The Earth Month Effect: Tiny Seeds, Colossal Impact
Imagine what could be accomplished if we all put our efforts into the same goal for the entire month of April?
How many students, educators and others could we reach, sharing the truth about trees, wood products, sustainable forestry, and their benefits for our collective future? And then there’s:
That’s the power of the Earth Month Effect—
together, we can turn Earth Day and Arbor Day into a month-long effort and opportunity that will have a lasting effect.
What does Earth Month have to do with you and your business?
It’s an opportunity to invest in your future.
The health of the business you’ve built—the work you cherish—and the success of the forest products industry as a whole in the years to come, depends on the next generation.
Today’s young people are the:
future workers who will be needed to maintain business operations. The demand for workers is high and closing the skills gap is critical.
future consumers of wood products. They will drive the demand for personal and commercial applications, including construction.
future decision makers.
As business leaders and as the ones guiding the conversation about wood and forest products, the next generation will shape ideas and behaviors throughout the public sector.
Gen Z, according to the Annie E. Casey Foundation, has a deep commitment to both the environment and education—they have the heart for addressing environmental challenges and the will to learn. But will they buy into common thinking, or will they recognize the value of wood products for the health of forests and the health of the planet?
To become the voices championing forest health and the use of wood products, they need to be equipped with the truth about trees and an understanding of the workings of the entire industry.
They need to be educated and schooled in the truth AND invited into our story. The bigger picture and positive benefits of why this matters.
AND THIS IS WHERE YOU COME IN: taking action by contributing your wisdom, experience, and financial support.
It’s easy to sit on the sidelines and watch, waiting for the big players or “professional communicators” to get the word out. But don’t downplay your own role. True, one company on its own may not change the world, but your actions set an example.
Earth Month is an Invitation to Act
The significance of Earth Day is too great to be limited to a single day. Think of it as Earth Month and let it be your call to action to plant the seeds of the future today.
A limited budget doesn’t need to get in the way of actively raising awareness. Whether your budget is $50 or $50,000, there are steps you can take to cultivate a deeper understanding of the industry among the general public and the next generation.
What You Can Do
1. Become a sponsor for one of the components in the Truth About Trees kit.
2. Order a Truth About Trees kit (on our website) that can be donated to a local school.
3. Or donate to send multiple kits to classrooms around your community or state.
4. Volunteer to teach that kit to students in the classroom. (From personal experience, I can tell you that it’s a blast!)
5. Volunteer at career day for students in K-12 within the school system or for homeschooling groups.
6. Post about Earth Month—share about your company’s role in supporting education and forest health.
7. Write a blog about it—bring it all together and share your story.
8. Plan and host a field trip to your facility—this could be for local schools, elementary through high school, or you could offer it just to educators and counselors who work with students and need to learn more about the industry.
9. Create a video tour that can be shared with students, teachers, or counselors.
10. Go plant a tree—in your community or region.
11. Go plant a whole bunch of trees—or donate trees to students at a local school.
12. Share the truth about the forest products industry and what sustainable forestry means for the health of the forests and the planet.
13. Help to sponsor the junior high interactive teaching tool currently in development at NAFF.
14. Partner with NAFF for an event—be a matching sponsor for the Earth Month Effect or Back to School Kit Drive.
15. Establish an internship program at your company to attract and retain talent.
16. Solicit ideas from your team and implement the best ones.
The value of choosing wood products is too important to keep quiet. We have a whole month to focus on the health of the planet and our industry and turn the spotlight on the benefits of wood as part of the solution.
Kids and adults need information and first-hand stories to learn about the industry and get excited about the possibilities it offers for a wide variety of careers.
You could say, “if you provide the educational opportunities and awareness, they will come–and fall in love with the forest products industry.” But without exposure to the industry, they won’t even have an idea of what they’re missing.
And Remember, You’re Not Alone
NAFF is your partner. Use the resources on our site as talking points to get the conversation started with those in your circle of influence.
Each one of us has the opportunity to be an advocate for the industry and work to dispel the myths. Your influence and example are more powerful than you might expect—with six degrees of separation we can easily reach multitudes.
Let this be your reminder to act today. Together we can make a difference by nurturing the next generation and helping kids become #exTREEmelysmart.
Find out how you can support the mission toward a healthier future at www.NorthAmericanForestFoundation.org
