I’m proud to say I recycle as much each week as I throw away. I reuse bags, glass jars, reduce the amount of waste I create and overall, try to be greener one step at a time. I’ve gotten my family on board, too. Chase has shown Red how to cut apart soda can plastic so animals won’t get become trapped. Red knows that we recycle all sorts of paper and tin in our under-sink bin. Red even prefers a washable towel or wipe to a paper towel for easy-to-clean messes. I’m sure Scarlett will follow suit, and hopefully develop great environmental habits.
Because ocean debris is having such an impact on the health of our oceans and marine life, I explained to my ocean-loving son that if each person helped a little bit, a lot would get done. Our own actions here in Atlanta can have an impact on the health of all our oceans!
Did you know that by the year 2050 there will be more pieces of plastic than fish in the world’s oceans? That is crazy awful!! Even though Atlanta is landlocked, there are several ways we can still contribute as a part of the pollution problem or the solution. This summer, our family is renewing our dedication to reducing waste by partnering with Georgia Aquarium. Through September, Georgia Aquarium is hosting a special exhibit that offers an artsy twist on the global problem of ocean pollution. Washed Ashore: Art to Save the Sea is a traveling art exhibit of 13 larger than life pieces all created entirely from ocean debris. Each piece includes educational facts about the artwork and tips on how to reduce, refuse, reuse, recycle and repurpose. The works will be on display throughout the Aquarium until September 25, 2016 and the cost is included in the price of general admission. (You can WIN your own family-four pack of tickets at the bottom of this post!)
Since June is World Oceans month, we took a page from Washed Ashore and decided to have a little fun at home. Georgia Aquarium challenged us to create a work of art (trash to treasure) from at least three pieces of recycled material. I left Red totally in charge, and this is is our family’s creation. It’s his first time on camera introducing any of his projects, too!
So now that we’ve shared our project, it’s your turn! Show us how your family is transforming trash to treasure by creating your own piece art and you could win a pack of four tickets to explore the Washed Ashore exhibit and all of Georgia Aquarium. Here’s how to enter (Make sure you follow all four of the rules!):
- Use at least 3 items that would otherwise end up in the trash to create your masterpiece.
- Post a photo of the final product to the RedheadBabyMama Facebook page.
- Tag @RedheadBabyMama, @GeorgiaAquarium and use #TrashtoTreasure and #SavetheSea.
- Proclaim your family’s commitment to reducing ocean debris. Winners drawn 6/21/16, so you have two weeks to share your masterpiece!
We are at the beach A LOT in the summer and it makes me sad to see so much trash that washes up. Why can’t people just throw their stuff away?
I love this so much! Until recently, I had no idea just how trashed the ocean was thanks to us humans.
Red did a wonderful job, I love what he made. I makes me really mad when I go to the beach and I see people leave trash. I go behind them and clean it up.
What a fun contest and what a great way to promote reduce, reuse recycle. We love visiting the Georgia Aquarium!
This is awesome! Kudos to you for teaching Red how to reduce his carbon footprint at such a young age. I wish every momma out there did this.
What a great campaign and mission to be a part of. I hadn’t heard of this yet, I am going to see how I can be a part of it too!
This is really great to get your kiddo involved in the mission too. I love that there are options like this out there to give back and help save our world!
This is such a cool recycling idea! I do remember seeing pictures of a big mass of plastic pollution in the ocean. It’s a big problem!
Way to go, Red! That’s a great project.
We saw this exhibit in Houston and I have to say, it was my favorite thing to see at the zoo there:)
What a great teachable moment! Love his project too. 🙂
What a fun contest. My daughter loves to reuse things. I am going to show here this contest to see what she can come up with.
I am working with my family to be ever greener. It’s good to go one step at a time, and incorporate a new habits. Looks like you guys had fun making your project.
I like this idea, it is so fun to recycle and make it a bonding experience for the family. Great idea!
This is a very nice idea, I will teach my son how to do it. I am so glad that you share this.
What a sweet project idea and Red did great on camera! Taking care of our planet is so extremely important and we all need to make it more of a priority.
This is so cute! My kids are natural upcyclers and find beauty in recycling bin items like egg cartons and such.
What a wonderful way to support such a worthy cause! Your son did a great job!
I love that your teaching your kids to care for the environment at such a young age. And this is a project that makes it fun and supports a great cause!
I’ve been cutting six pack can plastic holders apart for years due to the impact on sealife. I’m sure plastic bags are a nightmare!
We’re big on recycling too. It’s important for everyone to do their part! 🙂
Oh this is awesome! We made a ghostbuster proton backpack today while our electricity was off. I’m gonna take some pics to share!