"Children are born with a sense of wonder and an affinity for Nature. Properly cultivated, these values can mature into ecological literacy, and eventually into sustainable patterns of living."
- Zenobia Barlow, "Confluence of Streams"
Usually, when I'm playing one of the Kids' Discovery Club games with some young explorers, they'll nod their heads when I ask if they can go home and learn more about the world around them, or clean up litter, or plant a tree. And then they'll hold out their cards eagerly for a stamp, and then they'll skip away to go ride Triceratop Spin or meet Mickey Mouse... and I'm not sure if they'll ever remember what we just talked about. And that's ok. At least we talked.
But sometimes, certain kids find the games a little more meaningful. They listen to you wholeheartedly. Their eyes light up when you suggest ecological activities they can try at home. They want to help the world. Sometimes they come up with ideas to help in ways that I never thought of. These kids are usually no older than twelve, and they are thinking of brilliant ways to conserve energy, to protect natural resources, to save endangered species. It is in my job description that I am supposed to inspire others, but these kids inspire me! And I always do my very best to inspire them in return, encouraging them to keep doing what they're doing, that no amount of help is too small, and no one is too young to make a difference.
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