We received over 200 entries for the Duckey Eco-Essay Contest and are excited to announce the winner. Congratulations to Phillip Pinarksi, a sixth grader at St. Ann School in Bartlett, Tennessee. His character, a blind catfish named Calvin, will be featured as one of the new Ocean Protectors in the next book. The judges were blown away by Phillip’s creativity and sensitivity of the character he created. Calvin’s willpower and strength despite his disability fits right in with the team’s motto: Believe it. Achieve it!

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Our kids and our environment are paying a heavy price because of our arrogance. When do we step back and realize that thinking only about the present is not in our best interest? I was told a long time ago: A decision made in haste – you will have to look back on. But a decision made with thought is a decision that stands the test of time. Take a look around and it’s easy to see that we have been so busy trying to maintain the here-and-now that we have forgotten to look ahead. Only recently has everyone jumped on the “green” bandwagon.

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As if we don’t have enough motivation to conserve and protect our seas, here is yet another reason. Scientists say that tourism and the construction of numerous chemical plants have caused a water shortage in the Dead Sea. It has shrunk a third of its size in just a half a century and it is estimated that the body of water will lose another third by the year 2100. This massive water shortage is creating dangerous sinkholes along the coastline where the water used to sit.

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My grandmother used to tell me that the best thing that you can do when you are faced with a problem is to just sit down, grab yourself a Coke, and do some thinking. Action is always better than reaction. Too many of the world’s problems are caused by rushing into something before we give ourselves time to think. The things we do today will affect our future – but most importantly the future of our children. If we taught our children at an early age to think things through before reacting, maybe we would not be facing some of the problems we are faced with today.

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Despite the warning label on batteries, household cleaners, and other various items, many people still throw things out that they aren’t supposed to. These items then end up in the landfills, their toxins seeping into our drinking water and evaporating into the air. Not good! So instead of throwing out these things, why not find a recycling center near you? Earth911.com is a great resource for finding places to dispose of these items. It allows you to type in what you would like to recycle and finds the nearest recycling center for that specific item.

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It’s that time of year again. School’s out and already the kids are complaining that they are bored. Instead of parking them in front of their TV or video games, how about planning environmental activities that are so fun that they won’t even realize they’re educational. Here are a few ideas that will get you and the kids out of the house and active in the environment:

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It’s safe to say that times are tough. The stock market keeps falling. Houses now sit on the market for months. And families are finding it increasingly difficult to make their money stretch. While it’s easy to get lost in the shuffle of these dismal times, we shouldn’t lose track of the one thing that means the most. It’s not our cars, houses or our money. It’s family. I know it may not seem like it now, but this recession is a valuable learning experience, one that will better our families and make them stronger.

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Calling all Junior Ocean Protectors! We’re still waiting for your entry for the Duckey Eco-Essay Contest! Send us in your essay and you could have a character named after you in Duckey’s next adventure AND have your name featured as a contributing writer. How cool! It’s really simple to participate so what are you waiting for? In 250 words or less, tell us:

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With all of the disheartening talk about climate change and its negative impact on our seas, it’s reassuring to hear about one creature’s amazing ability to withstand the sea’s fluctuating temperatures. Scientists have found what they call “super reefs” off the coast of East Africa. What makes these reefs so “super”? Studies have found that this area near Tanzania experiences a higher fluctuation in currents and water temperatures than in other places.

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It’s no coincidence that every character in “Duckey and the Ocean Protectors” has their own very special talent. Polly Puffer Fish has the ability to produce strong bubbles that keep human litter at bay. Nicky Nautilus has a roomy and speedy shell that can carry her friends to their destination quickly and safely. And Denise Dolphin can create whirlpools that bind enemies together.

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No way! All of us on the Duckey team are firm believers that ANYONE, regardless of age, has the ability to make an impact on the world around him or her. Still, I hear from kids who think they are too young to make a difference. Not true! Case in point? Casey Sokolovic of North Carolina. Casey, your average eleven year-old, turned her ordinary love for sea turtles into a mission to help these creatures.

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Walk into any supermarket today and you will see displays of reusable shopping bags. In an effort to cut costs and become environmentally conscious, most stores now sell bags that you can reuse in order to eliminate grocery bag waste. Many people have started carrying around the totes in an effort to “go green” but few really understand the importance of why we need to do away with plastic bags. Americans use over 300 billion plastic bags per year. Most of these bags don’t get recycled and instead end up in our landfills and oceans.

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Earth Day will be celebrated all over the world this year on April 22nd. It’s a day when we celebrate nature and educate ourselves on ways to help preserve the earth.  There are so many fun things you can do with the kids on Earth Day, so don’t let the day go to waste! Here are a few ideas:

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Two of my greatest passions are reading and animals, so when I heard about the R.E.A.D. program, I was absolutely ignited. R.E.A.D. stands for Reading Education Assistance Dogs. With this program, kids have the opportunity to further their reading confidence and skills by reading to trained therapy dogs. The idea was originally created for children who were behind their peers in literacy levels. Since these kids are more likely to get intimidated and anxious when reading aloud to their peers or adults, reading to a dog provides them with a more relaxed atmosphere.

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Duckey has been receiving rave reviews, and we’ve just been handed another to add to the list. The Midwest Book Review has given Duckey and the Ocean Protectors a big thumbs-up. “’Duckey and the Ocean Protectors’ is sure to entertain many a young reader.” In addition to serving up a positive Duckey review on their website (which you can read here), the Midwest Book Review also submitted the review to the Helen C.

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