwork, empathy, and a genuine passion for protecting the planet are just as important. Our programs help students build these skills through interactive lessons that make science meaningful and fun.

Dream Big, Start Small

Students don’t need to solve climate change overnight. Some of the most impactful careers start with small steps. Pick up trash in your neighborhood, ask your teacher to start a green club, or watch a documentary about the ocean. Even helping your family compost food scraps or use less water counts as learning.

What can you do with an environmental science degree? The answer is: nearly anything that helps protect people, places, and the planet. Whether you’re building better energy systems, saving species, or designing cleaner cities, environmental science jobs shape the future.

Want to meet some of the real people behind the movement? Learn more about our team and how they turned their passions into impactful careers.

Change is Simple is a nonprofit dedicated to bringing environmental and sustainability education into schools through fun, hands-on learning. By empowering children with the knowledge and tools to care for the planet, Change is Simple inspires a generation of young leaders ready to build a healthier future. To support our mission or learn more, visit our site or donate here.

What Is Environmental Stewardship, and How Can Kids Practice It?

Our planet faces growing threats that demand urgent action. As global citizens, we all have a role to play in protecting the environment, but teaching children this responsibility early can create powerful ripple effects. In the US, waste takes many forms, from uneaten food (over 30% of the food supply is wasted) to excessive energy consumption to massive amounts of plastic, paper, and electronic waste that often end up in landfills. These patterns contribute to resource depletion, greenhouse gas emissions, and pollution that harm ecosystems and accelerate climate change.

Instilling environmental awareness in kids can shift this trajectory toward sustainability. That’s where environmental stewardship comes in. Teaching children how to care for the planet helps them become young environmentalists who lead by example. From composting food scraps to tree planting, small actions can lay the foundation for a lifetime of ecological care.

Understanding Environmental Stewardship

So, what is stewardship in an environmental context? Environmental stewardship means caring for and managing the Earth’s natural resources (such as air, water, soil, plants, and animals) in a way that ensures their health and availability for future generations. It’s a form of environmental responsibility that encourages sustainable living and ethical decision-making.

Explore organizations like Change is Simple to see how this concept is brought to life through hands-on environmental education.

Why Kids Make Great Stewards

Children are natural learners, curious observers, and passionate advocates once they understand the stakes. Here’s why they make excellent stewards of the environment:

• Early Habits Stick: Teaching kids to conserve natural resources and reduce waste sets patterns that last into adulthood.

• They Influence Others: Children often bring their enthusiasm home, prompting siblings, parents, and friends to make changes.

• They Ask Great Questions: Their curiosity drives them to dig deeper, leading to more comprehensive environmental awareness.

• They Feel Empowered by Action: Whether it’s a cleanup day or a classroom upcycling project, kids love seeing their impact.

Through hands-on, engaging lessons that reach over 8,000 students each year, our educational program empowers the next generation with the knowledge, creativity, and confidence to become passionate environmental stewards.

Simple Everyday Actions Kids Can Take

You don’t need a massive budget or access to a forest to teach environmental stewardship. Here are everyday actions that children can take to make a difference:

1. Reduce, Reuse, Recycle

• Reduce waste by using less, reusing items like containers or craft supplies, and recycling paper, plastic, and cans whenever you can.

• Start DIY upcycling activities such as turning cereal boxes into storage or using old jars for crafts.

• Learn how to recycle correctly in your state. If you’re in Massachusetts, you can use Recycle Smart MA.

2. Conserve Energy and Water

• Use natural light whenever possible and turn off and unplug lights and electronics when not in use.

• Implement water conservation tips such as turning off the tap while brushing your teeth, taking shorter showers, and sustainable gardening practices like rainwater collection.

3. Start a Garden or Plant Trees

• With the help of a family member, kids can start a garden growing vegetables, herbs, or pollinator-friendly flowers.

• Participate in community tree planting opportunities, such as the Greening Gateway Cities Program, which improve air quality and support local wildlife.

4. Pick Up Litter

• If it’s safe to do so, pick up any litter you see while outdoors. Every small action helps keep nature clean and safe for animals.

• Join a neighborhood cleanup or start your own! Local groups like Keep Massachusetts Beautiful offer volunteer opportunities for all ages.

5. Walk, Bike, or Carpool

• Reduce carbon emissions by choosing eco-friendly transportation options. Even though kids aren’t always in charge of how they get around, they can suggest these ideas to their family or join in when it's possible.

• Track the number of car trips saved as a math or science activity.

By taking small actions every day at home, at school, and in your neighborhood, kids can make a big difference and help protect the planet for the future.

Involving Family, School, and Community

Environmental stewardship becomes more powerful when adults support children’s efforts. By incorporating environmental stewardship into school curricula, family routines, and community events, we reinforce the value of sustainable living.

Families can practice environmental stewardship together by setting shared “green goals” like reducing waste or saving energy. Assigning responsibilities (such as composting food scraps or returning bottles and cans for redemption) helps children feel involved and accountable. Visiting a local farm, nature preserve, or science center can spark curiosity and teach kids about ecological stewardship.

Schools can foster stewardship by integrating hands-on programs with measurable results, which bring real-world sustainability lessons into the classroom. Educators can weave in topics like water conservation and climate science across subjects, helping students connect academic learning with environmental action. Forming a student-led “green team” is another great way to encourage peer-led initiatives around waste reduction.

Communities also play a vital role. Hosting festivals, local cleanups, and public art events celebrating nature can inspire collective action. Offering workshops on zero-waste habits or energy conservation gives families the tools they need to make lasting changes. Community events that invite kids to showcase their environmental stewardship (like posters, garden projects, or composting displays) reinforce the idea that every action counts.

Collaboration makes it easier to embed environmental responsibility into everyday life and reinforces that small actions matter when multiplied across the community.

Encouraging a Lifelong Stewardship Mindset

The goal isn’t just to create good habits for now; it’s to instill a mindset that lasts a lifetime. Here’s how to encourage a long-term commitment to ecological stewardship:

• Celebrate Progress: Whether it’s a successful upcycling project or reducing electricity use, recognize and celebrate efforts.

• Share Stories: Let kids write or present about their experience as young environmentalists to build pride and motivation.

• Connect With Mentors: Introduce children to local sustainability leaders or educators who can inspire and guide their journey.

• Make It Fun: Games, challenges, and outdoor adventures such as scavenger hunts and hiking keep kids engaged and excited to take part.

Lifelong environmental awareness grows when kids understand they are capable of making real change. By integrating stewardship into daily routines and special projects, we help them see themselves not just as students or children but as protectors of the planet.

To see how effective environmental education can be in shaping the next generation of leaders, check out our impact stories, achievements, and explore our programs.

Change is Simple is a nonprofit dedicated to bringing environmental and sustainability education into schools through fun, hands-on learning. By empowering children with the knowledge and tools to care for the planet, Change is Simple inspires a generation of young leaders ready to build a healthier future. To support our mission or learn more, visit our site or donate here.

Plastic-Free July: How to Teach and Implement Waste Reduction in the Classroom Year-Round

Plastic-free July serves not only as a global environmental movement but also as a reminder for educators planning lessons on sustainability and responsible living. Schools are significant contributors to plastic waste, often without being aware of it. Much of this waste originates from common single-use plastics, including utensils, straws, snack wrappers, water bottles, and packaging from school lunches. 

Educators can use this opportunity to plan lessons that teach students about sustainability, explore real-world plastic waste solutions, and inspire lifelong habits that reduce harm to our planet. By embedding waste reduction into the learning experience, teachers can spark action that extends beyond the classroom.

Modeling a Low-Waste Classroom

Kick off your plastic-free lessons by engaging students in real-world observation. Ask: How much plastic do we use in a typical school day? Where does it go? These questions open the door to meaningful discussion about everyday habits.

Turn this exploration into a student-led activity. Have students act as “waste detectives,” tracking the items they discard in a day or week. As a class, review their findings to identify common sources of plastic waste, such as snack wrappers or disposable utensils. Use this as a springboard for students to brainstorm realistic low-waste swaps or simple ideas for reducing single-use items in their daily routines.

If you're able, consider highlighting a “model zero-waste classroom” as a case study. This could include features like:

• Clear waste stations for sorting trash, recycling, and (if possible) compost

• Reusable supplies and materials for conducting lessons

• Signage and visual reminders to encourage mindful disposal

Always check your school’s waste management policies. If you're in Massachusetts, RecycleSmart is a helpful resource for understanding what’s accepted in your local recycling.

Turning Waste Reduction Into Learning

Waste reduction offers countless opportunities to link science, math, social studies, and language arts. Make it a multidisciplinary experience by weaving it into:

• Science: Explore decomposition rates and create a microcomposter in a bottle.

• Math: Calculate the plastic saved by switching to reusable options.

• Social Studies: Research the global movement toward banning single-use plastics and examine how policies differ around the world.

• ELA: Have students write persuasive essays on the importance of plastic waste solutions or letters to local leaders advocating for sustainable policies.

Teach students about the Great Pacific garbage patch, a floating mass of plastic debris twice the size of Texas. This real-world example drives home the global scale of plastic waste in the ocean, sparking deeper discussions and problem-solving sessions.

For added structure, explore our topic library to see the range of subjects our programming covers and how they align with educational standards.

Hands-On Activities: Engaging Students Through Action

Students learn best when they’re actively involved. Hands-on projects reinforce lessons and give students a sense of ownership in environmental stewardship.

Try these engaging activities:

1. Trash Audit: Have students collect and analyze one day’s worth of classroom trash. Sort it into categories and identify how much of it is recyclable, compostable, reusable, or truly trash.

2. Plastic-Free Challenges: Encourage students to reduce plastic use by going one day (or one week) without using single-use plastics and report back.

3. DIY Projects: Create beeswax wraps, reusable tote bags, or upcycled pencil holders. These small actions teach students to reduce plastic waste creatively.

4. Composting Experiments: Start a compost bin to expand the conversation to food waste reduction. If that's not possible, try a micro-composter-in-a-bottle experiment or use videos and virtual tools to observe composting in action.

Action-based learning empowers students to see their influence on the world. It also supports social-emotional growth, as they practice responsibility, collaboration, and empathy for the planet.

Expanding Impact Beyond the Classroom

Reducing plastic with your students doesn’t have to stop at the classroom door. While not every idea will be practical for all schools, here are some ways you might engage the broader school community for greater impact:

• Host a school-wide zero waste challenge.

• Invite local sustainability experts for a Q&A session.

• Collaborate with the cafeteria to limit single-use plastics in school lunches.

• Share results and student reflections with families through newsletters or social media.

• Start a student-led Green Club to champion campus sustainability efforts. Initiatives might include starting a composting program in the cafeteria, switching from Styrofoam trays to BPI-certified compostable or reusable trays, or replacing plastic cutlery with metal.

• Organize a litter pick-up event by collaborating with local organizations such as Keep Massachusetts Beautiful.

Help students connect the dots between personal action and systemic change. When they understand how their efforts fit into a bigger picture, they’re more likely to stay engaged.

Families can also adopt strategies at home, turning student leadership into community transformation. Many schools report long-term behavior changes from even a single month of programming. In Vietnam, the Plastic Waste Free Schools initiative involved over 100 schools in adopting plastic reduction policies and incorporating environmental education into the curriculum. This program helped create a culture of sustainability, leading to lasting behavior changes among students and influencing their families and communities.

Promoting Year-Round Habits

The goal is long-term transformation. Encourage students to build sustainable habits during the school year. Ideally, these habits will extend beyond the classroom and support a lifetime of responsible environmental choices.

Ways to extend the momentum include:

• Keeping waste tracking tools active year-round.

• Hosting friendly competitions between grades, classrooms, or lunch tables to see who can reduce the most plastic waste.

• Celebrating “Waste-Free Wednesdays” or monthly sustainability themes.

• Incorporating zero waste goals into classroom agreements or student leadership roles.

• Linking environmental learning to service projects and community advocacy.

Encourage students to reflect at the end of the challenge. What did they learn? What surprised them? What habits will they keep? These reflections can be tied into a culminating project that showcases student learning, such as posters, presentations, or videos advocating for plastic waste solutions.

As you guide students to a lifestyle of action, you’re helping fulfill the mission of organizations like Change Is Simple, which works to make climate and sustainability education engaging, accessible, and lasting.

Why Plastic-Free Classrooms Matter

Educators have the unique power to influence behavior early. A plastic-free program blends science with action, empowering students to tackle global problems. More than that, it builds a classroom culture rooted in care for the planet.

Students who learn to question, explore, and act on environmental issues become advocates for a more sustainable future. Let your classroom be a place where change begins.

Change Is Simple is an environmental education nonprofit dedicated to empowering the next generation through hands-on learning and action. Our mission is to instill lifelong sustainability habits by bringing innovative, science-based programs into schools and communities. By combining environmental science with social-emotional learning, we equip students to become leaders in building a healthier, more equitable world. To support our work or learn more about how we’re creating lasting impact, visitchangeissimple.org or make a donation today.