Dawn Saves Wildlife Archives - Jen is on a Journey

Fun, Practical and almost FREE Father’s Day Activities #DawnHelpsSaveWildlife

June 18, 2017 by The Mom Jen Leave a Comment

Father's Day Activities Father’s Day is here and in our family we tend to lean toward practical when it comes to activities for dad. This is what my husband has always expected, he’s not the kind of guy who needs flash or glam to impress him. He’s always loved homemade gifts or those that involve taking care of business around the house. Here’s a list of fun (and almost free) Father’s Day activities that we’ve done in the past and will continue to do in the years to come.

Wash the Car on the Lawn

This has become a tradition that seems simple but effective especially in June. It’s not like we don’t do it any other time of the year, but on Father’s Day all the kids get involved. We use a dab of Dawn dish soap mixed with car wash liquid and drive the cars one by one onto the lawn. This way there’s not a whole lot of run off in the streets and the lawn and yard plants get a good dose of water during this usually hot first week of summer! We also use reusable chamois towels so we don’t wreck our nice ones and need to run a load of laundry afterwards, always looking to conserve as much water as we can. Getting all three of the kids involves makes the work quicker and we can move on to the next activity of the day.

Go for a Bike Ride

Pick a destination and explore by bike. We’ve done this a lot in the past and it’s one of my husband’s favorite pastimes. If we all were adventurous like him, he’d love us to do a mountain bike trip, but I’ve seen his videos and I prefer not pedaling on the edge of cliffs like some of his rides. One great place to ride is 17 Mile Drive along the central coast of California. The views are spectacular and there are many turnouts for breaks and photo opportunities. If we stick around town, then we try our best not to use the car and bike to grandma and grandpa’s house just a few miles down the road. It’s great exercise and it saves the environment just a few emissions at a time!

Rent a Kayak instead of a Boat

We’ve gone to the beach and different lakes for Father’s Day events and once in a while we’ll minimize the use of motorized boats by renting a kayak! Arm power is great exercise to paddle the boat and it’s just a small step to save wildlife and protect our oceans a little at a time.

Learn Dad’s Trade or Explore his Hobbies

In the world of civil engineering and land surveying, it can get difficult to understand what my husband actually does at work every day. I often can’t explain it properly and most of the time my kids tell their friends their dad builds bridges and subdivisions. Father's Day Activities It’s not completely wrong, there are many other things as part of his job of course. But, one Father’s Day we took a road trip and explored a few nearby bridges and took in the history and general information on how they were built. Whether or not he actually builds them on a daily basis, bridges are still one of his favorite things to read about and photograph! Father's Day Activities Camp in the Backyard

One year we pulled out our tent and popped it up in our back yard! We stocked with blankets and pillows and watched movies one night. It was neat to forgo the electricity for flashlights (minus charging our DVD player) and we even brought out our camp stove to cook hot dogs for dinner!

Visit a local Aquarium

We are blessed to live near the Monterey Bay Aquarium and have visited multiple times as a family, and even as part of our local schools’ science field trip curriculum. A wild otter gave birth in the aquarium’s Great Tide Pool last year and we were lucky enough to see them on a visit! Father's Day Activities There are special programs you can experience at the Aquarium like the otter feeding program. The program is offered a few times a day where you can see how the aquarists train and feed the sea otters and learn how their exhibit help us understand the animals in the wild. There are so many learning stations at aquariums and one that hits most home to our children is the ocean pollution area where things like this photo below can be found.Education can lead us to saving our wildlife, our oceans, our environment.

These are a few Father’s Day activities and ideas that are tried and true by my husband on his special day each year. This post was inspired by my ambassadorship with Dawn Saves Wildlife and I hope you enjoy the day with the special Father’s in your life!

4 Fun and Easy Ways to Celebrate Earth Day

April 22, 2017 by The Mom Jen Leave a Comment

Today is Earth Day and people are making conscious efforts today to reduce their carbon footprint on the Earth. What are you planning on doing today, this weekend, or from now on to make an ecological impact? Here are 4 Fun and Easy Ways to Celebrate Earth Day with your family.

1. Go See Born in China
Narrated by John Krasinski, Disneynature’s new True Life Adventure film Born in China takes audiences on an epic and exciting journey into the wilds of China where few people have ever ventured. Following the stories of three animal families; a doting panda bear mother guides her growing baby as she begins to explore and seek independence, a 2-year-old golden snub-nosed monkey who feels displaced by his new baby sister joins up with a group of free-spirited outcasts, and a mother snow leopard—an elusive animal rarely seen by human eyes—faces the very real drama of raising her two cubs in one of the harshest and most unforgiving environments on Earth.

Moviegoers who see Disneynature’s new True Life Adventure film Born in China during its opening week, April 21-27, will benefit the World Wildlife Fund (WWF). Based on opening-week attendance, Disneynature, via the Disney Worldwide Conservation Fund, will make a contribution to the WWF to help protect wild pandas and snow leopards in China.

2. Spring Cleaning

Okay Spring cleaning may not sound “fun” to everyone, but if you’re making your own cleaning products with non-toxic, household supplies, the kids may be more interested. With items like vinegar, baking soda, lemon juice, olive oil and soap you can be home scientists with the kids and keep your home clean the eco-friendly way! Plus all kids love things in spray bottles!

Some cleaning-day recipes:

Equal parts vinegar and water in a spray bottle is your best all-purpose cleaner.
Mix 2 parts olive oil to 1 part lemon juice for an all-natural furniture polish.
Water and 1/4 cup lemon juice in a spray bottle works on windows and mirrors.
Mix a small amount of baking soda with liquid castile soap to get your countertops, sinks and tubs shiny.
For a fresh scent, try adding a few drops of rosemary, orange or lavender essential oils.
To brighten whites in the wash, add a small amount of lemon juice to your machine’s rinse cycle.

3. Make a Recycled Craft Literally for the Birds!

With finished milk or juice cartons, you can make a fun, recycled, outdoor craft. All you need is yarn, scissors, a wooden dowel (an old wooden spoon or sturdy branch would work too), and some birdseed. Cut the corners out of the carton about two inches from the bottom. About one inch from the bottom punch a hole on opposite sides of the carton to line up the dowels. Punch a hole in the top of the carton to thread yarn and fill with seed.

4. Support Brands that are Eco-Friendly

Our number one brand to support is Dawn. For over 30 years, Dawn dish soap has been an important part of rescuing and releasing more than 75,000 wild animals affected by oil pollution. They have donated thousands of bottles to wildlife rescue workers at The Marine Mammal Center and International Bird Rescue. Other big names are going green(er) to keep up with constant efforts of companies like Patagonia and The Body Shop. Here’s some info on a few of our favorites we shop regularly:

Target Target has begun phasing out its use of hydroflourocarbons, commonly used as coolants. Opening cold-storage facilities that use ammonia and using carbon dioxide refrigeration systems in some of its stores is their new way.

Dell Dell has begun using packing materials derived from plants and can be composted like wheat straw, bamboo, and mushrooms.

IKEA The Swedish furniture manufacturer recently purchased a wind farm in Illinois to help reach its goal of becoming a net-zero energy user. They are also installing solar panels on some stores’ roofs, as well as selling solar kits.

Nike The brand recently started to manufacture apparel using recycled polyester, and its Flyknit shoes create less waste during the manufacturing process than other shoes.

Each year we celebrated on 4/22, but take steps to introduce eco-friendly ideas and practices all year for the future of our earth.

This post is sponsored by my partnership with the Dawn Wildlife Ambassadorship. All opinions my own.

#DawnHelpsSaveWildlife Launches Wildlife Education Program and Contest for Chicago Schools

January 31, 2017 by The Mom Jen Leave a Comment

One particular thing I’ll always root for is education. I loved school growing up, I loved college and enjoyed earning my teaching credential to educate the next generation. Although I only taught in the classroom for a short time, I have always supported my children’s education and helped teachers and worked in classrooms for the past two decades! Living and going to school on the central coast of California has had it’s benefits for our kids (and the students in area schools) as they’ve have had many opportunities to learn about marine wildlife on field trips to the nearby Monterey Bay Aquarium. We’ve been there a handful of times and we know the Aquarium’s positive relationship with schools is inspiring to many and has a great impact on their future careers. Now as a blogger, I’m an Ambassador with Dawn Saves Wildlife and they are passionate about bringing education and wildlife together in the classroom and their recent partnership with Shedd Aquarium in Chicago is so exciting!

Earlier this month, Dawn and Chicago’s Shedd Aquarium launched a new national in-classroom and web accessible STEM curriculum called NextGen Animal Responders. If you’re not familiar, STEM curriculum is Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math and the NextGen Animal Responders will allow teachers to offer fifth through eighth grade student’s five Next Generation Science Standards lesson plans to increase students’ environmental and science literacy through Shedd animal rescue and rehabilitation stories and resources. Unlike many of our local schools, being in an urban area, many of the kids in these grade levels may not get a hands on opportunity to experience nature and the environment in any other way.

Watch the video below to learn more:

“Shedd has been committed to working with response and rescue organizations globally for over 50 years and the urgency to protect animals and their environments is greater than ever,” said Bridget Coughlin, Shedd Aquarium president and CEO. “Dawn and Shedd both share a similar passion for wildlife conservation as well as a shared mission of educating and inspiring the world about the wellbeing of animals, habitat conservation, and the health of our oceans. This is the first time we are working together to build care and compassion for animals that will extract curiosity and interest, which we hope will ultimately lead to interest in a new career path for some of these students.”

Teachers everywhere can download the STEM curriculum and share it with their students. The partnership between Dawn and Shedd aquarium will take a show on the road in Chicago to deliver hands-on science experiments focusing on rescue efforts and protecting the environment. 25 Chicago based schools have the chance to win an extraordinary prize by entering between now and April 7, 2017 at http://www.sheddaquarium.org/nextgen/. The prize is a field trip of a lifetime: a 1-day trip to Shedd Aquarium in Chicago, IL for the winner and his/her winning class and 5 adult chaperones, also includes a behind the scenes tour of the Aquarium where the NextGen Animal Responders will see animal care and recovery in action! I’ve done a few behind the scenes tours at Monterey’s aquarium and it’s such a fascinating learning experience and I know that the kids will really think about how they can make an impact in their future careers and interests!

Information provided by my partnership with the Dawn Wildlife Ambassadorship. All opinions my own.

6 Simple Ways Families Can Support Animal Safety and Protection #DawnHelpsSaveWildlife

October 5, 2016 by The Mom Jen 2 Comments

October is National Animal Safety and Protection Month and Jen is on a Journey is happy to partner with Dawn for a second time as an Ambassador to generate awareness and excitement for the Dawn Wildlife program for the next year! Believe it or not, for over 30 years Dawn dish soap has been an important part of rescuing and releasing more than 75,000 wild animals affected by oil pollution because their formula is tough on grease and gentle to delicate skin and feathers! Dawn donates thousands of bottles of dish soap to The Marine Mammal Center and International Bird Rescue to help save wildlife and it’s easy for you and your family to get involved as well, there are so many ways!

6 Simple Ways Families Can Support Animal Safety and Protection

1. Recycle and Repurpose

Sounds simple, sounds easy, it’s probably something you already do and have been doing for years. My kids love to help bag up our plastic bottles, cans, and paper and take it to the recycling center. $15-20 per month adds up when you’re looking to buy that pair of shoes or mountain bike. Buying items in packaging already made from recycled plastics is a double bonus. For example, Dawn dish soap bottles are made with 25% post-consumer recycled material.

But, have you thought beyond recycling and want to repurpose some of those items. Here are some ideas:

Plastics

I have athletic children who are aching or sore after sports and dance at least a few times a week! Reuse plastic bottles as ice packs. After use, wash the bottle out and fill it about halfway with water. Freeze it and keep on hand for soothing minor cuts and burns, or for keeping food cold in picnic baskets and packed lunches.

Glass

After cleaning thoroughly, some glass bottles and jars can be repurposed as candle or tea-light holders. My husband has an idea for a light fixture from our empty wine bottles, we’ll see if that comes to fruition.

Metal Cans

Instead of throwing out used metal cans, wash them out and turn them into flowerpots. My 10 year old has done this with plastic bottles, soda or vegetable cans could be unique too for child’s backyard garden.

Paper

If you have a printer at home, consider printing on both sides of each sheet. You’ll save a lot of trees—and money. My daughter always wants to print out things from the internet to color or decorate something with. This is simple and easy and even the second side of binder or graph paper gives projects a unique look!

Cardboard

Cardboard can often be repurposed as storage units, and can also be very useful if you or someone you know is moving soon. Or, build a fort! I don’t know how many times in the past 18 years that our kids have enjoyed playing with the box (especially refrigerator style) their gifts came in rather than the gift!

2. Meatless Mondays

As we burn fossil fuels like coal, oil and natural gas, we release carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. The carbon dioxide acts like a heat trapping blanket warming the air, land and sea. As carbon dioxide is taken up into the ocean, it is also creating a more acidic environment for the ocean life. This warmer and more acidic ocean is making it harder for marine mammals to catch their food! To prevent the oceans from becoming too warm and acidic, we need to reduce our use of fossil fuels. One way we can do this simply at home is Meatless Mondays! The production of red meat and dairy are responsible for a large amount of carbon dioxide and methane emissions. Can you believe that switching to just one vegetarian meal a week is the same as driving over 1,100 miles less each year!

3. Support Sustainable Seafood

Marine mammals and people both heavily rely on seafood. Unfortunately, over-fishing certain populations and harmful fishing methods have caused dramatic declines in many fish species and habitats. While there are many harmful methods, there are also fishing methods that allow us to catch only what we want and ensure plenty of fish in the sea and on our plates!

Use the Monterey Bay Aquarium Seafood Watch guides or free app to identify what sustainable options are available.
Always ask where and how the fish was caught to learn more about if it is sustainable!
Support local businesses and restaurants that have committed to only serving sustainable seafood.

Dr. Greg Frankfurter, Koret Foundation Veterinary Intern, removes the entangled rubber band from H.C.'s neck. © Geno DeRango - The Marine Mammal Center — Dr. Greg Frankfurter, Koret Foundation Veterinary Intern, removes the entangled rubber band from H.C.’s neck.
© Geno DeRango – The Marine Mammal Center

4. Reduce Ocean Trash

Our oceans have accumulated a great deal of plastic and other trash, and it poses a major health risk for marine life. Marine mammals, and other marine life, can become entangled in trash or ingest trash by mistake. 80% of the trash in the ocean comes from land-based sources, so we can take action on land to help prevent trash from entering our waterways!

90% of ocean trash is plastic, so every action we can take to reduce plastic makes a huge difference! Find alternatives like reusable water bottles and bags rather than plastic.
Avoid releasing balloons into the sky as they often end up in bodies of water and can trap animals and will break down into tiny bits of trash that can be consumed by fish.
Say no to plastic straws! Since plastic lasts forever, if you don’t need to use it, just say “no straw please”.
If purchasing beverages attached with “six pack” plastic rings, or boxes with large packing straps, cut the rings apart before throwing them away. Birds, fish and small land animals can get caught in the rings.

5. Adopt an Animal

Due to allergies and mainly our daily schedules, we’re unable to own a pet much to the kid’s chagrin. We’ve discussed many times about animal adoption, or ‘symbolic’ adoption. Whether it be a seal, sea lion, sea otter, or aquatic bird, symbolic adoptions are a meaningful way to honor loved ones on special occasions, help support an ailing animal, or just to show that you care. The International Bird Rescue (IBR) has bird adoptions of ducklings, pelicans, heron, loons, or murres that begin from $10. Your donation can help IBR’s work on behalf of aquatic birds worldwide. The Marine Mammal Center’s Adopt-a-Seal® program (starting at $30) helps buy fish and medicine for current and future patients and donations fund research into marine mammal diseases as well as help educate the public about the importance of marine mammals and ocean health.

6. Volunteer

If you have the passion and the extra time, adults/students 18 and older can volunteer as well as apply for externships/interships for the IBR or Marine Mammal Center, there are many locations in California and Hawaii. Kids under 18, school groups, Girl/Boy Scouts and other youth can create a fundraising page. Whether you want to celebrate your birthday, a holiday, your wedding, or get sponsorship for a challenge or start an awareness campaign, creating your own Marine Mammal Center fundraising page and sharing it with your friends and family is a fantastic way to help support our mission throughout the year.

For more information, visit Dawn Saves Wildlife and follow their Facebook and Twitter.

Information provided by my partnership with the Dawn Wildlife Ambassadorship. All opinions my own.