Happy Earth Day travelers!
Each year, on the 22nd of April, billions of people come together to celebrate Mother Earth and what she offers. However, International Mother Earth Day is also celebrated to bring about awareness for the need to protect her.
On the National Geographic website, they describe Earth Day as a “celebration that honors the achievements of the environmental movement and raises awareness of the need to protect Earth’s natural resources for future generations.”
While educational travel unlocks our minds to new experiences, immerses us in new cultures and ways of thinking, and provide some Instagram worthy snaps, it can do a number on this great place we call home.
That’s why for today’s blog post, I’d like to share a few tips to help you and your fellow educational travelers minimize the impact you have while traveling on your student tour.
- Pack light!
The more you shove into your suitcase, the heavier it becomes. All those heavy suitcases will then add up and cause your aircraft to be loaded down therefore leading it to use more fuel for the journey.
- Pack a reusable water bottle!
I strongly urge tour participants to pack a reusable water bottle. Not only will you be able to fill it up with that delicious Roman water, but you’ll be saving both yourself money and the environment because you won’t have to keep throwing away plastic bottles.
- Eco-friendly journal!
There’s a great chance you’ll want to record your travel memories while on your educational student tour so why not buy a journal that is already environmentally friendly. Barnes and Noble have a great selection if you’re looking.
- Think about transportation!
From carpooling to the airport, riding a bike in Amsterdam, to taking the train and/or bus, the way you get from one place to another plays a big role in your carbon emissions.
- Fly nonstop!
This one’s pretty self-explanatory, but if it’s possible choose to fly nonstop. This makes it easier on you and the environment.
- Accommodations!
If the hotel you’re staying at offers you eco-friendly options consider trying them. This could include forgoing housekeeping and keeping the same sheets and towels. This will not only use less water, but a lot of hotels are offering incentives if you go this route.
- Take care of the home!
Before you leave for your life-changing adventure, take a walk around your house and turn stuff off. Turn down your thermostat, water heater, and electronics (even better to unplug). If no one will be home, what’s the point of leaving things on?
- Offset what you can’t!
We’re all responsible for carbon emissions and we all must be part of the solution. Such websites as Carbonfund.org allow individuals or businesses to reduce and offset their emissions. They describe on their website a “carbon offset represents a reduction in emissions somewhere else – like a renewable energy or a reforestation project – to balance out the emissions you cannot reduce.”
For more tips on green travel, I urge you to check out this website and their article on green travel.
I hope this blog post has given you a few ideas, and sparked something inside you to start implementing these practices on your educational tours.
Travel is a wonderful thing. It teaches us to respect nature and the world’s wonders. So when you’re on your next EA student tour, I hope you’ll only leave footprints.
Until next time,
Kate.