My eldest daughter came home from school at lunch yesterday and informed me that this Saturday (September 17th) is Sports Day in Canada. The physical education teacher asked each student to wear a team jersey this Friday (since they don't go to school on Saturday) to celebrate. I decided to do a little research and find out what Sports Day is all about. Be sure to check out all of our amazing Green Living Ideas for Families.
It turns out that this is the second year for this event, which is organized by ParticipACTION, TrueSport, CBC and SRC. The ParticipACTION website states "The day provides an opportunity for all Canadians to celebrate the power of sport, to build community, fortify our national spirit and facilitate healthy, active living." In addition to Sports Day, Friday is officially Jersey Day. This has nothing to do with Jersey Shores...rather sports jerseys. Everyone, from politicians to students are encouraged to wear their favourite sport team jersey on Friday...I'll be interested to see who ends up participating.
All this talk about sports got me thinking about the impact that sport has on the environment. Obviously, hockey sticks do not grow on trees (although some are made from trees). And, while I am not suggesting the technology that goes into making sports equipment needs to be completely altered - like most things in life there are small steps we can take to make things a little "greener."
Eco-Friendly Sports Equipment for Kids
Get to know your environment
I've said it before, and I'll say it again...the only way that you can teach a child to protect the environment is to show them, first hand, how glorious and important it is. This means getting outside. Participating in sports can mean mountain biking, cross country skiing, biking, hiking, etc. However, if the sport you are participating in doesn't take you outside then think outside the box, or arena. Why not take some time to explore the town where you are playing, practice skating on a pond rink or practice those cartwheels in a meadow. Sport is all about being active - activity can happen anywhere. With this expansion of the boundaries of sport kids get to learn and grow further than you can imagine.
Swap your stuff
What could be better than purchasing a pair of skis for half the retail price? Right? If one less pair of skates has to be made, packaged and shipped around the world - what a major impact. When making the big ticket purchases do a little research into where you can pick up "previously loved" sporting equipment. Check out this link for info on Canada's Largest Ski & Board Swap (coming up in October). Or check here for a link to ski swaps across the country. Don't forget Play it Again Sports and check with your local hockey league for possible equipment swaps. And the last great resource to tap into is your friends and family. Ask around and you might be surprised at how easy it is to put together all the gear you need.
Keep your options open
Technology is changing and opinions are changing. Major companies are jumping on the "green bandwagon" and putting out more eco-friendly options for consumers. Whether it's clothing made from bamboo or longboards made from reclaimed wood...options are out there. Some, like Wilson's recycled basketballs, are just as readily available and cost effective as the non-green options. It's worth a look.
Reusable water bottles
Here's an easy one, because we already to it. Bring along a reusable water bottle. It only makes sense to carry on this good practise when you are participating in sports. If your sport takes you into the woods, be sure to use reusable containers for snacks and clean up any litter. It was astounding to be hiking in Algonquin Park this summer and come across someones discarded food wrapper.
Carpooling
How many kids are on the team? How many cars have to make the trip to the next game? Does carpooling work for you? This has one of the greatest impacts on the environment - taking cars off the road. If carpooling doesn't work - then why not try and figure out what the shortest route to the stadium is. Either through your GPS or Google - cutting down on your driving time is a true bonus.
So, what jerseys will my girls be wearing on Friday...not sure yet. We'll be celebrating Sports Day Canada with a bike ride down to our Great Canadian Shoreline Cleanup location (there is still time to register for an event in your 'hood). Why not combine two fantastic events into one day?
**Word of Warning - Always be certain that any second hand equipment you purchase is in good repair and is up to the current CSA standards. Most pieces will have dates on the tag and the CSA stamp. Be especially careful when looking at second hand helmets. A single impact with the ice has a major impact on the effectiveness of the helmet.
carpool image sourced at http://kjhs.wordpress.com
