Educating the Children

One item in their action list caught my eye because I'd never seen it in a Green-Team action plan before: it "adopted" a pre-school class to educate the children about the importance of the environment and how to preserve it. This action excited me so much that I felt I needed to pick up their banner and wave it with them.

Can you imagine how much easier it would be to train staff regarding your environmental policies and procedures if they already had an understanding of the bigger picture -- an understanding gained as a child? One fault I have seen around the world in hotels that proclaim their environmental action is that often the staff isn't sufficiently trained to sustain that program. Too often, for example, when they have towel/sheet programs and I indicate I want my towels and sheets left for another day's use, housekeeping staff changes them anyway. That's wasteful, but the mixed signals that result create a bad image for the hotel -- worse than if the sheet/towel program wasn't offered in the first place. If your staff had a full understanding of your hotel's green plans, policies such as towel/sheet programs would be honored by the housekeeping staff, saving money and natural resources as well as building your property's reputation.

As I researched the concept of educating children about the environment, I learned that it's not an easy task � especially in developing countries, where it's difficult enough to teach the basics, since educational systems are often hampered by tiny budgets, substandard facilities, and minimal resources. La Cabana addressed that problem by upgrading the school inside and out before approaching the environmental education program itself.

Teaching children about what makes their natural resources important is vital. Learning how they can ensure clean water as well as a place to grow their crops, hunt and fish in a sustainable manner, so they can have adequate food is also important.

The issue of environmental action goes beyond water and safe food sources, of course. It also concerns clean air, waste management, and open space � as in forests, fields and waters. An important part of educating children is to give them tangible actions they can take to ingrain the classroom learning, teaching them to think critically about the subject, and to discuss it with others as a way of effecting change in a broader scope.

The list of businesses, organizations, and schools who are attending to the environmental education of kids is long, and needs to be longer. Here are just a few of the programs I found in various parts of the world. Maybe one of these contacts can help you develop a program and to get involved in your area or community.
http://www.sprep.org.ws/publication/webpage/001annual_report2002/Web_Education.htm
http://www.uwsp.edu/cnr/weeb/
http://www.primaryschool.com.au/environmentresults.php
http://www.epa.gov/water/kids/watered2.html
http://greenyes.grrn.org/2003/02/msg00017.html
http://www.in.gov/idem/enviroed/

Schools often don't have the time or means to teach the children topics outside the standard curriculum, and you aren't in the education business. What can you do? Adopt a school -- like La Cabana did -- to further this educational goal is one viable path. Not only are you educating the children about the environment, but also about your business. You are establishing lasting relationships that can only help you through the years. Some of the children will remain in the area, practicing what they learned in school and teaching the children following in their footsteps. Others will become your employees and management, helping to continue the sustainable plan you establish today. What a legacy you will leave!

There are many other ways to effect environmental changes in your area besides adopting a school or class. ECOnomically Sound will continue to share ideas to help you find your path. Be creative, innovative, and proactive with your green plans, your plans for a sustainable environment. Starting with the children isn't a bad place to begin. The people working for you today will learn from your example, which is also part of your goal if you plan to succeed � yet another example of sustainability!

Education is a critical step for your business, especially for your green plan. That's an ECOnomically Sound decision.