GoGreen.OK.gov is an OK.gov initiative showcasing how Oklahoma eGovernment is helping to reduce the carbon footprintby reducing paper consumption and citizen travel to government facilities.

Welcome to the 19th "Green" Tips Message. This message is sent to all subscribing users on a weekly basis providing simple tips on becoming more Green! This article is part of Earth911’s “Green Eight” series, where they showcase eight ways to green your life in various areas.This week's message provides simple tips on:

8 Ways to Get Involved

1. Volunteer with the National Park Service

National Parks are places of wondrous beauty for people to visit, and to keep them environmentally intact. To do so, the National Park Service (NPS) depends on its employees, interns and volunteers. Imagine waking up and going to “work” at the Grand Canyon, the Everglades or Glacier National Park! As a volunteer you can assist with tasks such as trail repair, habitat restoration, animal monitoring, litter collection and a  host of other duties to fit your personal tastes.

2. Teach Kids to Recycle

Get kids recycling early on by implementing a program at a school or day care. Gather support from parents and teachers to educate kids on the importance of recycling plastic bottles or school supplies such as paper and crayons. Yes, crayons! Petroleum-based wax crayons never biodegrade, but Crazy Crayons, accepts old crayons and makes them into new ones.

• • • Messenger bags – Though not that far off from its original use, a messenger or tote bag adds more sturdiness, durability and lifespan to these plastic sacks. Check out the below video by Bre Pettis for more details.
    • Yarn – On the same note as fusing plastic layers together (did you watch the video?), you can also get more out of plastic bags by turning them into yarn, and the creative sky’s the limit! Check out Helle Jorgensen blog for step-by-step details.
    • Art - As any artist, craftier or school project participant can tell you, art supplies can get pricey. Next time, turn towards your plastic bag drawer and pull at handfuls and handfuls of colorful supplies.  As Design-Crisis.com pointed out, Austin artist Virginia Fleck did just that, and they turned out great (if we may say so ourselves).

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