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This patch and all program supplies are available from our partner site MakingFriends®.com.
Suggested Prerequisite
Completing the Conservation Supporter Patch Program® is a suggested prerequisite for earning your Conservation Advocate Patch. Your experience will help provide you with the knowledge needed to advocate for a better conservation practices. You can also opt to complete the Conservation Supporter requirements during the time you earn this advocate patch.
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Requirement 1: Research It!
The best way to reduce waste is to not make waste it in the first place. Products require a lot of materials and energy to produce. Even recycling uses energy and materials. Reduction and reuse are the most effective ways to save natural resources, protect the environment and save money.
Things to find out:
- Why reducing and reusing is so important. Helpful Link: Reducing and Reusing Basics
- How much food is wasted in the United States? Helpful Link: About Food Waste
- Food Expiration Dates: Helpful Link: Is Your Food Expired? Don’t Be So Quick to Toss It
- What is “Zero Waste”? Helpful Link: what is zero waste?
- What is upcycling? Helpful Link: What is Upcycling, Anyway?
- What is FreeCycling? FreeCycle.org
- How is a plant-based diet more eco friendly? Helpful Link: The Case for Plant Based
- How can paper, toner and ink waste be reduced?
Helpful Link: Reducing Electronic Waste
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Requirement 2: Do It!
Participate in a conservation advocacy project. Here are some ideas:
- Get your school to start a “School Food Share” program. Helpful Link: Waste not, want not.
- Start a classroom compost bucket and make sure the other students know what food scraps to contribute. Helpful Link: Composting at School
- Get your neighbors to reduce their junk mail. Helpful Link: How to Stop Junk Mail
- Get local delis and other businesses to offer drink refills in their customers reusable cup at a reduced price.
- Advocate for an energy savings at your school. Helpful Link: Save Energy
- Get local restaurants in your area to sign up for Feedie.
- Ask you local grocer if you can put signs in the store to educate consumers about expiration dates.
- Get local grocers to sign up for Flashfood.
- Challenge your friends to bring litterless lunches to school.
- Invite friends and neighbors to bring old clothing and tees for a “make it and take it” upcycling party. Teach them how to make upcycled twine.
- Advocate for more plant-based meals at home and offer to help with planning, shopping and cooking.
- Write a fashion column for your school newspaper or start a fashion blog featuring thrift store fashion. Here’s a topic to start you off: Celebrities Who Shop at Thrift Stores
Who do you want to reach? Some ideas:
- Your Family
- Neighbors
- Politicians — Helpful link: How to Contact Your Elected Officials
- Classmates
- Your Fellow Worshipers
- Other Groups or Organizations
How will you reach them? Helpful link: How to Advocate for Your Cause
Some Ideas:
- Talk to them. Consider wearing a button as a conversation starter.
- Hand out flyers. Consider setting up a booth to collect donations if allowed.
- Hang tags on doors and mail boxes.
- Make posters.
- Reach out with social media such as Facebook.
- Send a press release to your local newspaper or school newspaper. Helpful link: How to write a press release.
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Requirement 3: Review It!
Always remember to thank those who helped with your advocacy program.
Ways to say Thank You:
- Personally thank individuals and businesses who helped. A hand written letter is always nice. Helpful Link: How to write a thank you letter.
- Thank the community as a whole with posters.
- Create a follow up press release and include the names of individuals and businesses who participated.
- Thank the community as a whole on social media.
- Give certificates of appreciation.
Discuss Your Advocacy Project
- Do you think your advocacy project helped to promote reducing and reusing?
- Will you continue?
- What else can you do to further promote reducing and reusing in your community?
Congratulations! You have earned the Conservation Advocate patch. It can be purchased at our partner site MakingFriends®.com.
You can become an Environment Welfare Advocate by earning all 5 environment advocate level patches.
Did completing this Patch Program® give you some ideas for becoming a Conservation Delegate?
See all our current Advocate level Patch Program®s:
Related Fun Patch Ideas:
Note: Many of the links provided to assist with completing our Patch Program®s are external and do not imply an endorsement or recommendation. At the time of publication, external content was vetted to the best of our ability. Your views and ideas may vary and we do not intend for you to substitute our opinions for yours. Research the topic thoroughly before beginning a project. As always, make sure children access the internet only under safe-surfing conditions.
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