Suggested Practices and Examples for Implementation:

• Regularly incorporate teachings about environmental issues and caring for creation in bible classes, Wednesday night programming for children and youth, or other adolescent learning spaces
• Find weekly curriculum focused on connections found your sacred text around caring for creation and loving our neighbors
• Take children and youth on walks around the community and pick up litter, notice gardens and creatures, and talk about creation
• Learn the names of local species with your youth and children and name these species in congregational prayers
• Say prayers together about environmental concerns and the ways they impact our neighbors
• Invite youth and children to speak about why they care about creation in a worship service
  • Check out this example from NC Interfaith Power & Light highlighting youth climate leaders: Celebrating Earth Day with Youth Climate Justice Leaders
• Invite youth to serve on your congregational creation care team or to advise the committee for building/grounds regarding ways to care for the planet
• Invite youth to host a film screening or other event on environmental issues that are concerning to them and why/how these issues are related to faith and loving our neighbors
• Hold a fundraiser for an environmental cause through your children’s ministry or youth ministry.
  • Children could paint endangered animals and host an art auction for wildlife. Youth could make a meal that is sustainable, share facts about environmental issues during the gathering, and give proceeds to a local environmental nonprofit. The list of possibilities goes on and on!
• Attend local environmental organization’s volunteer days and river clean-ups with older children and youth from your congregation

General Information Related to this Strategy:

• Blessed Earth: books, lessons, activities, camps, and web resources for kids and youth about creation care
• NCIPL: books for kids and teens dealing with climate change, conservation, and environmental action
• Interfaith Power & Light: Lessons, activities, and books about caring for creation
• Eco-Curriculum Reviews
• Children’s curriculum from EcoCongregations Scotland
• Kids, teen, & young adult environmental/conservation reads (though listed through Amazon, we encourage you to purchase via your local bookstore if possible or Bookshop’s online store to benefit your local bookstore).
• Additional books for youth:
  • Youth to Power: Your Voice & How to Use It

Available Resources in Western North Carolina:

• MountainTrue Volunteer Opportunities
• Western North Carolina Nature Center
• Asheville Botanical Gardens
• Balsam Mountain Preserve
• Creation Care Alliance
  • Contact Sarah Ogletree, sarah@creationcarealliance.org